Magazine

Based on inspections over the last several years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found many chemical storage and distribution facilities “are not developing safety precautions; instituting maintenance, monitoring, and employee training measures; and preparing risk management plans to remain in compliance with Clean Air Act (CAA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right to…

  With electrified vehicles totaling 18.5 per cent of all new cars registered in 2021 and that figure only set to increase, renewables specialist, Bureau Veritas, is urging local authorities, commercial property owners and facilities managers to adopt smart grid technology, to ensure control of electricity during peak demand. Smart grid systems utilise photovoltaic panels…

  Eric Myers, Senior Industry Technical Consultant at Ecolab and a Waterborne Pathogen Risk Reduction Strategist, on how the unique circumstances for buildings that wouldn’t typically experience months-long shutdown may have increased the risk of legionella and how to mitigate that risk Many businesses around the world have had little to no occupancy during the…

Nobody wants to work in a dark, cramped place with drab-colored walls and cubicles. Today’s workplaces must take steps to acknowledge that productivity is directly affected by workers’ mental health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we here at Facilities Management Advisor want to give facilities management professionals the advice they need to help…

Here’s how the skilled labor shortage, supply chain issues, and rising material costs can impact several aspects of facility budgeting. Rising building costs can put property and business owners at risk of having gaps in insurance coverage. As the price for materials and labor increases at unprecedented rates due to the pandemic and supply chain…

  HVAC leaders discuss the state of the industry as it moves past the pandemic stage. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to loosen its grip on the country, many industries are reassessing the last two-plus years and considering how they’re emerging from these unprecedented times. Leaders in the HVAC industry are among those looking back…

At the first NFPA meeting in 1896 the first consolidated set of sprinkler installation rules were established, becoming what is today known as NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. Formalizing the sprinkler installation standards increased fire sprinkler effectiveness, however, a gap still existed in the use of fire sprinkler systems. In 1933…

Creating a high-performance culture is often touted as the holy grail of today’s organisations. It is an elusive concept, with many thinkers and practitioners offering their version of what creates such a culture. As Albert Einstein said, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when…

As workplaces continue to bring workers back to the physical workplace in a post-COVID-19 environment, even if it’s only part time, they must ensure compliance issues are addressed. The cost of not doing so jeopardizes not only company assets but also, and more importantly, the safety of those in the workplace, including employees, contractors, and…

  Forward-thinking facility managers are combining resilience strategies with sustainability goals to better future-proof facilities. First, the good news: The technologies and science exist now to slow and eventually reverse climate change. Alternative energy solutions like solar and wind are economically viable, and can be deployed at scale at prices competitive enough to phase out…