In the 1950s, the growth of modern office blocks and the NHS led to a demand for more structured maintenance, which was predominantly reactive at first. By the 1960s and 1970s, building complexities increased, highlighting the inefficiencies of purely reactive maintenance. As a response to this, the facilities management profession emerged.
The variation in quality and safety between buildings underscored the urgent need for a national industry standard to define appropriate maintenance, ensuring efficient use of resources like time, manpower, materials and enhancing operational efficiency. SFG20 was created in 1990 by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Since its inception, it has been recognised as the industry standard for building maintenance specification.
52% of building maintenance professionals say meeting safety standards is their biggest priority in 2024, according to a recent SFG20 poll. With compliance in the spotlight more now than ever, FM professionals urgently need a solution to inform them of their roles and responsibilities in keeping buildings safe and legal.
Paul Bullard, product director at SFG20, says: “Comprehensive maintenance guidance is crucial for building owners and facility managers, who must understand the specific maintenance tasks, their frequency and the skills required. Regular planned maintenance ensures that assets remain in strong working condition, reduces the risk of unexpected failures and avoids costly emergency repairs. A standardised approach also enhances transparency and accountability, setting a clear framework for maintenance and building trust among owners, occupants, and maintenance staff.
“Following the SFG20 standard helps FM professionals across all sectors to comply with the constantly evolving legislation, regulation and codes of practice, so mitigating their financial, operational, and legal risks.”
For more information about how SFG20 can help facility maintenance professionals, building owners, and contractors achieve maintenance compliance and tackle some of the industry’s greatest challenges, Paul Bullard will be speaking at the 2024 Workplace Event on 2nd May at 12 pm. The event aims to bring the facilities industry together, sharing best practices from over 50 expert speakers, and welcoming 100 exhibitors for networking opportunities to discuss optimising working environments, employee experience, and accelerating organisational performance.
SFG20 will be present at Stand 3a/B50 for the duration of the fair, sharing their insights on streamlining facility maintenance by eliminating manual data input and automatically creating an audit trail via their new smart software, Facilities-iQ.
Paul Bullard, product director at SFG20
