Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
When a warehouse hits capacity or a maintenance shop can’t keep up with fleet growth, facilities managers face a decision that shapes the next decade of operations. The traditional path is a stick-built expansion, where general contractors frame and finish a structure on-site from raw materials. The alternative is a prefab metal building, where major […]
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has joined organizations, governments, and industry partners around the globe in recognizing World Refrigeration Day (WRD 2026) on June 26. This year’s theme, “Cool Intelligence,” showcases the innovation, expertise, and advanced technologies that are transforming refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems to operate more efficiently, […]
That’s right, 24% of under or unoccupied office space will be blasting air conditioning for nobody this summer. At the end of each day, these same vacant, cooled spaces and unused bathrooms will be cleaned by the maintenance crew. The obvious contributing factors are summer vacations, hybrid schedules, and team outings. The less obvious and […]
As we recently closed out Building Safety Month in May, it served as a great reminder for facilities managers to evaluate their passive fire protection systems. While active systems like sprinklers and alarms often get the spotlight, passive defenses—specifically fire door assemblies—are equally important for compartmentalizing smoke and flames to save lives. Over the past […]
Walk into almost any K‑12 school in America, and you’ll see evidence of intent: secured or restricted vestibules, posted check-in procedures, and safety guidelines on the wall. But walk in during the middle of a busy afternoon, and you’ll probably see something different: a door that’s been propped open, a visitor wandering past an unattended […]
With so many pressing challenges facing the world today, the worsening drought crisis in the United States deserves far more attention. As of late May 2026, more than half the country was experiencing drought conditions. Data shows that roughly 51% of the United States, including Puerto Rico, and about 61% of the contiguous forty-eight states […]
Facilities managers know the drill. The thermostat complaint arrives before the morning coffee gets cold. Someone is always too hot, someone else is always too cold, and the ticketing system fills up with grievances about stuffy air and odd smells. It can feel like an endless, unwinnable battle. A new national survey suggests those complaints […]
Industrial facilities are vulnerable to an assortment of challenges related to storage and layout. Rather than allowing these challenges to persist, facilities can address the most critical issues through strategic design decisions that enhance safety, efficiency, and overall performance. Quick remedies are a well-planned layout, good organization, and specialized storage solutions. Optimize Warehouse Layouts Poor warehouse layout design is the cause of many problems that might […]
One might expect Michael Zechman, a veteran facilities management professional at The Hershey Co., to be wary of futuristic tech such as artificial intelligence. However, he embraces it and believes AI can play a major role in FM so long as adoption is approached “thoughtfully.” In fact, he noted, “Within my organization, we are already […]
Employee discomfort, rising energy bills, and an HVAC system that’s constantly working overtime are common challenges in large facilities, with poor air circulation being the leading factor. Facilities that incorporate HVLS (high-volume, low-speed) fans can balance temperatures, improve occupant comfort, and reduce operating costs without requiring infrastructure alterations. The HVAC Is Running, and the Space […]