BIFM standard Managing Accessibility and Inclusion
On 6 November 2014, The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) published a new standard ‘Managing Accessibility and Inclusion’.
BIFM is the professional body for facilities management (FM). It has 15,000 members around the world and promotes excellence in facilities management for the benefit of practitioners, the economy and society.
The standard is part of BIFM’s Facilities Management Professional Standards Framework. It is intended to raise awareness of inaccessibility and encourage improvement in the accessibility of the built environment for all users.
The standard stems from the Built Environment Professional Education Project (BEPE), funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Greater London Authority (GLA) and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). This is a 5-year project that forms part of the Olympic legacy programme, and includes championing inclusive design.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I welcome the BIFM’s work to change its professional standards to explicitly address the access needs of disabled people. This will embed access and inclusion into the thinking of facilities management professionals in order to make a real difference to disabled people’s lives.”
Gareth Tancred, CEO of BIFM, and member of the BEPE Board, said “The BEPE initiative is all about going beyond legislation, to really inclusive and accessible work and leisure environments, so that disabled and elderly people can fully participate in our society. FM is fundamental to that and we are proud to be leading the way by setting out the professional standard to drive adoption and delivery in this area.
“We believe that adhering to the basic levels of practice set out by the law is simply not enough. FM must go beyond compliance if we are to create truly inclusive environments.”
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Accessibility in the built environment.
- Access consultant.
- Access and inclusion in the built environment: policy and guidance.
- Accessible London.
- Built Environment Professional Education BEPE.
- CABE.
- Changing lifestyles.
- Equality Act.
- Essential principles, Creating an accessible and inclusive environment.
- Inclusive design.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.