Category: Back to Basics

Back to Basics: Facility Cleaning for Seasonal Change

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. As the seasons change, facilities often experience a buildup of residue, wear, and debris from shifting weather conditions and daily traffic. Increased foot traffic, moisture, outdoor elements, and the spread of germs can quickly lead to visible […]

Back to Basics: How Smart Sensors and AI Work Together

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Smart buildings do much more than automate routine tasks. Today, facilities management teams can combine smart sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) to create workplaces that operate more efficiently, safely, and intelligently. This combination is known as the […]

Back to Basics: The Role of HVAC Coils in Improving Indoor Air Quality and Humidity Control

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. One of the key benefits of an HVAC system is that it can manage cooling, heating, and ventilation in an integrated system with minimal day-to-day input from facilities managers. It keeps a space cool, warm, and ventilated in […]

Back to Basics: Contractor and Temporary Worker Safety

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Many workplaces are staffed by workers with different employers—a host company, contractors, and staffing agencies. If you own or operate a facility, you have complete responsibility for the health and safety of your own employees and a […]

Back to Basics: The True Cost of Water Pump Downtime in Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Water pumps are among the most critical (and most underestimated) assets in modern facilities. They quietly support HVAC systems, boiler feed operations, domestic water supply, wastewater handling, cooling towers, irrigation, fire protection, and sanitation. When pumps operate […]

Back to Basics: Winter Hazards and Worker Safety

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Are you and your employees prepared for cold winter temperatures and extreme weather hazards? Even if your facility or worksites are outside the country’s “snow belt,” you need to be mindful of cold-weather hazards. Workers unaccustomed to […]

Policy and Compliance

Back to Basics: Why Compliance Frameworks Matter in Facilities Management

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Have you ever walked into a building and felt immediately safe and organized? From clean hallways to working elevators, much of that confidence comes from compliance frameworks quietly working behind the scenes. A fire alarm that sounds […]

Back to Basics: The Importance of Fire Detection in Commercial Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. For commercial facilities, effective fire detection guidelines are not just a safety measure—they are a necessity. The U.S. Fire Administration 2023 Fire Estimate reported that over a 10-year span in nonresidential buildings, there were 110,000 fires, 130 […]

Back to Basics: Warehouse Safety Hazards and Requirements

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. The injury rate for workers in the warehousing and storage industry is 4.8 injuries per 100 workers, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data—higher than the average rate of 2.7 injuries per 100 workers for all U.S. […]

Back to Basics: Cooling Tower Maintenance to Reduce Legionella Risks

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. The recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City led to dozens of hospitalizations and multiple fatalities. This incident is part of a concerning trend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of […]