Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Unplanned downtime is one of the most expensive problems a facility can face. According to ABB’s Value of Reliability report, two-thirds of companies deal with unplanned downtime at least once a month, at a median cost of $125,000 per hour. Electrical system failures are a leading contributor to that figure, yet the vast majority are […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Water pumps are among the most critical (and most underestimated) assets in modern facilities. They quietly support HVAC systems, boiler feed operations, domestic water supply, wastewater handling, cooling towers, irrigation, fire protection, and sanitation. When pumps operate […]
As winter turns to spring, facilities teams have their work cut out from them transitioning from heat to cooling, ensuring their centralized HVAC system is properly serviced and ready for sustained use. Before shifting all their attention to cooling needs, though, facilities managers should also be mindful of end-of-season maintenance requirements for their heating solutions. […]
Restaurant operators are navigating one of the most challenging business environments in recent memory, marked by rising food and labor costs, staffing shortages, and heightened customer expectations. But even in this climate, many are finding efficiency and resilience through technology and automation behind the scenes and strengthening performance where it’s greatly needed—in the kitchen and […]
Facility leaders today operate under significant pressure. Budgets are tight, labor is scarce, and ESG commitments are under scrutiny. Executive teams want proof (not promises) that facilities are performing efficiently and safely. Instinct is no longer enough. The leaders who are gaining ground aren’t necessarily those with the largest teams or the newest buildings, but […]
Handwashing is an action that’s done millions of times every day in homes, workplaces, schools, stores, and a multitude of other locations across the country. To delve deeper into this daily habit, the 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Co. posed a series of questions to U.S. adults and uncovered some interesting findings. In the […]
Facilities leaders are tasked with planning, protecting, and growing facilities, making the facilities teams stewards of more data than ever before. But despite facilities’ expertise and the information at their fingertips, stakeholders outside of their departments—like finance—still misunderstand or undervalue facilities work because the technical language and metrics don’t translate to financial frameworks. As a result, investments are delayed, upgrades deferred, and the organization exposed to risks that could have been avoided—all because the […]
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will spend $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 to modernize, repair, and improve healthcare facilities as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) program, which makes infrastructure improvements to healthcare facilities to ensure safe and effective patient care. This is the largest single-year NRM […]
It is the responsibility of manufacturing leadership to refine processes, make them leaner, and lower their facility’s carbon footprint—and to do that, they’ll need the help of facilities managers. Many conventional practices have become so embedded in the sector that their wastefulness is overlooked. It is time to think critically about how these procedures impact […]
In facilities management, peer-to-peer connections are among the strongest found in any industry. These relationships are sustained by a shared mission to “roll up our sleeves” and “get our hands dirty” while tackling the complex operational, technical, and organizational issues facing educational and commercial properties. While the unique challenges of this field promote strong bonds, […]