2021 January
Every building has risers. These are supply lines, usually made of copper, metal, or plastic, that deliver water to and from water-using fixtures like sinks, toilets, urinals, and showers. Each fixture is fitted with a U-shaped water trap, commonly known as a U-trap or P-trap. The primary purpose of these traps is to prevent sewer gases from being released into the facility using water as a barrier. Deadly pathogens can spread if this water is allowed to evaporate.
2020 December
Light is rarely the focal point of a space. Aside from a rainbow after a rainstorm or a sunset over the ocean, we often don’t even see light, we just see with it. That may be one reason lighting considerations occur as an afterthought for many facilities. Despite the significant energy efficiency improvements of LED lighting, lights typically fly under the radar of a building’s occupants.
2020 December
Even in highly automated production environments, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for startup/shutdown, material loading/unloading, line switchovers, clean-in-place, maintenance preparation and other tasks are still completed manually, using paper-based systems. Unfortunately, this creates a significant disconnect between equipment operators and the rest of the automated process.
2020 December
Electric power plants must meet EPA and local wastewater requirements for effluent, including those under the Clean Water Act. Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has identified 65 pollutants and classes of pollutants as “toxic pollutants”, of which 126 specific substances have been designated “priority” toxic pollutants. Failing to do so can result in severe fines that quickly escalate.
2020 November
Multiple states across the U.S. are making a concerted effort to address climate change by minimizing carbon emissions through strict, fine-enforced limits. Buildings, specifically those in the commercial and residential sectors, have come under intense scrutiny for their high emission rates which account for approximately 39% of all carbon emissions in the U.S.
2020 November
As the more immediate impact of mandated shutdowns, employee layoffs and shelter-in-place orders begin to shift to the longer-term goals of recovering from the economic impact, companies will be forced to re-evaluate the role of Information Technology (IT).
2020 November
COVID-19 has had major impacts on businesses today. In preparing their facilities for the approaching cold weather, they now have additional responsibilities to endure to ensure that their facilities are properly sanitized and meeting new regulatory and safety guidelines. Winterizing equipment and facilities are just a few of the major tasks but having the right tools to help you manage these tasks is just as important.
2020 October
In March of this year, facility managers throughout North America began purchasing as many sanitizers and disinfectants as possible. That’s when it became clear COVID-19 was invading our shores, with the possibility that hundreds if not thousands of people would become infected. We now know the situation, at least the U.S., is far worse than anyone could have imagined back in March.
2020 October
When it comes to designing and constructing an office’s electrical lighting system, facility managers must realize that lighting is no longer about seeing or being decorative. Today, lighting is also about feeling, which directly impacts employees’ health, morale and productivity – all of which can significantly affect their work productivity and your company’s bottom line.
2020 October
The ability of advanced automated parking systems to increase parking density by 200% to 300% compared to traditional parking structures in the same footprint has given developers a new tool to optimize building designs. These extremely space efficient systems could be particularly helpful when developing projects in high-cost, urban areas where available land is scarce.