RICS Launches Pioneering Standards for Facilities Management

09/11/2009 21:02

RICS White Book: The First FM Practice Standards, RICS Americas Members Key Contributors NEW YORK – September 11, 2009 – With the launch of its White Book RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) has broken new ground in setting standards in facilities management, a field that has the potential to lead the way in creating more sustainable, efficient and cost effective workplaces. Launched at RICS’ global headquarters in London, the White Book will act as a definitive practice guide for all RICS members advising clients on best practice facilities management processes. RICS Americas members David Gardiner FRICS (Toronto), Gary Evans MRICS (Washington, D.C.), Andrew Doran MRICS (Los Angeles), Ian Rollitt FRICS (Barbados), and Tony Sani MRICS (Toronto) all contributed to the development of the White Book. The strategic role of facilities management in business performance will be the first guidance note published by RICS as part of a program of Facilities Management standards that will make up the White Book. The first edition of this new series includes comprehensive guidance on key areas of business where facility managers can make a strategic impact, including: Developing facilities management strategies linked to the property and business objectives of an organization Performance management and improvement Compliance Sourcing and procurement of property, projects and goods and services Contract management Service delivery Risk management Change management Forming the backbone of the White Book, The strategic role of facilities management in business performance will be joined by further guidance notes on security, performance improvement and strategic sourcing, due to be released over the next 12 months. Commenting on the new guidance Iain Brodie, Chair of RICS Facilities Management Exec Group, says: “Facilities management costs are often second only to those of human resource within an organization. By providing the first set of standards for this important area of business, RICS is bringing its professionalism to an area which could potentially save companies millions of pounds a year in efficiencies and strategic management of property.”   ### About RICS & RICS Americas RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with headquarters in London, is the leading organization of its kind in the world for more than 100,000 professionals in property, land, construction and related environmental issues. RICS Americas, based in New York and covering North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has more than 3,000 members in commercial and residential development, construction and project management, brokerage, planning and finance, valuation and fine arts appraisal. For further information visit www.ricsamericas.org or e-mail ricsamericas@rics.org.