Category: Fire Safety

ASHRAE Releases Indoor Air Quality Guideline to Protect Against Wildfires

By Joe Bebon, Editor Dec 20, 2024 Design and Construction

Updated: Dec 20, 2024

As wildfires and prescribed burns increasingly impact communities worldwide, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has published a new resource aimed at safeguarding indoor air quality (IAQ) during these events. ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024, Protecting Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, outlines best practices for building design, operation, and […]

Chemical Safety Board Urges Facilities to Prepare for Winter Hazards

By Joe Bebon, Editor Dec 13, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Dec 13, 2024

With winter and cold weather rapidly approaching, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is re-emphasizing to chemical facilities the importance of being prepared for extreme cold to avoid serious chemical accidents. Data on chemical releases shows that there is a notable increase of incidents at chemical facilities during the cold weather months. In […]

Feds Issue Probe Update on Massive Fire, Toxic Plume at Georgia Facility

By Guy Burdick, Contributing Writer Dec 6, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Dec 6, 2024

On Nov. 22, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a Sept. 29 chemical reaction and toxic gas release at the Bio-Lab Inc., facility in Conyers, Georgia. The incident led to a massive fire and plume of toxic smoke that threatened the surrounding community and the metropolitan Atlanta […]

Back to Basics: Workplace Evacuation Procedures

By G Hatfield Nov 25, 2024 Back to Basics

Updated: Nov 25, 2024

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. During emergencies, things can go wrong in an instant. It’s crucial for employers, facilities professionals, and other safety stakeholders to collaborate on developing emergency action plans (EAPs) with effective evacuation procedures, so that in a disaster scenario, employees know […]

Eek! The Top 50 Rattiest Cities of 2024

By Joe Bebon, Editor Oct 30, 2024 Fire Safety

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Is your facility in one of the country’s most rat-infested cities? Just in time for Halloween, Orkin has released its annual Top 50 Rattiest Cities List, and Chicago has secured the No. 1 spot for the tenth straight year in a row. The pest management company also highlighted the hazards of a rodent infestation, warning […]

Hurricane Recovery Guide for Facilities: First Steps

By Corey Sipe, Associate Editor Oct 24, 2024 Building Controls

Updated: Oct 24, 2024

The impacts of the damage done by Hurricanes Milton and Helene have severely challenged facilities managers (FMs) with building recovery efforts. That’s why Facilities Management Advisor has created this short guide for helping FMs deal with the very first steps you should take to get your facilities accessible again after a hurricane. These first steps […]

How to Prevent Common Fire Safety Violations in Your Facility

By Lee Mullins, Barge Design Solutions Oct 9, 2024 Design and Construction

Updated: Oct 9, 2024

Local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in the United States in 2022 that cost approximately $18 billion in property damage, according to the most recent Fire Loss report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In addition to the human impact of fire damage, property damage and the required reconstruction are […]

sprinkler

Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Facility

By Corey Sipe, Associate Editor Oct 7, 2024 Building Controls

Updated: Oct 7, 2024

This year, Fire Prevention Week is being observed Oct. 6-12. Fire is one of the worst things that can happen to your facility, damaging the property you have so carefully maintained and putting lives at risk. A way to gain an advantage over costly and harmful fires is properly maintaining wet and dry fire sprinkler […]

College Campus Fire Stats and Safety Tips for the New School Year

By Joe Bebon, Editor Aug 20, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Aug 20, 2024

As the new school year approaches, college students nationwide are preparing to move into campus dormitories and off-campus housing. Through their annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) want to ensure students, parents, and campus housing staff and administrators have the relevant information and resources […]

Back-to-School Projects to Prepare Your Educational Facilities

By Corey Sipe, Associate Editor Aug 15, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Aug 15, 2024

Facilities managers are busily getting their schools, colleges, and universities ready for classes to resume. No matter the type of educational facility they manage, all need to be properly maintained. That’s why we’re reviewing several back-to-school projects that facilities managers should ensure are on their checklists for clean and safe buildings for the new academic […]