NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
ASSOCIATION NEWS
CIBSE CALLS FOR COMMENT ON GUIDE M
8 AUGUST 2021
The Chartered
Institution of
Building Services
Engineers (CIBSE)
is asking for
comment on one
of its most widely
used guidance
documents - Guide
M: Maintenance
Engineering and
Management - ahead
of a complete update.
It is a very timely review and refresh of Guide M;
building owners and operators need guidance to
support COVID recovery, create infection resilient
buildings and the building safety agenda, while
achieving net zero carbon by 2050.
Chair of the CIBSE Facilities Management
Group, Geo¦ Prudence C.Eng F (Hons)CIBSE
FRICS FIWFM MIoD: “This is a great opportunity
(and challenge) to provide updated chapters.
The new version will build on the 2014 version to
include the latest knowledge, discuss future best
practice, technology, legislation and the growing
importance of the buildings services in buildings,
infrastructure, and the built environment as a
whole.”
The project workstream lead from the Facilities
Management Group is Joanna Harris FRICS Hard
FM Ambassador at Sodexo. “As the lead author
from the 2014 update I know Guide M inside/out
and have promoted its use in the industry as a
‘maintenance bible’, I’m keen for this update to
address the common themes that people in the
industry struggle with and don’t have published
guidance.
“We are launching this exciting piece of work and
inviting input from volunteers across the industry
and CIBSE Members through the Special Interest
Groups to input and consult on the development
of the updated version of this vital document.” The
FM Group held the first online event in July 2021
and would like industry experts and practitioners
to get involved.
The content will be thoroughly reviewed and
updated, incorporating new material where
needed. The initial focus will be on three key areas,
training, safety legislation and health and comfort.
The update will start in August 2021, with the
planned release in 2022.
For further information, to provide specific
comments, views or potential involvement/
contributions, or to attend a consultation session,
please email guidem@cibse.org
COVID-19: VENTILATION (V5)
This COVID-19 ventilation guidance is for business
owners, employers, building owners, managers,
operators and those maintaining buildings.
It is intended to give business owners and
managers an outline of ventilation systems
commonly encountered in buildings and to advise
on how they can be used, now and in the future, to
maintain adequate air quality and reduce the risks
of airborne infection.
It is also intended to assist building managers
and those who operate and maintain building
systems in identifying the areas of a building, and
elements of ventilation systems, that may need
particular attention in order to reduce risk to
building occupants.
It is relevant to all types of building ventilation
system, whether natural, mechanical or full air
conditioning.
For all CIBSE COVID-19 Guidance, see www.cibse.
org/emerging-from-lockdown.
THE ‘PINGDEMIC’ IS NOT THE REAL
THREAT TO BUSINESSES
No sooner had ‘Freedom Day’ arrived
than hundreds of thousands of workers
found themselves isolated by the socalled
‘pingdemic’, leaving many organisations
struggling for sta or even forced to shut down. Bosses are understandably
alarmed by this, but research we conducted in June has highlighted a deeper,
longer term risk to business performance: failing to adapt to new ways of
working.
In our survey of 2,000 employees, half (50 per cent) said they feel pressured to
return to o¦ ices that are not fit for purpose. Among the issues highlighted, 31 per
cent said they struggle to perform basic tasks in the o¦ ice compared to working
from home, 48 per cent believe a lack of breakout spaces and meeting rooms
is hindering collaborative working, and 48 per cent report IT and technology
systems need updating. Four in 10 are even struggling to make video calls to
colleagues and clients working from home. All of these issues go some way
to explaining why almost two thirds (63 per cent) of responders believe their
employers need to do more to adapt their working culture and facilities to enable
hybrid working.
Of those who feel pressured to return, almost half (49 per cent) say they
are now more productive working from home than in the o¦ ice. This was
significantly higher amongst younger workers: 50 per cent of 18–34-year-olds
compared to 40 per cent of those aged 55 and over.
Furthermore, our ‘Returning to the workplace’ research, which we carried
out in March, showed that nearly half (47 per cent) of UK o¦ ice workers would
search for a new job if they weren’t o¦ ered more flexible working options by their
employer. This rises to two-thirds (66 per cent) for 18-24-year-olds.
Not only are sub-optimal set ups preventing potentially millions from doing
their best work, which will have an inevitable impact on the bottom line, but
employers may inadvertently be pushing their talent to search for new pastures
where they can work more flexibly.
It is likely that we are experiencing the growing pains of change during
uncertain times. Workplace and facilities professionals have an important role to
play in helping employers to understand that workplace optimisation need not
be limited to a binary choice between home and the o¦ ice, and that the modern
workplace can reflect this by enabling people to work where they are most
productive and creating spaces to support that.
Employers who continue to fall short of adapting their space, infrastructure and
culture to new ways of working will have more to worry about than a ping if they
lose their talent altogether.
This is not about shaming the modern Mr or Mrs Gradgrind, but now that we
need no longer endure state-imposed changes to how
we work and live, the opportunity is ripe to turn the
positives from the lockdown experience into a better,
more productive workplace experience.
IWFM CEO, Linda Hausmanis
link
/emerging-from-lockdown
