FEATURE
THE TWO-YEAR REVIEW
It’s been two years since the pandemic changed life for all of us, and we’ve seen some big developments to the role of FM. Here, Artic Building Services reviews the impact of the pandemic on facilities management, including new responsibilities within the role and the increased focus on health and safety.
The changing role of the workplace The global pandemic triggered huge changes in society, resulting in the adoption of a new normal. When the first lockdown hit, FMs were instrumental in shutting down offices and other buildings, and ensuring that procedures were followed. Building occupancy fell dramatically, creating the perfect opportunity for FMs to concentrate on building compliance.
Once a return to the workplace seemed feasible, FMs had to prepare the buildings to ensure occupants could return safely. A stringent list of checks was completed to meet UK government guidelines prior to opening the doors to the workforce. With social distancing rules still in force, many FMs had to restructure the layout of workplaces, moving desks apart and fitting screen dividers to limit close contact.
Spike in costs The pandemic disrupted normal life for FMs and created a backlog of facilities management work which is now being worked on. We’re also seeing increased demand for FM services post-Covid, which in part is driven by the crucial role FMs played in managing the risks. The increased demand and ongoing issues affecting the UK supply chain have only increased operating costs for FMs.
Brexit, the pandemic and HGV driver shortages have all caused huge disruption to supply chains, triggering a spike in shipping costs up and reducing the volume of raw materials and essential parts coming into the UK. As a result, FM service costs have been increased across the board since 2019. As organisations try to avoid such high costs, many are now partnering with facilities
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management companies on a contractual basis where a monthly fee is agreed upon.
HVAC management Another way the role of the FM has changed in the last two years is in regard to air quality. Following the outbreak of the airbourne virus, a huge number of studies explored the role of HVAC systems in enhancing air quality and reducing infection rates. Two years later, we know that HVAC systems can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by filtering fresh air, and displacing stagnant air which may hold airborne contaminants.
FMs have always been responsible for managing ventilation and HVAC systems, but the pandemic has put this area of their role under the spotlight. They are now spending more time maintaining, optimising, and deep cleaning systems to ensure they’re functioning efficiently.
FMs have had to optimise their HVAC in order to reduce the risk of infection, and create a safer environment for building occupants. HVAC systems that normally operated via recirculation mode were adjusted to run on full fresh air to ensure that the maximum amount of stagnant air is diluted. HVAC filters were analysed and replaced with higher quality HEPA filters which are more effective against airborne viruses. FMs are at the forefront of managing air quality in buildings and reducing the spread of airborne contaminants.
Facilitating new ways of working Two years on from the start of the pandemic, it’s clear that hybrid working is here to stay. A huge range of businesses have seen the benefits of remote working, and are
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