Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
During my years as a teacher and school principal, I learned that having an emergency operations plan and being prepared to respond to an emergency are not always the same thing. Most districts have emergency preparedness procedures that include conducting drills, working closely with first responders, and investing time preparing for emergencies. Those efforts certainly […]
Based on responses from retail professionals worldwide, new research shows retailers increasingly view physical security as a business function that supports operations, employee safety, and modernization efforts—not solely loss prevention. According to the 2026 State of Physical Security Report from Genetec, retailers are now using physical security data to improve broader business outcomes. More than […]
Empty schools can look quiet during summer break, but their roofs, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems remain active. With fewer people present to notice a musty odor, a stained ceiling tile, or water under a mechanical unit, a small moisture problem can spread for days or weeks. The U.S. Environmental Protection […]
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released the K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations Resource Package, a comprehensive collection of guides, videos, and supplemental materials to help K‑12 schools and districts prevent, mitigate, and respond to prevalent cyber threats. Based on current cybersecurity best practices and frameworks, the resource package outlines cost-effective, actionable, and customizable steps that […]
Heat waves are arriving earlier and lasting longer. According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, 2025 was the fourth-warmest year on record for the U.S., with average temperatures 2.6°F above the 20th-century average. With rising temperatures come increased risks to the workers caught in them—particularly those in the labor-intensive manufacturing and distribution industries. Heat […]
Managing swimming pools for multifamily communities, associations, country clubs, hotels, gyms, and other commercial facilities requires more than maintaining clear water and opening each day. Successful operations depend on disciplined systems that protect swimmers, extend asset life, and prevent safety incidents, whether operating seasonally or year-round. More often than not, safety incidents and operational disruptions […]
Retail store theft levels are stabilizing, but external theft and fraud overall continue to rise, according to a new study released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Loss Prevention Research Council. In addition, workplace violence remains a major concern for retailers. The Impact of Theft & Violence 2026 report found that retailers experienced a […]
Every day, thousands of people pass through building entrances without a second thought, until something goes wrong. A malfunctioning door during peak hours isn’t just an inconvenience; it disrupts operations, creates safety risks, and slows critical building flow. For facilities managers overseeing high-traffic environments, such as hospitals, retail centers, corporate campuses, transit hubs, and more, […]
Healthcare facilities are designed to heal people. Yet for many healthcare workers, safety has become an increasingly urgent concern. Hospitals and healthcare campuses today face a complicated environment. Teams are managing higher patient volumes, workforce shortages, increased visitor traffic, and growing concerns around workplace violence. Security leaders are being asked to do more than respond […]
You walk a 200,000-square-foot building, photograph a cracked expansion joint on the roof, a dripping valve in the mechanical room, and a blocked fire exit on the third floor, then move on. Three months later, an insurer asks you to prove you flagged that exit and that a contractor cleared it. You have 80 photos […]