by Brianna Crandall — March 22, 2019 — The new Facility Management (FM) Training and Development Framework introduced in January by independent education and research nonprofit IFMA Foundation has attracted participation from leading industry associations including the Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE), global building technology society ASHRAE, and worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA. As more industry leaders add their professional development services to the Framework with IFMA’s world-class suite of professional credentials, the goal of establishing holistic guidelines for FM training — particularly in the technical fields — is becoming a reality, says the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
The chair of IFMA’s global Board of Directors, Graham Tier, CFM, FMP, MRICS, stated:
In the future, the industry will categorize FM training tools in two ways: those that are a part of the big-picture framework and those that haven’t caught up. On behalf of IFMA, I want to congratulate AFE, ASHRAE and ISSA for their bold vision and decisive action to be among the first to align with this pioneering framework. Because FM professionals, who oversee complex teams with varied skill sets, have long demanded exactly this sort of guidance, and I’m confident that this is just the first wave of adoption.
The FM Training and Development Framework, which features training and professional development options from a syndicate of associations, will ultimately provide seamless guidance and resources for the entire operational life cycle of the built environment, according to IFMA. Team leads and hiring executives, using the framework, will be able to confidently train existing staff or hire new staff with industry-validated skills to fill defined roles.
Within the larger context of the FM Training Framework, AFE will provide training, education and certifications for facility engineers; ASHRAE will offer its expertise in the category of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) and building energy controls; and ISSA will offer its training products for cleaning operation.
2018-2019 ASHRAE President Sheila J. Hayter, P.E., remarked:
ASHRAE is pleased to collaborate on this groundbreaking training. Through the development of this framework, facilities management professionals will be equipped to demonstrate outstanding expertise in the areas of HVAC&R and building energy controls and approach their responsibilities with greater knowledge, improved efficiency and more confidence.
John Barrett, executive director of ISSA, commented:
ISSA is excited to join forces with this select consortium of renowned FM organizations to develop a truly best-of-breed training standard. Cleaning is an integral part of quality facility management, and we’re happy to collaborate with such an esteemed collection of partners to set that standard moving forward.
IFMA Foundation Chair Nancy Johnson-Sanquist, IFMA Fellow, concluded:
Momentum is building as more and more organizations throw their weight behind the FM Training and Development Framework. These early adapters are setting the bar for the future of the FM industry and its component industries.
The Facility Management (FM) Training and Development Framework document is available for download from the IFMA Foundation website.
