Facilities managers are regarded as 'caretakers' of existing building
The building design industry is still failing to use occupiers' knowledge when designing buildings, according to a study that was commissioned for a joint government and industry panel.

The research, which included a telephone survey of those responsible for commissioning buildings among or on behalf of client organisations, found that no facilities managers had been involved in drawing up the building brief.

'The research undertaken demonstrates that building occupants' knowledge is not being adequately used to inform building designers,' says the report. 'Facility managers usually do not have access to the briefing process. They are still considered by the industry as "caretakers" of "existing" buildings,' it adds.

The research was carried out by Paul Warner, director of architectural practice Geoffrey Reid Associates. Warner was commissioned to undertake the research on behalf of the Construction Research Innovation Strategy Panel.

The panel's aim was to discover how design assumptions are made and how and why conditions-in-use affect them. It also sought to uncover how the design process and existing buildings can be better understood, and specifically how the role of facilities manager could influence the brief-making process.

The study also raises concerns over performance measurement. It found the industry's approach 'not an exact science', making benchmarking 'extremely difficult'. There is a perceived need for a 'keeper of information' of good and bad examples of buildings and processes, the report concludes.

The researchers found very few post-occupation studies are undertaken by professional practices. 'From those that are, the information is usually kept within the client and consultant group,' says the report.

The survey also revealed that mechanical and engineering services consistently ranked in the top three of overspecified services and underspecified services.

As the authors of the report argue, this is a good indication of the confusion in the criteria for user satisfaction.

The full report can be found at the Crisp website, www.crisp-uk.org.uk