Tag: fire safety

Why Modern Facilities Management Must Pivot from Manual to Automated Fire Safety

By James Pecz, Ramtech North America Jun 18, 2026 Data Centers

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  For decades, facilities management has remained relatively static: protect the building envelope, manage HVAC, and ensure critical safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, are maintained. However, the landscape is shifting. As infrastructure becomes more […]

Chemical Safety Board Urges Facilities to Avoid Disaster During Hurricane Season

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jun 5, 2026 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

With the Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is urging chemical facilities to prevent major chemical releases that could result from high winds and other extreme weather events. Although the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a below- normal hurricane season this year, the threat posed […]

What a Wildland Firefighter Wants Facilities Managers to Know About Ember Risk

By Nicholai Allen, SAFE SOSS Mar 17, 2026 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

As a wildland firefighter who has spent multiple seasons on firelines across California and the western United States, I have seen firsthand that many commercial structures are lost to embers long before the main fire front ever reaches the building. Recent data suggests that model is increasingly insufficient. Facilities managers are now operating in a […]

CSB Releases Safety Video on Combustible Dust Explosions

By Guy Burdick, Contributing Writer Feb 13, 2026 Fire Safety

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

On February 4, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the fatal combustible dust explosions and fires at the Didion Milling facility in Cambria, Wisconsin, on May 31, 2017. Five of the 19 employees working on the night of the incident were killed. The other 14 were […]

Connected Buildings, Connected Compliance: The Case for Digital Tools

By Kyle Spencer, NFPA Jan 20, 2026 Building Controls

Updated: Jan 20, 2026

When you think of a building, you probably think of a lifeless, static structure. And while that’s technically true, modern-day technology is transforming buildings into something more “alive.” Backed by Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and data integration, buildings are becoming increasingly interconnected, creating intelligent ecosystems where every system—down to the HVAC, security, and lighting—is […]

Policy and Compliance

Back to Basics: Why Compliance Frameworks Matter in Facilities Management

By Edrian Blasquino, Contributing Writer Jan 15, 2026 Back to Basics

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Have you ever walked into a building and felt immediately safe and organized? From clean hallways to working elevators, much of that confidence comes from compliance frameworks quietly working behind the scenes. A fire alarm that sounds […]

Back to Basics: The Importance of Fire Detection in Commercial Facilities

By Dr. Rodger Reiswig, Johnson Controls Dec 16, 2025 Back to Basics

Updated: Dec 16, 2025

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. For commercial facilities, effective fire detection guidelines are not just a safety measure—they are a necessity. The U.S. Fire Administration 2023 Fire Estimate reported that over a 10-year span in nonresidential buildings, there were 110,000 fires, 130 […]

Fire Prevention Week Focuses on Lithium-Ion Battery Risks

By Joe Bebon, Editor Oct 6, 2025 Fire Safety

Updated: Oct 6, 2025

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has kicked off its annual Fire Prevention Week, which is celebrated throughout North America every October and is the oldest U.S. public health observance on record. The 2025 campaign will run Oct. 5-11. This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” aims to educate everyone about using […]

CSB Offers Update on Probe of Fatal Explosion at Nebraska Facility

By Guy Burdick, Contributing Writer Sep 29, 2025 Fire Safety

Updated: Sep 29, 2025

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) recently offered an update on its continuing investigation into a fatal explosion and fire on July 29 at the Horizon Biofuels facility in Fremont, Neb. “Preliminary evidence points to a combustible wood dust explosion, a well-known—and completely avoidable—hazard in wood processing,” CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in […]

Campus Fire Safety Campaign Offers Top Tips and Stats

By Joe Bebon, Editor Sep 3, 2025 Fire Safety

Updated: Sep 3, 2025

As the new school year approaches, thousands of college students nationwide are moving into dormitories and off-campus housing, which can lead to a major rise in campus fire hazards. That means facilities managers should remain vigilant about fire safety and help provide resources to key stakeholders. Through their annual Campus Fire Safety Month campaign every September, the National […]