Environmental good practice in facilities management (C797)

This guide is a user-friendly reference tool and training aid, which provides practical advice about managing buildings and sites to minimise negative environmental impacts and achieve positive outcomes. It aims to be applicable to activities within the facilities management (FM) function of a building or site, and references UK legislation, practices and industry standards. Some guidance may be relevant outside the UK, but this guide has not been written with this in mind.

The FM function is responsible for complying with a range of environmental laws, although compliance should be considered the ‘bare minimum’. Environmental good practice goes beyond compliance, to preventing or minimising the risk of negative impacts when operating the building or site, and achieving positive impacts where possible.

This guide applies to a wide variety of buildings, sites and activities, although it does not include a definitive list. It is focused on non-residential buildings, and also to the common areas and grounds of multi-residential buildings and non-specialist areas and activities in industrial, laboratory and healthcare buildings. It is not intended to apply to individual dwellings and may not apply to specialist areas such as clean rooms and operating theatres.

Guidance has been provided on minor refurbishment works, and activities taking place within the boundaries of the site (sometimes referred to as the 'red-line demise') including buildings, parking areas, paved areas and outdoor landscaped areas, but not on the planning, design or construction of new sites or buildings, extensions or major refurbishment projects.

Users of the guide should have sufficient knowledge of the FM principles, and those using this guidance on their buildings and sites should have sufficient knowledge of the assets they are responsible for, the operations taking place, and the wider strategies and frameworks within which they exist.