Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Healthy buildings mean healthy people. A person’s environment has a major impact on mental and physical well-being, so it’s incumbent upon facilities managers to help protect building occupants and provide a positive experience. Join Facilities Management Advisor throughout Healthy Buildings Week 2023, Aug. 14-18, for FREE educational webinars and resources exploring the many tools available […]
ASHRAE has announced its newly approved standard for airborne infection risk mitigation in indoor spaces. ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols establishes minimum requirements to reduce the risk of disease transmission by exposure to infectious aerosols in new buildings, existing buildings, and major renovations. Infectious aerosols are tiny, exhaled particles that can carry disease-causing pathogens […]
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry group ASHRAE has joined organizations, government agencies, and companies worldwide to support World Refrigeration Day. Celebrated on June 26th each year, the annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about the significant role of refrigeration and air conditioning to modern life. This year’s theme, “Next Generation Cooling,” highlights […]
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 […]
On May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its “Ventilation in Buildings” guidelines to include a discussion on “How much ventilation is enough?” to help prevent airborne disease transmission. “When possible, aim for 5 or more air changes per hour (ACH) of clean air to help reduce the number of germs […]
When I visited a resort casino in my region, I noticed it added touchless features to its elevators, which bring guests from the parking garage to the casino level. A sticker on the wall in the garage’s elevator lobby instructs visitors to wave their hands near a small black box near the buttons to call […]
Twenty-five of the world’s leading building industry organizations, including ASHRAE and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), have issued a joint statement to government representatives attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27). Titled “Building Industry Steps Up to Address Climate Change,” the statement serves as a pledge from the signatories that they will […]
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association announced the launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, a new coalition of more than 40 national organizations, industry leaders, and trade associations collaborating to support and advance federal policy aimed at helping businesses and organizations better afford and implement health and safety improvements […]
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council has released a new report detailing how K-12 school districts around the country have continued to manage indoor air quality (IAQ) within their schools during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which was co-authored with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and developed […]
Safely getting employees, clients, and customers back into buildings remains top of mind for facilities professionals of all stripes, and many are looking to technology to help with the process. UV light has tremendous potential to help mitigate airborne pathogens, but unfamiliarity with this decades-old germicide has prevented some building and facility engineers from incorporating […]