ISO 41001 – Facilities Management

The ISO 41001:2018 standard specifies the requirements for a Facility Management (FM) system
when an organization:
a) needs to demonstrate effective and efficient delivery of FM that supports the objectives of the
demand organization;
b) aims to consistently meet the needs of interested parties and applicable requirements;
c) aims to be sustainable in a globally-competitive environment.
The requirements specified in ISO 41001 are non-sector specific and intended to be applicable to
all organizations, whether public or private sector, and regardless of the type, size, and nature of
the organization or geographical location.
ISO 41001 uses the same common clause structure of the ISO 9001 quality standard.
According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), facility management uses
many disciplines to help ensure the safety, comfort, and efficiency of a purpose-built environment
that includes the people, buildings, processes, and technologies a business depends on to function
properly.
Because of this, facilities management is a booming industry. In recent years, it has experienced
average annual growth of between six and eight percent — and according to IFMA, the FM global
market was worth more than $1 trillion at the end of 2018.
While FM has a broad impact, recognition of its principles and practices at a global level has been
lacking. ISO 41001 provides the basis for a common interpretation and understanding of FM and
the ways in which it can benefit organizations of all kinds.
In a globally-competitive environment, FM organizations and providers need to communicate
among themselves and with interested parties using common principles, concepts, and terms,
including assessment and measurement of performance. ISO 41001 is intended to raise the
standard of care and increase levels of quality, thereby stimulating organizational maturity and
competition for the delivery of FM.
According to ISO 41001, the benefits of an integrated system standard for FM include:
 improved workforce productivity, safety and health, and well-being;
 improved communication of requirements and methodologies among and between public and
private sector organizations;
 improved efficiency and effectiveness, thus improving cost benefits to organizations;
 improved service consistency;
 providing a common platform for all types of organizations.
ISO 41001 is applicable to any organization that wishes to:
 establish, implement, maintain, and improve an integrated FM system;
 assure itself of conformity with its stated management policy;
 demonstrate conformity with this document by:
 making a self-determination and self-declaration;
 seeking confirmation of its conformity by parties having an interest in the organization;
 seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the organization;
 seeking certification of its FM system by an accredited third-party certification body.
ISO 41001 Certification
According to an NQA InTouch newsletter article, ISO 41001 certification indicates to other
businesses and clients that the certified organization is invested in the following factors:
Environmental impact: FM-certified companies demonstrate that they care greatly about the
impact their operations have on their local and regional environments.
Financial responsibility: Since the costs associated with managing a facility typically form an
organization’s second-highest expenditure, the efficiencies that FM supports demonstrate a
business’s financial responsibility, as well as, its commitment to eliminate wasteful practices.
Facility efficiency: Certification is a sign that a business takes proper responsibility for the effective
management of its assets to minimize the costs associated with their operation, while at the same
time maximizing their use.
Workspace compliance: By ensuring workspaces are healthy, safe, and compliant, FM certification
is a clear sign that an organization is committed to providing a quality working environment for its
workers.
The 45-page ISO 41001:2018, “Facility management – Management systems – Requirements with
guidance for use”, can be ordered online for $158 at this ISO web page.