What are Hard and Soft Service Facilities Management?

Facilities management

Facilities management services come in two categories: hard and soft. The primary difference between the two is that hard services are non-negotiable, whereas soft services depend on your situation.

The main difference between hard and soft Facilities Management services

The primary difference between these two types of services is whether or not they are deemed absolutely necessary.

Hard services

Hard services are any services connected to your physical facilities. They are often part of the building, cannot be removed, and are typically required by law, such as HVAC or preventive maintenance.

Soft services

Soft services, on the other hand, are any services that improve the security and wellbeing of employees in the workplace. Whether or not they are deemed necessary depends on the situation.

Types of hard Facilities Management services

Some common examples of hard services include:

Heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC)
Fire safety systems
Plumbing
Lighting
Electrical
Mechanical
Building maintenance

Tip: These services are often required by law. For instance, OSHA has PM requirements woven throughout their occupational safety regulations.

Types of soft Facilities Management services

Soft services have less to do with buildings and hard facility features and more to do with the wellbeing of people on the property. They include:

Cleaning/janitorial
Building security
Waste management
Catering
Mail management
Interior decor
Landscaping

Tip: Note that soft services doesn’t necessarily mean they are strictly optional—some are central to a business’s success. For instance, landlords often have to meet local legal requirements for tenant security.

Determining which Facilities Management services you need

To determine which services you need, consider the following questions for each service:

Is the service central to the operation of my facilities?
Is the service required/regulated by law?
Would I face liability or a loss if I failed to provide this service?
Is the service relevant to my operations?
Is the service within my jurisdiction?

If you answered yes to any of these, you might want to consider how you’d go about providing it, either because it’s a hard service, or because it’s important to the success of your operations. If not, you likely won’t need to worry much about it.

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