A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Setting Up an Electrical Safety Program (Part 6 – Inspections)

A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Setting Up an Electrical Safety Program (Part 6 – Inspections)

NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® has requirements for what should be included in an electrical safety program (ESP) but does not provide details. The requirement in Section 110.5(B) to inspect electrical equipment is one where it is the employer’s responsibility to fill in the gaps. A properly documented ESP does not…

Weekly or Monthly No Flow (Churn) Tests of Fire Pumps

Weekly or Monthly No Flow (Churn) Tests of Fire Pumps

Fire pumps are an essential part of many water-based fire protection systems. They are used to increase the pressure (measured in psi or bar) of a water source when that source pressure is not adequate for the system it’s supplying. The right design, installation, and acceptance testing of these pumps will ensure that they are…

Machine Vision: An Industry 4.0 Driver

Machine Vision: An Industry 4.0 Driver

MV systems are rapidly proving to be a versatile tool for increasing automated system reliability. In the age of readily available and inexpensive computer resources, many advances play a significant role in commerce. These include high-bandwidth data-transfer technologies and easy access to vast data storage, combined with advanced image-processing algorithms and robust imaging hardware development….

National Survey Gauges Employee Concerns About Workplace Air Quality

National Survey Gauges Employee Concerns About Workplace Air Quality

In observance of the International Day of Clean Air on Sept. 7, Fellowes Brands announced results from a recent national survey that found only 36% of respondents describe the indoor air quality (IAQ) at their workplace as very clean. The survey of 1,120 American workers who work on-site and indoors for their employer also revealed that 91% of respondents agree clean…

Not All Digital Twins Created Equal

Not All Digital Twins Created Equal

Much more than a simple 3D CAD rendering, digital twins can significantly advance operational performance. A digital twin that provides value to the operating capability of a power plant must include physics and empirical-based modeling, product design information, operational data, and failure-based mechanisms. More than just a visual representation of an asset, a digital twin…

Health and efficiency

Health and efficiency

  The drive to return to the office amidst growing environmental concerns means air quality and energy management have never been more important. Ross Baxter, Partner Sales Leader at Trend, explains how a modern BEMS can offer potential solutions As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience will certainly keep health issues top of…

The compelling case for being ‘climate positive by design’

The compelling case for being ‘climate positive by design’

  Despite the inertia of the carbon-intensive economy and the fossil fuel capture of public policy, climate change has emerged as a top priority for boardrooms. Among the critical decisions being made is where to anchor any commitments for decarbonization. Is it to stay within a maximum temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial…

Office Access Control: Three Innovations for a Post-Pandemic World

Office Access Control: Three Innovations for a Post-Pandemic World

COVID-19 has profoundly altered the way we work and, as a result, the way building owners and employers operate office buildings and other workplaces. As they’ve quickly adapted, they’ve embraced three new trends in access control and visitor management: digitizing these systems and moving them to the cloud; streamlining them to be more frictionless; and…

How to make cities greener and cooler as temperatures soar

How to make cities greener and cooler as temperatures soar

  Once again, withering heat is upon us — setting records in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, even here in usually temperate Seattle. Just walking a dog without completely melting down involves a zigzag path down the street, moving from one shady patch to another. Much of that shade comes from trees, which —…