Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Contact with electricity or exposure to it remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States, according to an analysis recently released by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). ESFI gathered data on fatal and non-fatal occupational electrical injuries from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Occupational Safety […]
Unplanned downtime is one of the most expensive problems a facility can face. According to ABB’s Value of Reliability report, two-thirds of companies deal with unplanned downtime at least once a month, at a median cost of $125,000 per hour. Electrical system failures are a leading contributor to that figure, yet the vast majority are […]
An incident unfolds in a parking garage. Someone is assaulted. A medical emergency occurs. The immediate response is to call 911, yet the call will not connect. This scenario is not hypothetical. Facilities managers and technology leaders regularly report persistent signal gaps in below-grade structures. One client described it as a recurring concern: not whether […]
Manufacturing facilities managers understand that even a singular issue, such as a broken bearing in a machine, can disrupt operations. It’s the kind of issue that can shut down an entire manufacturing operation and rack up serious costs fast. Keeping a large manufacturing facility running means finding tiny cracks before they turn into huge holes. Standard upkeep usually follows a rigid calendar, which often relies on averages rather than real-time equipment […]
It’s here! It’s finally here! After brutal temps pummeled much of the country during winter, March 20th marks the first official day of spring. For facilities managers, the warmer weather provides opportunities to tackle tasks delayed during the cold and to give everything a nice refresh. However, the new season also poses some challenges like […]
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 […]
As winter turns to spring, facilities teams have their work cut out from them transitioning from heat to cooling, ensuring their centralized HVAC system is properly serviced and ready for sustained use. Before shifting all their attention to cooling needs, though, facilities managers should also be mindful of end-of-season maintenance requirements for their heating solutions. […]
Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. In many organizations, facilities management (FM) is still viewed as a cost center. Something breaks. It gets repaired. The invoice gets paid. When budgets tighten, FM is often one of the first places company […]
Restaurant operators are navigating one of the most challenging business environments in recent memory, marked by rising food and labor costs, staffing shortages, and heightened customer expectations. But even in this climate, many are finding efficiency and resilience through technology and automation behind the scenes and strengthening performance where it’s greatly needed—in the kitchen and […]
For many companies in many different industries, maintenance is shifting from a back‑office cost to a strategic lever for productivity, safety, and ESG performance. For facility leaders, the real challenge is moving from firefighting to data‑driven operations without turning digitization into just another IT project. From Firefighting to a Maintenance Roadmap According to Timly’s Maintenance […]