Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Editor’s note: In this interview with FMA sister publication EHSLeaders, Cooper Briscoe, VP of marketing at Brivo, discusses how AI-powered video intelligence helps organizations get increased value out of existing camera systems. (Edited for clarity) Q: Why hasn’t the prevalence of cameras resulted in improved safety? Briscoe: I think you have to look back at what cameras […]
In a city like Chicago, electrification rarely happens in isolation. Large retrofit projects are almost always delivered in occupied buildings, alongside active operations, and under pressure to modernize multiple systems at once. The projects that succeed understand this from the start. Electrification works best when treated as core infrastructure—the backbone that supports building automation, electric […]
A facilities manager’s day is full of urgent tasks. Managing the visitor log rarely feels urgent. But paper sign-in sheets create small costs that add up over time. First, lost records. Paper gets thrown away, coffee-stained, or torn. If an insurance adjuster asks for a thirty-day visitor history after an incident, a missing page becomes […]
Healthcare organizations have long operated under the assumption that safety is primarily a compliance requirement; something to document, monitor, and improve incrementally. However, it has become undeniable that safety has evolved into an essential constraint for maintaining workforce stability, operational continuity, and business performance. As care demand intensifies and workforce shortages persist, safety is becoming […]
Organizations operating across multiple buildings like schools, hospitals, military bases, or hotel properties face a simple reality: Fragmented communication creates risk. In an emergency, delays, confusion, or missed alerts can escalate situations quickly. End-to-end safety communication systems are emerging as a critical approach to reduce that risk, enabling organizations to prevent, respond to, and recover […]
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 […]
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. […]