Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
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 […]
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. The morning looks like any other: elevators moving, tenants badging in, the lobby filling with familiar faces. Then—gunfire erupts in the lobby. Security scrambles for their radio. By the time 911 confirms, chaos has […]
With the Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is urging chemical facilities to prevent major chemical releases that could result from high winds and other extreme weather events. Although the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a below- normal hurricane season this year, the threat posed […]
Walk onto any industrial facility floor, and you’ll likely spot layers of personal protective equipment (PPE) safeguarding workers: hard hats for maintenance crews, safety glasses in mechanical rooms, hearing protection in high-noise environments, flame-resistant clothing in hot work zones, and self-retracting lifelines and harnesses at elevated sites. The equipment is visible, essential, and mandated by […]
Large commercial building projects, such as data centers, warehouses, distribution centers, and office parks, can be among the most complex and hazardous worksites. The leading safety hazards in construction are well known. The industry’s “fatal four” safety hazards are caught-in or -between hazards, electrocution, falls, and struck-by hazards. (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] […]
Your organization operates in a world where threats come from multiple angles and the damage from any kind of physical or cyber breach can be significant and long-lasting. Every facility visit, every meeting, and every interaction, physical or virtual, carries its own unique security and compliance implications and risk. Because of that, your organization cannot […]
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University has published new research in partnership with the Security Industry Association (SIA) that examines school safety in the United States and how schools can prevent, mitigate, and reduce the impact of active shooter events. The study, titled “The Role of Locked Doors and Access Control in School-Based […]
Video surveillance systems are evolving from passive recording to cloud-native AI-powered systems that provide risk detection, notification, and real-time information for facilities managers. The cloud and artificial intelligence are essential to this transformation, enabling remote access, ongoing updates, custom searches, and business-specific reports. These new capabilities create both opportunity and tension. While AI cloud-based systems […]
Hospitals face unique physical security challenges stemming from their complex layouts and round-the-clock operations. Unlike traditional office buildings, healthcare facilities must balance stringent access control with the need for rapid emergency response. Facilities managers can protect staff, patients, and assets through strategic, budget-conscious security measures that address the sector’s distinct vulnerabilities without compromising operational efficiency. […]
Warehousing is evolving faster than ever. Rising e-commerce demand, tightening labor markets, and increasing pressure to move higher product volumes in less time have pushed facilities to accelerate technology adoption. By 2027, an estimated 26% of warehouses are expected to be partly automated, yet in the race toward efficiency, many operators risk missing a critical […]