Compliance and Standards is one of the 19 functional FM knowledge areas that are categorized into four key knowledge domains.

Definition: Compliance and standards are common specifications, regulations, rules, guidelines, or behaviors used by organizations to demonstrate that they observe and comply with agreed criteria. They can help to ensure that process and leadership principles are consistent with good business practices.

When it comes to facilities, there are many technical, guidance, and management systems standards that help direct behavior and practices. Compliance and standards represent consensus views of laws, regulations, statutes, and guidelines that govern an organization’s activities at international, regional, and local levels.

Facility management should lead a process of identifying applicable standards, regulations, and compliance items by:

• Reviewing organizational process assets (existing procedures, tools, and documentation) for currently applicable compliance items.
• Developing, hiring, or contracting with applicable persons or organizations to gain expertise in compliance items.
• Scanning for global, national, regional, community, and industry-specific compliance items (including laws and taxes) in each area of operation, differentiating between applicable versus nonapplicable compliance items.
• Differentiating between mandatory versus voluntary items.
• Updating records and procedures to add any new mandatory items.
• For voluntary items, doing a cost-benefit analysis to determine which compliance items are advantageous to pursue.
• Updating records and procedures to add new voluntary items that are advantageous to pursue.

Key Concepts:

• Definition of compliance.
• Scope of compliance in FM.
• Importance and benefits of compliance.
• Regulatory compliance (e.g., laws and statutes).
• Standard operating procedures (SOP).
• Definition of standards.
• Types of standards impacting FM.
• Benefits of standards.
• FM compliance program model.
• Effective ethics programs.
• Ethical decision-making model.

Compliance and Standards Proficiency Indicators (Task Statements)

• Maintains a current working knowledge of relevant corporate, life safety, environmental, financial, and government/regulatory compliance and standards.
• Ensures that FM projects, practices, and policies align and comply with laws and regulations.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and ability to manage compliance with recognized standards.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of applicable building codes.
• Demonstrates knowledge of environmental building certification systems used by governments and industry.
• Develops and evaluates effectiveness of facility management policies to comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Ensures that required permits are issued for all modifications, personnel moves, renovations, and construction projects.
• Manages and oversees compliance with facility equipment inspection requirements.
• Documents standards, codes, and regulations to provide evidence of organization’s compliance and communicate requirements to employees and service providers.
• Performs compliance audits.
• Responds to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and oversees a system for uniform handling of such violations.

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