American Society for Testing and Materials Standards (ASTMS) on Whole Building Functionality and Serviceability

Basics

What is it?
A method of defining the functional requirements of an occupant group, rating the capability of a building or facility and checking the matches or mismatches. A performance-based approach developed in Canada and the USA. A version in French has been adapted for French methods of construction and use created in collaboration with Centre Scientifique Technique et B‰timent.

Useful where?
About 130 aspects of functional requirements and of serviceability provided are rated on 9-point scales (not all points are used for all aspects). Useful at any stage in the project delivery process.

What else does it do?
In what sectors?
Applicable to all. Developed and standardised mostly for offices. Exists also for many other sectors, but not standardised or publicly available.

Relevance
May be useful in complex projects with rigorous requirements. Can provide easy-to-use criteria for selecting from among several potential designs, and for selecting from among potential facilities to buy or lease. Also used for selecting most functional design or design-build in public competitions.

Development status

Who developed it?
International Center for Facilities, Ottawa (Gerald Davis and Francoise Szigeti).

Stage of development
Mature. Published standard 1996. Second edition 2006. Third edition 2009. Currently being standardised at international level in ISO (International Standardization Organization).

Examples of its use
Government offices for the Canadian and US governments. Applied to different types of buildings used by the US Coast Guards. Used to prepare an internal standard for the US Army Corps of Engineers and applicable to several levels of Army generals.

Development contacts
Francoise Szigeti.

Benchmarks?
Provides benchmarks when needs are assessed. Then can compare different offerings or the needs of groups with similar functions. For instance, offices for special users with large quantities of IT equipment at their desks can be compared, either to each other or to administrative offices.

How it works

Brief description
Uses
Uses two matched set of scales: the first for occupier requirements and the second for physical capabilities of the building or buildings under consideration. It may be used both to assess the appropriateness of a design or a complete building, or to compare a shortlist of buildings.

Is there software?
Not currently.

How long does it take?
Varies, but the needs of a functional group can be assessed in one morning. A serviceability assessment can also take just one morning on site, or a full day for a larger or more complex building. Depends on the size of the facility and the different functions housed.

Can I do it myself?
Yes. Training available.

Can someone else do it for me?
Yes. It can be done by third parties, provided that they have training in the use of this methodology.

References
Several books available.

Is the technique in the public domain?
Yes. Comprehensively. Anyone can purchase and use the ASTM standards. The ISO versions are now draft international standards and are expected to be approved in 2010 and 2011.

Are the methods open to inspection with technical support papers?
Yes.

Cost
On application.

Are the results in the public domain?
Most private sector organisations prefer to keep results private unless for use in marketing. Instances of use by USA and Canadian governments can be obtained through Freedom of Information applications.

Are there stable benchmarks?
Calibrated against regional or national inventory of each building type. Therefore scales evolve slowly as the inventory evolves.

Is there an accreditation system?
International Centre for Facilities issued certificates to participants in courses it offered.

Organisations offering
International Center for Facilities,
Contact name: Francoise Szigeti.