Category: Maintenance and Operations

Predictive Maintenance, the Future, and You

Predictive maintenance is nothing new to many facilities managers. Today, building managers, facility operators, and others are discovering how beneficial and cost-efficient it is to know what is happening inside their infrastructure and how their operations are running—and when disaster might strike. Shutting down operations for hours, days, or weeks in the middle of peak […]

It’s Time to Tackle Building Efficiency 

We’ve seen emissions rebound after dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Transport has the highest reliance on fossil fuels, accounting for 37% of CO2 emissions from end-use sectors in 2021, while building operations accounted for 27% of total energy sector emissions (8% direct emissions and 19% indirect emissions from electricity production and heat use). […]

Hurricane Season Safety Guidelines for Your Elevators

Federal agencies are commemorating National Hurricane Preparedness Week April 30-May 6, 2023, in a national campaign to help everyone get ready before hurricane season begins on June 1. Although Facilities Management Advisor has offered many resources over the years about how to prepare your facilities for these dangerous storms, what should you do about your […]

Texas Gov. Signs Proclamation Recognizing May 10th as World FM Day

Signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a proclamation officially recognizing May 10, 2023, as World Facility Management (FM) Day was presented to IFMA Global Headquarters in Houston, Texas. IFMA contacted the governor’s office in March to request a proclamation formally recognizing FM’s responsibility for the functionality, safety, and sustainability of the built environment, and publicly […]

Can the Return to the Office Lead to More Sustainability and Happiness?

Many employers across the country are wondering about return-to-office rates, how they can encourage workers to come back to the office, and how to improve the sustainability of their workplaces. Facilities Management Advisor recently held a webinar called “Is Your Water Cooler the Key to Workplace Happiness? A Conversation with Bevi CEO Sean Grundy” to […]

Considerations When Choosing Your Facility’s On-Site Security System

Earlier this year, a car was driven straight through the closed entrance of a mall, and suspects made off with thousands of dollars worth of electronics. The police described the event as a “smash-and-grab” style robbery and were unable to locate the suspects in question for multiple weeks. Eventually, they did apprehend two suspects, with […]

OSHA Again Cites Dollar Tree, Dollar General for Blocked Exits

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) again cited discount retailers Dollar Tree and Dollar General for blocked exit routes in their stores. On April 24, the agency announced it’s seeking $770,136 in penalties for hazards related to obstructed exits, unsafe storage of materials, fire, and other hazards at Dollar Tree stores in East Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode […]

How the CSU Facilities Management Team Is Handling Supply Chain Issues

Remember the shortage of toilet paper during the pandemic and, more recently, the shortage of eggs in grocery stores? Facilities Management leaders at Colorado State University (CSU) say they are still feeling those same effects—but for different products. They are seeing supply chain issues and worker shortages causing longer wait times when trying to acquire […]

7 Steps for Troubleshooting Commercial Pumps

There’s a wide variety of possible scenarios that may require a service technician, facilities manager, or manufacturer’s rep to troubleshoot a commercial pump. Regardless of the circumstances, using a methodical approach is best when diagnosing a pumping problem. At Taco Comfort Solutions, we’ve found that 80% to 90% of the calls we receive about commercial “pump […]

Back to Basics: PSAP and EOC Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. With April being Emergency Communications Month, let’s spotlight facilities that are vital in responding to emergencies. Public safety answering points (PSAPs) and emergency operations centers (EOCs) are critical facilities that provide essential services to the community […]