On Thursday 23 May, 2024, four major organizations in the building services industry have come together to agree on a common definition for the term “statutory” in the context of workplace and facilities management (WFM). The Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), SFG20 (part of Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) have collaborated to establish a consistent understanding and application of this term in their respective guidance materials.
The agreement was facilitated by IWFM’s Procurement and Contract Management Special Interest Group (SIG), which aims to improve FM standards in contracts. The SIG noticed that the lack of a common methodology for compiling specifications for statutory inspections has led to significant variability in compliance with statutory requirements, potentially resulting in non-compliance for properties.
The jointly agreed definition is a significant step towards standardizing practices and enhancing compliance in the workplace and facilities management industry. Chris Reeves, Procurement and Contract Management SIG Chair at IWFM, stated that the new definition, along with associated guidance, will help standardize the understanding and application of this commonly used term. He also emphasized the benefits of collaboration with other organizations and professional bodies in creating this common definition.
Paul Bullard, Product Director at SFG20, called the agreement a “momentous step forward” as it provides clarity and guidance to the industry with the full alignment of the involved associations.
CIBSE’s Head of Knowledge, Eileen Bell, also expressed her pride in collaborating with industry partners such as BSRIA, SFG20, and IWFM to drive up standards and ensure consistency in guidance for the benefit of all stakeholders.
BSRIA Technical Director Tom Garrigan stated that reaching a universally agreed definition of “statutory” provides much-needed clarity to the sector. It sets a clear benchmark for achieving compliance, reduces ambiguity, and supports stakeholders in meeting agreed contractual terms.
The full statement agreed upon by the four organizations defines the term “statutory” as anything required by primary legislation, such as Acts of Parliament, and secondary legislation, such as Statutory Instruments. It also acknowledges that specific activities required for compliance may be included in government guidance, Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs), industry standards, and/or guidance from trade associations and professional bodies.
In conclusion, the organizations emphasize the importance of following a documented process when discharging duties to achieve statutory compliance and acknowledge that there may be multiple ways of meeting these duties.
This news release was distributed by the UK-based press release distribution service, Pressat.
