FacilityServices

Facility services is a broad set of activities that maintain and operate the physical environment of a building or campus. It covers maintenance, operations, and support functions essential for safety, reliability, and occupant comfort. Services can be delivered in-house by a facility management department or outsourced to facilities services providers or integrated facilities management (IFM) firms that assume responsibility for a portfolio of services.

Core components typically include mechanical, electrical, and plumbing maintenance; cleaning and janitorial services; security and access control; front-desk, mail, and reception services; landscaping and groundskeeping; waste management and recycling; energy management and sustainability programs; space planning, moves, adds, and changes; furniture installation and refurbishment; and sometimes fleet management and help-desk support for tenants or occupants. The scope often extends to project support for renovations and capital work, as well as compliance and risk management activities.

Operations rely on information systems such as computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) platforms to track work orders, maintenance histories, and asset performance. Service-level agreements (SLA) and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as response time, mean time to repair, uptime, energy use intensity, and cost per square foot are used to measure performance and drive continuous improvement.

Industry trends include integrated facilities management, greater use of technology and data analytics, and a focus on occupant experience and sustainability. Regulatory and safety requirements, environmental considerations, and adherence to local health and safety standards shape daily practice in facility services.