Sustainable Design Parameters in Generation of Facilities Management Conceptual Model

Abstract

Sustainability is becoming an integral part of the life-cycle development of built facilities. It is increasingly emphasized during the design phase and post-occupancy phase. Facilities management (FM) collaboration would be productive to support sustainability through improvement of sufficient training and skills coupled with practice culture between designers and facility managers. This study investigates the potential design parameters in the implementation of sustainability ideas in FM practices. Through review of literature and questionnaire survey, the most important ten design parameters were identified, and these were grouped into four categories: people, process, economy and social. The five-points Likert scale and relative significance index (RSI) with rank analysis techniques were then used to further explore the significance and influence of each design parameters in sustainable practice of FM. The top five most design parameters were recognized and highlighted in the design process: “cost-effectiveness” and “value of asset” followed by “environmental”, “practiced culture” finally, “design adaptability”. The study concludes with the development of a conceptual model for the integration of design parameters to guide facility managers for appropriate actions. Through identifying and integrating different design parameters, the prioritized requirements of the building communities and potential effects of each design parameter were brought forward to promote sustainability endeavor in FM practices.