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Survey: Skilled Labor Shortage to Remain Top Concern in 2025

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its third annual Industry Trends Survey, which reveals skilled worker sentiments around the current state of labor, training, and technology on the jobsite. The survey provides a look at what the skilled trades industry can expect in each of these areas in 2025. The findings are based […]

A 6-Step Guide to Create a Deferred Maintenance Strategy

Deferred maintenance, a common challenge in facilities and plant management, involves postponing necessary repairs and upkeep due to constraints like budget or resources. The delay often leads to an accumulation of tasks, exacerbating issues and inflating future costs. The significance of deferred maintenance spans across diverse organizational settings, impacting operational reliability in manufacturing plants and […]

Advantages and Challenges of Green Roofs

Green roofs, also known as rooftop gardens, are planted over a waterproofing membrane and cover a facility’s roof with vegetation. Facilities managers should consider green roofs for stormwater management and energy savings, as well as to provide rooftop gardens, educational spaces, and urban food production. Facilities managers should also consider incorporating green roofs into new […]

Back to Basics: PSAP and EOC Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. With April being Emergency Communications Month, let’s spotlight facilities that are vital in responding to emergencies. Public safety answering points (PSAPs) and emergency operations centers (EOCs) are critical facilities that provide essential services to the community […]

Abandoned office with many papers on the floor

New Study Highlights Impact of Messy Office on Workers

Anyone who has ever worked a 9-to-5 job have stories about someone in the workplace whose bad habits or hygiene bothered everyone. Their idiosyncrasies went far beyond a messy desk; issues ranging from having loud-personal phone conversations and wearing too much fragrance to someone clipping their toenails or even snoring at their desk! Certainly, these […]

4 Ways to Prepare Your Facilities for Winter

With winter on its way, it’s time for facilities managers not only to prepare for snow and ice and winterize their irrigation systems, but also to examine the interior and exterior elements of their facilities. Whether you manage a large facility like a college or hospital campus or a small facility like a small office […]

Lessons in Sustainability: Three Universities Creating Green Campuses

Higher education plays a key role in how we address the challenges of climate change—not only in our scientific understanding of the cause and effect of carbon emissions, but also in how our built spaces can adapt. Because many college and university campuses feature historical (even outdated) infrastructure, many are taking opportunities to build new […]

4 Ways to Ensure Data Privacy in Smart Buildings

Companies remain incentivized and pressured to switch to smart technologies, as they significantly improve efficiency, reduce energy costs, and provide analytics that support green initiatives. However, the more tech a business implements, the more susceptible it is to data compromises. Nations worldwide are working to enact legislation to bolster data privacy and data use transparency […]

2024 TSA Canine Calendar Highlights Bomb-Sniffing Dogs

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released the 2024 TSA Canine Calendar, an annual tradition that honors the agency’s more than 1,000 explosives detection canines working across the United States. The 2024 TSA Canine Calendar is available for immediate download here. TSA uses canines as part of its multilayered security operations nationwide and also trains about 300 […]

Adjusting Facility Design to Meet Today’s Security Demands

When designing facilities from the ground up, several key safety factors are understandably considered to ensure the safety of occupants. HVAC and fire code compliance—like fire suppression systems, smoke detectors, and proper ventilation—are crucial. Planners ensure new facilities have clear exit paths, accessible exits, and adequate lighting. Facilities may incorporate basic security measures such as […]