BS 8210:2020 facilities maintenance management code of practice

[edit] Introduction

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK National Standards Body (NSB). BS 8210:2020 - facilities maintenance management code of practice was published in October 2020. It is available to purchase from the BSI shop.

[edit] BS 8210:2020 explained

On 9 February 2021, BSI, BSRIA and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) presented an online discussion of BS 8210:2020.

The session began with an overview of the standard by Brian Atkin of BSI. Atkin served as the lead technical author on the standard, overseeing the work conducted by the development team.

He started his presentation by outlining its key points - highlighting significant changes from the previous revision (BS 8210:2012) - and clarifying the areas not covered by the standard (due to their inclusion in other standards). Atkin stressed that BS 8210:2020 is about managing maintenance and not carrying it out. With this as its purpose, the standard is aimed at influencing top management in a manner that builds a connection between facilities operations and business outcomes.

“With strategic, regularly scheduled maintenance in a business-focused or risk-based process, top management of owner operated buildings will see that maintenance - if done properly - can help add value to the organisation,” Atkin explained.

The top down approach put forward in the standard is designed to help facilities management teams in a range of industries by providing a logical set of steps and options. It also offers guidance on measuring maintenance performance to help determine the success of the problem solving process.

The main sections of the standard include:

• Facilities maintenance planning and approach.
• Factors affecting maintenance.
• Performance management.
• Facilities information management.

[edit] Business-focused maintenance

Nick Blake, principal FM Consultant at BSRIA joined the discussion and stressed how business-focused maintenance has been one of the organisation’s areas of interest - even prior to the publication of BS 8210:2020. The second edition of 'Business-Focused Maintenance (BG 53/2016)' by Jo Harris was published in 2016, replacing the 2004 edition.

Blake stated that business-focused maintenance (BFM) is built around the needs of business. He explained that BFM puts “the emphasis on functional outputs and the consequences of failure rather than maintaining assets in good condition” and t his is what makes it a proactive process. He also made the observation that “the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the profile of facilities management while emphasising the importance of building services engineers.”

[edit] The changing world of facilities management and maintenance

Peter Brogan, head of research and insight for IWFM acknowledged the growing importance of facilities management in his presentation, stressing the evolution of the profession and acknowledging the importance of technology as part of the process.

In 2020, IWFM partnered with Microsoft to produce a report 'Bridging facilities management’s digital divide' based on 2018 IWFM research that revealed a need for digital transformation within facilities management. During the intervening years, Brogan has noticed a change, stating; “In 2021, the profession became more aware of technology and how to use it.”

--Heidi Schwartz

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• British Standards Institution BSI.
• BS EN 15221.
• BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
• Building maintenance.
• Building Services Research and Information Association BSRIA.
• Facilities management.
• Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management IWFM.
• ISO 41001:2018.
• Soft landings.

[edit] External resources

• BSI, BS 8210:2020 - facilities maintenance management code of practice.
• BSRIA, Business-Focused Maintenance (BG 53/2016).
• IWFM and Microsoft, Bridging facilities management’s digital divide.