:Draft:CEN/TC348 Facility Management

CEN/TC 348 is the technical committee (TC) within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), responsible for the development of standards related to Facility (or Facilities) Management (FM). Its work aims to harmonize FM practices across Europe and to align them with international (ISO) standards.[https://www.din.de/en/getting-involved/standards-committees/nhrs/european-committees/wdc-grem\:din21:69430243](https://www.din.de/en/getting-involved/standards-committees/nhrs/european-committees/wdc-grem:din21:69430243)

Built on the success of the Dutch national standard NEN 2748 (Terms of facility management – Classification and definition) and the desire of EuroFM and national stakeholders to create a European standard on FM, the inception of CEN/TC 348 occurred during the meeting of CEN/BT/WG 136 Facility Management in Amsterdam on 29 November 2002. The first formal meeting of CEN/TC 348 was held in Vienna, Austria, in September 2003.[https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB16727.pdf](https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB16727.pdf)

The new TC addressed the growing demand in Europe for standardized terminology, quality management, process structures, and performance benchmarks in the field of facility management. In 2012, ISO/TC 267 Facility Management was formed from this initial group of experts. Since then, the committee also works in close collaboration with ISO/TC 267 under the Vienna Agreement, ensuring alignment between European and international standards.[https://www.cencenelec.eu/european-standardization/what-is-european-standardization/](https://www.cencenelec.eu/european-standardization/what-is-european-standardization/)

The EN 15221 series was developed by CEN/TC 348 to structure FM practices across Europe. The initial suite of seven standards were informally called "the Magnificent Seven" and include:

• EN 15221-1: Facility Management – Terms and definitions (Published: 28 Feb 2007; Withdrawn: 31 May 2018)
• EN 15221-2: Facility Management – Guidance on how to prepare facility management agreements (Published: 30 Nov 2006; Withdrawn: 6 Jul 2018)
• EN 15221-3: Facility Management – Guidance on quality in Facility Management (Published: 31 Jan 2012; Under review)
• EN 15221-4: Facility Management – Taxonomy, classification and structures (Published: 31 Jan 2012; Under review)
• EN 15221-5: Facility Management – Guidance on facility management processes (Published: 31 Oct 2011; Under review)
• EN 15221-6: Facility Management – Area and space measurement (Published: 30 Nov 2011; Under review)
• EN 15221-7: Facility Management – Guidelines for Performance Benchmarking (Published: 30 Nov 2012; Under review)[https://repository.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/handle/2066/93572/93572.pdf](https://repository.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/handle/2066/93572/93572.pdf)

These standards laid the groundwork for the development of the international ISO 41000 series.

• Revision of EN 15221-6: Facility Management – Area and space measurement
• New standard: FprCEN TR 15221-9 (aims to replace EN 15221-3, 4, 5 and 7)
• New standard: EN 15221-x Facility Management – Principles and processes
• New standard: prEN 15221-x Facility Management – FM digital transformation

As part of its ongoing collaboration with ISO/TC 267, CEN/TC 348 contributed to the EN ISO 41000 series, which provides a global framework for FM systems and practices:[https://pages.ifma.org/iso-tc267](https://pages.ifma.org/iso-tc267)

• EN ISO 41001:2018 – Facility Management – Management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• EN ISO 41011:2017 – Facility Management – Vocabulary (replaces EN 15221-1)
• EN ISO 41012:2017 – Facility Management – Guidance on strategic sourcing and the development of agreements (replaces EN 15221-2)
• EN ISO/TR 41013:2017 – Facility Management – Scope, key concepts and benefits
• EN ISO 41014:2020 – Facility Management – Development of a facility management strategy
• EN ISO 41015:2023 – Facility Management – Influencing behaviors for improved facility outcomes
• EN ISO 41018:2022 – Facility Management – Development of a facility management policy
• EN ISO/IEC 17021-11:2018 – Competence requirements for certification of Facility Management Systems

Through the Vienna Agreement, CEN/TC 348 collaborates directly with ISO/TC 267. A total of 25 European national standards bodies (NSBs) formally support the committee's role. Both EuroFM and IFMA EMEA recognize CEN/TC 348's work as a foundation for professional and academic development in FM.[https://www.eurofm.org/about-fm/fm-standards/](https://www.eurofm.org/about-fm/fm-standards/)

Academic research from institutions such as TU Delft and Radboud University has explored the relevance and adoption of the EN 15221 series in the European context.[https://pure.tudelft.nl/ws/files/51429951/FullPaper\_FM\_CREM\_Final\_TvdV\_June2017.pdf](https://pure.tudelft.nl/ws/files/51429951/FullPaper_FM_CREM_Final_TvdV_June2017.pdf) A 2011 CIB report highlights the standards' practical relevance for public sector FM. Scholarly commentary by Kathy O. Roper (2011) connects FM maturity models with the structural approach promoted by both CEN and ISO.[https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-04-2016-0011](https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-04-2016-0011)

== References ==