Higher Education Facilities Classification And Inventory Procedures Manual

This publication is intended to supersede the Higher Education and Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM) first published in December 1972. Like the earlier manual, this revised and updated version provides a common framework and coding structure to be used in collecting and reporting inventory data on college and university "buildings" and on the spaces within these structures, primarily "rooms." Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 of the manual discusses basic concepts and definitions recommended by the manual. Chapter 3 provides guidance for starting such a system, particularly for institutions not yet engaged in this type of reporting and analysis. Chapter 4 integrates the primary concepts related to building definitions, measurements, and data elements. Chapter 5 contains the materials relevant to room use definitions, including the extensive room use coding structure. Chapter 6 provides a list of commonly asked questions and answers arising from the use of the manual. Nine appendices provide greater detail on the coding structures, discuss optional data elements related to architectural features and room suitability, the use of such data for inter-institutional data exchange and reporting; and provide crosswalks and overviews of coding changes contained in this revised manual. Provided also is a glossary that serves as an index for locating references in the manual that define basic inventory terms and components. (GLR)