FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
BSRIA has published an essential resource for professionals looking to install or renew smart building systems.
The new guide ‘BG 91/2026 Procuring Smart Building Technology‘ covers the full procurement process, from defining needs to delivering benefits, ensuring the right people, process and technology are in place to maximise the return on investment. This is practical guidance for both technical and non-technical decision-makers, advising on capital and operational expenditure for a single building or a portfolio.
From IoT sensors and building analytics platforms to fault detection diagnostics (FDD) and Artificial Intelligence Applications, the guide provides a refreshingly straight-forward framework for making informed decisions when purchasing smart building technology. Additionally, it gives practical guidance on the system and process changes needed to optimise building operations, reducing energy and maintenance costs, and enhancing sustainability and occupant experience.
The guide also makes a clear and compelling case for data-driven and practical procurement. Technical and non-technical decision-makers will find help preparing inspection checklists, engaging with key stakeholders, and navigating the procurement process effectively within.
Tom Garrigan, Executive Technical Director, BSRIA, said: “Smart building technology offers tremendous potential to transform how we manage and operate buildings and this guide helps our industry unlock those benefits. By offering clear, practical guidance on procurement, we’re helping building managers make better decisions that deliver real value.”
John Taylor, Publications Manager & Technical Specialist, BSRIA, added: “BG 91/2026 fills a gap we’ve identified for practical, authoritative guidance on procuring smart building technology. Developed to deliver universally accessible step-by-step advice, it offers easy-to-digest takeaways, which can be quickly implemented, whether you’re a technical specialist or a facilities manager with your first smart buildings project.”
According to the 2026 UK Facilities Management Market Research Report by askporter, facilities management professionals want clear, verifiable evidence of work being delivered, with teams that can communicate progress in real time. This requires technology that is affordable, intuitive, and quick to adopt.
Yet the report found that:
Over three quarters of FM professionals (76 per cent) experience operational inefficiencies caused by siloed software which results in a lack of real-time visibility.
Communications challenges lead to maintenance issues, with 73 per cent of teams being forced into reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis.
A worrying level of compliance gaps, with 44 per cent of admitting that half or less of their compliance tasks are tracked and automated within their systems.
Closing this gap requires the establishment of transparent and consistent communications using affordable software that gives FM teams the ability to track, evidence and improve their services.
This webinar provides a valuable overview of the main findings of the report by askporter followed by a panel discussion by FM thought leaders on practical, strategic solutions that can help close this communications gap.
To register for the webinar taking place 29 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
