Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $13 million in funding for 17 projects to implement energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience technologies at federal facilities across the country. According to the DOE, the projects will use energy performance contracts at no additional up-front cost to the government and will lower energy […]
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 […]
Now more than ever, facility managers need to consider hygiene practices for worker health and safety—especially in the restrooms. The need for clean, hygienic, and safe restroom environments has never been greater due to the unprecedented spread—and lingering presence—of coronavirus. Restrooms are unique in that they are tight, enclosed spaces; have multiple touchpoints (about 10 […]
Recent tracking finds around seven out of 10 Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that around six out of 10 remote workers support vaccine requirements to gain entry into places like high-rise workplaces or other such business centers. So, how can […]
A new national survey of K-12 teachers, commissioned by Global Plasma Solutions (GPS), shows that more than two-thirds are turning down or turning off portable, in-room, HEPA air purifiers (one of the most frequently deployed technologies) as a result of the noise they can generate in classrooms. Turning the portable units down or off reduces […]
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 […]
After the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on November 4, 2021, a number of lawsuits were filed challenging the agency’s ability to enforce the rule. After the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the cases (or put them on hold), the 6th Circuit […]
Entrance floor mats are crucial in helping to keep facilities clean, safe, and healthy throughout the year. And with colder, wetter, and icier weather right around the corner, their value is more important now than ever. Because of this, all building owners and facility managers should know how important floor mats are. While there are […]
Building operations account for a whopping 35% of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and renovating them is a key strategy for combating climate change, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). However, less than 1% of buildings are retrofitted each year, partly stemming from the high cost of identifying what retrofits a building―or especially […]