Overview
ISO 6707-4:2021 - "Buildings and civil engineering works - Vocabulary - Part 4: Facility management terms" is an ISO vocabulary standard that provides standardized terms and definitions for facility management (FM) in the context of buildings and civil engineering works. Published in 2021, this first edition establishes a common language for FM practitioners, asset managers and stakeholders involved in the built environment. It complements ISO 41011 and aligns with related standards (e.g., ISO 55000, ISO 19650) where appropriate.
Key topics
The document organizes FM vocabulary into clear thematic groups. Important technical topics and terms include:
- High-level structure: facility management (FM), asset, asset management, asset portfolio, manageable asset, facility, information model, requirement, risk, interested party
- Works and parts of works: real estate, infrastructure, base building, building envelope, projection, facility-in-service, building loss factor
- Space management: built space, workplace, workspace, work station, co‑working area, security zone, operations zone, public/private space, atrium, controlled area, danger area
- Systems, processes and measurement: terms covering systems and parts, processes, measurement and measures (see standard for full lists)
- People, organizations and conditions: interested parties, occupants, visitors, agents; environmental and operational conditions relevant to FM
- Business and finance: standardized terms for FM-related business concepts, procurement and finance
Because ISO 6707-4 is a vocabulary, it focuses on definitions rather than prescriptive requirements; its “requirements” are to use consistent terminology across documents, contracts and FM processes.
Practical applications
ISO 6707-4:2021 supports real-world FM activities by:
- Standardizing language for FM contracts, service level agreements (SLAs) and procurement documentation
- Improving clarity in asset management and lifecycle planning for buildings and infrastructure
- Supporting space planning and workplace management, including co‑working and security zoning
- Enhancing interoperability with BIM/Information Models by providing consistent term definitions used in digital environments
- Reducing ambiguity in operations, maintenance, risk and compliance communications across multidisciplinary teams
Who should use it
- Facility managers and property managers
- Asset managers and estate teams
- Architects, engineers and design consultants
- BIM coordinators and FM software vendors
- Procurement, legal and compliance teams working on FM contracts
- Consultants and standards writers preparing FM documentation
Related standards
ISO 6707-4 is intended to be used alongside:
- ISO 41011 (Facility management - Terminology)
- ISO 6707-1 (General building vocabulary)
- ISO 55000 (Asset management)
- ISO 19650 (Information management for BIM)
Using ISO 6707-4:2021 helps organizations adopt consistent FM terminology-improving communication, procurement clarity and integration between physical and digital building management systems.
Open preview (PDF)Buildings and civil engineering works — Vocabulary — Part 4: Facility management terms