Category: Maintenance and Operations

Expert Q&A: How to Recruit More FMs in the Industry

Within the next 5 to 15 years, more than half of today’s facilities management (FM) workforce is expected to retire and leave a major gap to fill, according to the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) global workforce survey. Facilities Management Advisor talked to Joshua Rivas, Facilities Manager from Removery, who has more than 15 years […]

GSA Seeks Innovative Green Tech to Test in Federal Buildings

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a new request for information (RFI) focused on enabling energy efficiency and decarbonization in commercial buildings, contributing to a more efficient electric infrastructure and improving resiliency and occupant health. This latest RFI comes shortly after the GSA selected 17 emerging […]

Male janitor with green cleaning supplies near wet floor sign

Top Challenges of Adopting Green Cleaning in Facilities

In commercial facilities, green management practices play a crucial role in protecting the environment, enhancing human health, achieving economic savings, fulfilling social responsibilities, and ensuring long-term competitiveness and compliance. By embracing sustainable practices, these buildings not only contribute to a healthier planet but also create a safer, more efficient, and more appealing environment for all […]

Global Demand Grows for Commercial Building Automation Controls

By automating technologies such as HVAC, lighting, fire and life safety, and security and access controls, building owners and facilities managers have realized they can achieve benefits such as more efficient energy consumption, increased response times to emergencies, and a healthier occupant environment. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, revenue attributed to commercial […]

CrowdStrike IT Outage: Why Facilities Managers Should Take Notice

Facilities management is one of many industries that have grown increasingly digitized and interconnected over the last several years. Technology is now integral to ensuring smooth facility operations, maintaining safety, tracking assets in real-time using the Internet of Things (IoT), optimizing the utilization of resources, and so on. As recent events have shown, when essential […]

CSB Issues Probe Update on Louisiana Facility Explosion, Toxic Release

On July 17, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a January 2023 explosion and toxic chemical release at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, La. A reboiler at the facility exploded, leading to the release of over 870 pounds (lb) of hydrogen fluoride (HF) […]

Electrical panel with clear safety warning

Illuminating Arc Flash: Unearthing Insights for a Safer Future

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s critical for facilities and building operators to ensure the safety of their electrical infrastructure. One of the two primary electrical hazards are arc flash events, which can result in significant injury to workers and major disruptions to power operations. What Is an Arc Flash? Arc flash: a term […]

Bees

Back to Basics: Pay Attention to 5 Pest Hot Spots in Your Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know.  Now that we are in the middle of summer with warmer temperatures as the norm, you might have noticed pests entering your facility. But where are they coming in, you might ask? More than just a nuisance, […]

How to Work with First Responders for Facility Emergencies

Two retired law enforcement officials believe facilities managers should work more closely with emergency responders to keep people, and the facilities they occupy, safe. Each with 33 years of law enforcement experience, Mark Wood, a retired chief executive police officer from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; and Jeri Williams, who retired after serving as the […]

Are These the Best Public Restrooms in America?

What do a convenience store, an NFL stadium, and a zoo all have in common? They’re all finalists in Cintas’ 2024 America’s Best Restroom contest. Now in its 23rd year, the annual contest celebrates businesses that develop and maintain innovative restroom facilities. After receiving submissions from the public, Cintas selected the top 10 finalists of […]