2020 April
The winter season brought damaging weather and precipitation for roads, sidewalks, and – importantly for facility managers – parking lots. With the cold weather and snow behind us and spring now in full effect, it’s time for facility managers to evaluate their parking lots for any defects in need of repair.
2020 April
Without proper asset management, equipment and tools shared across departments or jobsites can be misplaced, lost, stolen, or inadequately maintained. Asset and financial audits can get complicated. So, asset tags are utilized to ensure efficient workflow, reduce administrative overhead, and keep tools and equipment in good working order.
2020 March
By now, many facility managers are undoubtedly familiar with the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), which enables 24/7 monitoring and captures insightful data that can help organizations continually improve operations. Over the next several years, the IoT is estimated to have an economic impact of up to $11.1 trillion, and experts predict there will be more than 75 billion IoT-connected devices by 2025.
2020 March
The demands on facility managers are significant. You have to battle on several different fronts at the same time. From occupants to contractors, from building owners to your team, everybody is looking to you for the success of the facility. Whether challenges are big or small, it’s essential to understand how focus and clarity on each of them will help to improve overall performance.
2020 March
With the wave of a hand or the press of a button, today’s generation has instant access to technology never before imagined. Accessibility standards similarly follow suit, with automation now becoming the next frontier driving building design. In schools and health care facilities, automated systems have vastly improved the lives of those with disabilities.
2020 February
An elevator is often a part of a building that doesn’t receive a second thought until something goes wrong with it. And should a problem arise – like a malfunctioning door or a broken cable – it disrupts the entire flow of operations and can become a nightmare to deal with. That’s why an elevator maintenance plan is so important.
2020 February
Construction projects in public spaces such as schools and hospitals are on the rise across the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, education construction is estimated to have exceeded $98.9 billion in 2018; and in that same year, 12 hospitals and health systems announced or unveiled facility expansions and renovations with price tags of 1 billion dollars.
2020 February
A contractor tells his assistant to put a drain cleaning machine in a ditch filled with water. The frayed extension cord lies across the wet ground. The assistant, wearing rubber boots, tries to use the machine but complains he is getting shocked. The contractor calls his helper a sissy and gets in the ditch wearing street shoes. When he turns on the machine, he is electrocuted.
2020 January
Emergency lighting is a fundamental feature of fire safety and emergency evacuation, playing a critical, life-saving role in commercial and industrial settings. Should a power outage occur, effective emergency lighting will direct the occupants out of the facility safely. Where the system is ineffective, people’s lives are put at risk and the outcome can be devastating.
2020 January
Winter is here, which means many areas in the U.S. are experiencing plunging temperatures and snowstorms. While a winter wonderland can be beautiful to watch from the comfort of a warm and cozy building, the weather associated with the season can be less than ideal when tracked indoors – especially for those who have to clean it up.