Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Ohio school leaders can now apply for a share of $9.01 million in grants for safety-related projects for the 2026-27 academic year. The funding, approved by the 136th General Assembly as part of House Bill 96, can be used for a wide range of school safety needs. Ohio is one […]
Violence in healthcare is a significant problem, with both physical and financial consequences. In 2022, the American Hospital Association (AHA) reported that nearly 17,000 hospital workers experienced nonfatal injuries or illnesses related to workplace violence that were serious enough to require time off. The AHA also recently reported that workplace and community violence is costing U.S. hospitals over $18 […]
More than three-quarters of Americans (77.4%) believe gun detection technology should be deployed in schools, workplaces, and other public spaces like houses of worship, according to a new report from Eagle Eye Networks. The national survey, which polled over 1,000 consumers in 10 major cities, shows strong support for incorporating camera-based gun detection into existing video […]
On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Melissa Sokolowsky, a senior project manager at the Smart Buildings Center, discusses the elements that make up a smart building. This clip was taken from a webinar titled, “From Brick to Click: The Rise of Smart Building Tech in FM.” The full session is available for FREE on-demand […]
In an ongoing effort to ensure school safety, the Virginia Department of Education has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 433 schools across 99 divisions. “Every parent wants to know their child is safe at school, and these school security infrastructure grants help make that promise real,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne […]
It’s late November at a major international airport. A woman walks calmly past a line of travelers, glides through what appears to be an airline personnel lane, and approaches a gate. She doesn’t show a boarding pass. She didn’t clear a traveler security checkpoint. Yet she boards a flight bound for Europe, undetected, unverified, and […]
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a timely reminder that today’s facilities managers aren’t just responsible for physical spaces, but also for the digital systems that power them. For an in-depth discussion on smart building cybersecurity, please don’t miss the upcoming webinar, “Facilities in the Digital Era: How to Defend Against Cyberattacks.” More event info and FREE […]
Higher education institutions across the United States have experienced tightened budgets because of fluctuating enrollment rates, increasing costs, and a surge in security demands. As a result, facilities managers have had to make strategic cuts and reallocate resources without compromising efficiency, safety, and compliance. Investing in new technologies and training is crucial for surveillance and […]
While most facilities managers view access control as a security necessity, forward-thinking managers are discovering it’s a powerful operational asset. Today’s smart access control platforms deliver measurable return on investment (ROI) beyond security, from reducing administrative overhead and automating compliance reporting to optimizing space utilization. Let’s look at three broad capabilities that facilities managers can […]
Indiana officials have approved nearly $27.1 million in grants to support security initiatives at 494 schools across the state. The funding comes from the Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) program. Established in 2013 and administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the program issues matching grants to public and private schools, charter schools, and school coalitions. […]