The building maintenance industry has a long and fascinating history which can be traced back as far as the 18th century. Over the past 35 years, SFG20, the definitive industry standard for building maintenance specification, has actively shaped the transition from old to new and safer building maintenance standards.
We’ve joined forces with Chris Adams,, Director of IoFMT Professional Services Limited and a Chartered Engineer of 20 years to bring you this timeline of the evolution of building maintenance.
Let’s roll back the clock to find out how the industry has progressed to where it is today, and how maintenance strategies could continue to evolve.
What Is The History Of The Building Maintenance Industry?
The First Industrial Revolution
In 1784, we started to see the development of maintenance practices which aimed to ensure that ventilation, machinery and structures continued to serve their purpose long after being built.
It marked the beginning of individuals, organisations and society embracing additional efficiencies through “good practice” - though “good practice” was not clearly defined or regulated.
The Second Industrial Revolution
Natural refinements and technological advancements continued for nearly a hundred years until the introduction of electricity around 1870.
The shift to stable electrical energy enabled buildings to become powerhouses of research, development and production, with the electrical industry formalised through regulation with the formation of The Society of Telegraph Engineers in 1882.
They published the first edition of what is commonly known as BS 7671: The Requirements for Electrical Installations in the same year. Other changes for building maintenance evolutions around this time include:
- 1881 - The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- 1897 - The Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (now CIBSE)
- 1904 - The National Association of Master Heating and Domestic Engineers (now BESA)
- 1909 - The Illuminating Engineering Society (now CIBSE)
With modern high-rise buildings starting to be constructed in the 1880s, building maintenance became more important as technological advancements and mass production changed the size, structure, utilisation and purposes of buildings.
The Third Industrial Revolution
The Digital Age and Third Industrial Revolution began around 1969 and saw the introduction of advancements such as the microprocessor and the internet.
This coincided with the expansion of corporate culture, driving the demand for changes in buildings as they began to serve multiple functions (now known as facilities). Building maintenance standards changed to reflect this:
- BSRIA took on a new name and published its first statistics bulletin in 1975
- BESA formed SFG20 in 1990 to drive legal compliance
The first institution for the managers of these facilities was formally recognised in the real estate sector with the establishment of the British Institute of Facilities Management in 1993.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Fourth Industrial Revolution(where we are now) is defined by the digital transition to a global society.
The arrival and development of the internet has created a nervous system of interconnected systems and devices.
As a result, our buildings are powered by an amalgamation of physical and digital assets powered by innovative, fast-developing technologies. These technologies include (but are not limited to):
- Big Data Analytics
- Augmented Reality
- Digital Twins
- The Metaverse
- Artificial Intelligence
- CAFM, CMMS and IWMS software
What’s the Next Step For Building Maintenance Evolution?
The building maintenance industry continues to make remarkable progress, with innovations to improve efficiency, sustainability and safety.
At SFG20, it’s our mission to provide the industry standard for building maintenance specification to help ensure safe and legally compliant buildings.
A key part of our role includes helping you to stay well-informed and prepared for future technology that will assist with building safety and compliance.
In recent years, there have been several key developments in digital-led maintenance which are continuing to reconstruct the way the industry designs, builds and maintains buildings.
To stay up to date with all of the industry developments that are shaping tomorrow’s skyline, take a read of our all-encompassing guides as linked below.
