Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Fire sprinkler systems are installed in commercial and industrial (C&I) facilities to protect occupants, property structures, and contents. These systems contain fires and help save lives. Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate that the civilian death rate from fires is 87% lower in buildings with sprinklers, compared to properties without fire sprinkler […]
Property management companies (PMC) performing or offering to perform regulated renovations without U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities will be subject to stronger enforcement and compliance regulations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule in the future, according to a Nov. 4 EPA news release. “Health impacts from […]
Plans, O&Ms, inspections, warranties, and other documents touch the daily lives of everyone on the facilities team, from those at the executive level to the technicians in the field. There is a fundamental need to capture, document, retain, locate, and share information in every facility. Each facet of the job―handling operations, keeping on top of […]
As the COVID pandemic gradually subsides, facility managers and HVAC professionals worldwide face the challenge of safely bringing buildings back online. While ensuring the mechanical system is ready to handle the many challenges of increased occupancy is important, minimizing the possible transmission of SAR-CoV-2 is critical. The following article is designed to provide facility managers […]
Commercial and industrial (C&I) toilets, sewage drains, shower and tub drains, and utility tub drains can clog and back up, at any time, causing major damage to floors, walls, furniture, HVAC systems, electrical systems, and a property’s structural integrity. Mitigation, remediation, and restoration costs of sewage backups can be anywhere from a couple of thousand […]
We have learned a number of very valuable lessons from the pandemic that cannot be overlooked. This is true in many industry sectors but is especially true for facility managers, housekeeping departments, and contract cleaners hired to clean all types of commercial facilities. Some suggest the critical lesson learned from the pandemic is just how […]
When it comes to restroom breaks, office workers in the U.S. say that touchless restroom fixtures are the No. 1 feature that would make them feel safer when using their workplace restroom, according to a new survey. In the Healthy Handwashing Survey, conducted by restroom equipment manufacturer Bradley Corp., touch-free washroom fixtures received the highest safety ranking, […]
Facility teams are responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and fine-tuning a variety of equipment and facility systems, including air handlers, generators, boilers, elevators, and other equipment for safe and efficient operation. Remembering the sizes of different belts, filters, and other applicable parts is part of the job, so facility teams rely on O&Ms (also known as […]
New York was one of the first states in the U.S. to suffer a major outbreak of COVID-19, so it stands to reason that any steps that may help safely reopen facilities and operations there are noteworthy for just about anywhere else across the country. The Cleaning Coalition of America, a trade group representing cleaning […]
This upcoming holiday season will be ripe with challenges for facilities managers, who will be dealing with a labor shortage that will prove to be problematic not only for regular staffing but also for contract maintenance service providers and skilled tradespeople. From multi-location restaurants and retail chains to distribution and fulfillment centers, operational managers need […]