2017 July
School administrators have known for years that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can have a negative impact on the health and performance of students, teachers and all other staff. And, according to the Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM), one of the many triggers of asthma, especially for children, is the cleaning solutions normally used to maintain schools.
2017 July
For today’s building operators, a well-designed BAS works the way they do – quickly and remotely. In many organizations, the facility department is staffed with fewer people than the departments of 10 years ago, and it is not unusual for those who work in the department to come to their positions with less experience in building systems, so building operators are expected to do more with less.
2017 July
Facilities managers continue to struggle with budget limitations, and attempting a quick fix can often overshadow return on investment strategies. The rental of throw down mats for building entrances may seem like it would save money, but may not do so in the long run.
2017 June
The goal of optimization is to make mechanical systems work at peak effectiveness all the time. Healthcare and campus facility directors can optimize even the most demanding environments, outfitted with new or existing equipment, with a combination of energy engineering, relational control software, and a technical support platform that keeps systems at commissioned levels.
2017 June
Planned preventive maintenance or PPM is performed while a piece of equipment is performing well. The goal is to keep it operating well by checking, lubricating, and/or replacing any components that may cause more serious problems down the road.
2017 June
Many facilities built in the 70s and 80s continue to operate and maintain aging induction-based air conditioning units originally installed in each room or space. Not to be confused with fan-driven systems, these quieter, more efficient alternatives have no fans, blowers or moving parts and so can continue to operate for decades.
2017 June
Since 2007, ASHRAE 90.1 has required continuous insulation (CI) in most U.S. climate zones. Sixteen states have mandatory statewide commercial energy codes that meet or exceed that standard. California has gone even farther with its Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards. As a result, architects and contractors have had to pay additional attention to creating well-insulated building envelopes.
2017 May
Daylighting not only enhances the function and beauty of these venues for students, athletes, and spectators, but also makes viewing clearer and colors truer. Functionally, studies have shown that such daylight exposure can also enhance health, energy, and mood.
2017 May
Floor coverings represent a significant investment in any facility, which makes caring for them an important part of a facility maintenance program. The goal of a good maintenance program is to extend the useful life of the flooring while contributing to that always-important first impression as students, parents, patients, employees and visitors enter a building for the first time.
2017 May
Trash cans are traditionally located at every workstation in an office setting. For a small office, they may number as few as 10, all lined with plastic liners. For a large corporate center with thousands of workers, there very likely are several thousand trash cans.