20 Top Resources for Facilities Managers

From the smallest office building to the biggest schools, every facility has ongoing maintenance and management needs. Here’s a helpful list of the top 20 resources to check when your next issue comes up.

1- Buildings.com

Buildings.com bills itself as a site for smarter facilities management, and it comes through on that promise. Don’t miss the free educational courses for brushing up on maintenance issues.

2- The SMRP Library

Need facts or metrics? The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals has a terrific library of research, ebooks, whitepapers, and more. When you need to justify the cost of new equipment or training, start here for background research.

3- Buildium.com

With a focus on property management, Buildium is an alliance of current and former renters who are devoted to working hand-in-hand with property managers. The site is full of insights, from a customer’s perspective.

4- OSHA

No list of resources would be complete without a connection to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Their site is packed with information about workplace safety and best practices for hazard reduction at your facility.

5- ADA Standards

Is your facility totally compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act? Use this site to make sure, and to plan for future upgrades that are ADA compliant.

6- Facilities Manager Magazine

This nonprofit magazine is devoted to educating facility managers about the latest news in operations, solutions, and creative strategies in the field. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s interested in the bigger picture of operations management.

7- Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine

Stay ahead of green and sustainable cleaning methods with this helpful online magazine. It also addresses management issues like technology, hiring, and continuing education.

8- International Facility Management Association

Learn from a worldwide group of facility management professionals. IFMA hosts events around the globe and is always on the cutting edge of new methods, like technology-assisted facility management.

9- Building Owners and Managers Association

BOMA International is an educational and advocacy organization for commercial real estate. Their site is a great place to learn about building codes, legislation, trends, and other big issues that affect building management.

10- SMRP Conference

It’s consistently ranked as one of the top conferences in the world for facilities managers. Learn from experts and try hands-on activities that enhance your knowledge. If you can’t attend the big event, SMRP also has online educational offerings.

11- RELIABILITY Conference

This is a next-level conference for building owners who want to learn more about asset management and tech solutions.

12- Maintenance Manager App

If you haven’t tried an app for maintenance management, here’s one to check out. Available for free in iTunes, it allows you to assign work orders, track issues, and interact with your service team. It’s a great productivity booster.

13- Capterra Ranking Tool

It can be hard to find reliable reviews for maintenance software. Capterra offers a free list, with rankings from real maintenance professionals. The site includes paid listings too, but they’re not ranked more highly than the rest, according to Capterra.

14- BOMA Awards

These awards are truly something to strive for. Companies that have BOMA 360 designation are preferred partners for many superstar companies in industries like hotels, healthcare, construction, and design.

15- Green/LEED Certification

Pursue LEED certification as a green business by connecting with GBCI, the certifying organization. Their site is a great resource for sustainable facility management methods and information about earth-friendly choices.

16- NFPA Certification

The National Fire Protection Association offers certification for various critical issues related to fire, power, and building safety.

17- Facility Management Innovator Podcast

This information-packed podcast discusses trends in the industry and interviews well-known people in facility management. If you’re interested in innovation, it’s a great resource.

18- Inc. Uncensored

Prefer your business management news in a short, catchy format? Try Inc. Uncensored. It focuses on surprising facts and business trends that affect industries around the world.

19- Facility Management Handbook

This book is an all-in-one guide to facility management. Make sure your building supervisor has a copy and put it in the hands of new employees to help them hit the ground running.