ISO 41001:2018 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 41001:2018 are non-sector specific and intended to be applicable to all organizations, or parts thereof, whether public or private sector, and regardless of the type, size and nature of the organization or geographical location. Annex A provides additional guidance on the use of this document.

It clarifies what facilities management (FM) is and provides help with implementing a high quality facilities management regime that’s fit for purpose. As the newest in ISO’s important stable of management standards, this standard is likely to achieve global reach and influence.

ISO 41001 is for use by any organization, regardless of sector, size, nature or location that wants to:

• Establish, implement, maintain and improve an integrated facilities management system
• Assure itself that it’s conforming with a stated management policy

Demonstrate that it conforms with this standard by:

• Making a self-determination and self-declaration
• Seeking confirmation from parties with an interest in the organization, such as customers
• Seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the organization
• Seeking certification/registration of its facilities management system from an accredited third party certification body
  
  

The standard can be applied to both insourced and outsourced service provision of facility management.

It is recommended to use this standard for:

This is the most important facilities management standard produced to date, because it defines and clarifies, globally, what facilities management is, so that companies tendering for FM services and those providing the services will all have the same understanding. 

It specifies what’s needed to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain and provide a documented integrated FM system within the context of managing an organization’s operational activities and risks.

It will help any organization demonstrate that it has a robust process for designing, managing and improving an integrated FM system.

Annex A supplies guidance on how the standard should be used, including examples of best practice and strategy options.

This standard is set to become a benchmark standard and a pre-requisite for tendering purposes. 

Organizations need to be aware of the importance of keeping on top of ever-changing trends in how and where people work. This makes facilities management an essential aspect of organizational success and the reason new international guidelines have been published.
ISO 41001 is about recognizing the scope of responsibilities and creating a management structure and resource appropriate to the needs of the organization. Its main focus is to provide a framework and criteria against which facilities management teams can be measured as being “fit for purpose” for the organizations that they serve.