TS EN 15221-1

TS EN 15221-1 is a glossary-style standard for facility management, bringing together the core terms and definitions used in the field. As the first part of the EN 15221 series, it establishes a shared technical language for facility, service, and organisational management so that different stakeholders can use the same concepts consistently.

Why terminology matters in facility management

Facility management is an interdisciplinary management discipline that addresses the physical workplace, support services, and the processes that connect them. Clear distinctions between terms such as facility, service, user, operation, and support function are important for technical communication, documentation, and coordination across teams and sectors. Terminology standards are especially valuable where building operations, service delivery, and organisational management overlap.

Rather than introducing a new test method or performance requirement, this standard provides the conceptual backbone for the EN 15221 vocabulary. The title indicates that both terms and definitions are covered, so the focus is on defining boundaries between concepts and aligning usage. In practice, that helps reduce ambiguity in contracts, service descriptions, organisational charts, and technical specifications.

• Organises the core concepts used in facility management and their definitions.
• Provides a common terminology framework for building and service management.
• Helps reduce ambiguity in internal and cross-organisational communication.
• Supports consistent language in operations, support services, and organisational structures.