Category: Maintenance and Operations

How Can CCTV Cameras Be Hacked?

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance is one of many investments that more businesses are prioritizing when protecting their facilities. While it can prove invaluable at securing your premises and preventing unwanted intrusion or trespassing, one—often invisible—threat can hoodwink even the most experienced operatives in the game. It’s ironic considering video surveillance is meant to prevent unwanted […]

Anheuser-Busch Required to Improve Safety at 11 Facilities Under EPA Settlement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Anheuser-Busch LLC resolving the brewing giant’s violations of the Clean Air Act’s chemical accident prevention requirements and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Anheuser-Busch will pay $537,000 in penalties and implement a comprehensive safety review of all 11 of its breweries that use the […]

2023 Commercial Building Trends Include AI, Sustainability, and Predictive Maintenance

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial real estate and building management sectors have had the opportunity to adapt and capitalize on new opportunities. Among the various sectors comprising the industry, the U.S. engineering and construction segment has demonstrated impressive growth, with a notable 8% increase in construction spending during the beginning of […]

NIBS Survey Examines Diversity in the Built Environment Workforce

The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has released its 2023 Social Equity in the Built Environment Workforce Survey. This latest survey, which was completed in partnership with Avenue M Group, takes the pulse on where things stand in the industry with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It covers more ground, including a […]

Infographic: Why Do Building Codes Matter?

Facilities managers should understand the importance of meeting current building codes, both when constructing and when maintaining safe and sustainable facilities. This infographic offers key reasons why building codes matter, courtesy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To read more about building codes and how they are updated, be sure to check out “Back […]

Survey Finds Most People Want Touchless Fixtures in Public Restrooms

These days, the majority of Americans are so averse to coming into contact with germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp., 62% of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid […]

Hotel Hygiene Tips to Protect Guests and Staff This Summer

With summer fast approaching, Americans are starting to think about their much-needed vacations, and hotels are gearing up for what could be a very busy travel season. But more guests means greater interaction between people and surfaces, which can elevate the risk of germs spreading throughout a hotel. Research conducted by Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions shows that […]

How Can Facilities Managers Respond to the Labor Shortage?

The Great Resignation and the high number of workers retiring over the last several years have led to labor shortages at many workplaces across the country. While some of those positions will be filled, it’s likely those replacements won’t have the same depth of knowledge as their predecessors. To help solve this problem, facilities managers […]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Adds Facility, Preps Other Projects

The sprawling campus of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is dotted with buildings dedicated to the many sciences needed to power the country’s push toward clean energy. Researchers inside one building explore the dynamics of harnessing the sun for energy. Those in another are determining the best ways to convert […]

FMA Shorts: Should a New Facility Manager Review a Facility’s Safety Plan?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Lesley Groff, Senior Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds at UGI Utilities Inc., explains whether new facility managers should review a facility’s existing safety plan. This clip was taken from a recent webinar panel session titled “The Facility Manager’s Role in Maintaining a Safe Workplace.” The full session is […]