Building services component reuse: an FM response to the need for adaptability

Abstract

Proposes that facilities managers can viably utilize building services components that have been designed to be more readily reused to satisfy growing client demands for adaptable buildings. In an increasingly dynamic business environment, many organizations seeking to remain competitive have focused on performing their core function in the short‐term by shedding, among other functions, responsibility for their supporting buildings to external organizations. The growth of the facilities management support industry illustrates this trend. The increasing contribution of services installations to building complexity and value means that the greatest opportunity for facilities managers to improve their efficiency in satisfying constantly changing client space use demands lies in their management of this building element. By utilizing reusable services components, facilities managers may be able to increase the adaptability of both new and existing buildings and reduce the financial impact of change. It is concluded that a new industrial sector may emerge to support services component reuse. This sector will undertake the remanufacture (reconditioning) of such component to ensure their fitness for purpose for reuse.

Citation

Webb, R.S., Kelly, J.R. and Thomson, D.S. (1997), "Building services component reuse: an FM response to the need for adaptability", Facilities, Vol. 15 No. 12/13, pp. 316-322. https://doi.org/10.1108/02632779710188306