Health & Safety
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Johnson Controls relaunches Connected Sprinkler service
The service, which integrates with existing sprinkler systems, can help facility managers shift to predictive maintenance, limit downtime and potentially reduce insurance premiums, the company says.
By Joe Burns • June 24, 2025 -
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Targeted investment, tech can sustain critical infrastructure
To help communities bounce back after disaster, jurisdictions must identify gaps in lifeline systems and cost-effective ways to mend them, panelists at the Building Innovation 2025 conference said.
By Julie Strupp • June 18, 2025 -
Retrieved from Exhale Fans on June 17, 2025
Bladeless ceiling fan maker touts design’s energy, air quality benefits
Pulling cool, dry air from the floor and redistributing it across the room can save operators money while improving indoor air quality, a bladeless fan manufacturer says.
By Joe Burns • June 17, 2025 -
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OpinionICE preparedness is crucial for hoteliers in 2025
As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns spread nationwide, hotels should prioritize tools and training to create a safe environment for workers and guests alike.
By Nikki Marín Baena • June 17, 2025 -
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Gettysburg quishing scam highlights facilities’ vulnerability
Parking services are sometimes a target. Scammers are using QR codes to redirect people away from legitimate payment methods, safety bulletins say.
By Robert Freedman • June 12, 2025 -
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Fire risk keeps spotlight on lithium batteries as backup energy source
Facilities managers must make a risk-benefit calculation if they’re looking at the batteries for on-site energy storage, news developments show.
By Robert Freedman • May 30, 2025 -
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Indoor air quality even more important in early childhood: Harvard
IAQ has powerful effects on babies and young children. Research suggests operators of childcare facilities, schools and community centers should place more emphasis on improving indoor environments.
By Joe Burns • May 28, 2025 -
Courtesy of Lit Thinking
Company touts new generation of UVC light to kill pathogens in occupied rooms
By using light on a shorter wavelength, the ultraviolet C bulbs can eliminate pathogens without penetrating skin and eyes, says Lit Thinking CEO John Rajchert.
By Robert Freedman • May 20, 2025 -
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Big verdicts in premises liability cases put spotlight on facilities managers
Verdicts in the tens of millions of dollars are increasingly common in cases involving organizations’ physical spaces, and the trend is likely to persist, a risk manager says.
By Robert Freedman • May 19, 2025 -
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Proxy votes to test if casinos lower costs by banning smoking
Less spending is needed on HVAC and cleaning, among other facilities functions, if companies adopt smoke-free policies, an advocacy organization says.
By Robert Freedman • April 30, 2025 -
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Poor facilities cited among reasons Connecticut shut down Paier College
The private art college withdrew its petition to reopen last month. It lost its accreditation and closed last fall because of mounting problems with its operations and academic programs.
By Robert Freedman • April 24, 2025 -
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Will you be held liable for third-party violence on your property? ‘Foreseeability’ is key
You can get hit for negligent security by the victim’s estate if you don’t take appropriate steps based on what you know about the area, an attorney says.
By Robert Freedman • April 23, 2025 -
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With AI leak detection, 20% lower insurance costs possible, says water management company
Symmons Industries is partnering with data company Caylent to help facilities managers spot water issues before they lead to costly damage.
By Joe Burns • Updated April 22, 2025 -
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MassBio, Veolia extend waste contract to include decarbonization, energy efficiency services
The new services will help consortium members in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., meet carbon reduction requirements, Veolia North America says.
By Joe Burns • April 21, 2025 -
"City Hall" [Photograph]. Retrieved from City of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Brockton, Mass., leverages energy savings contract to preserve, improve two historic buildings
New window, lighting and HVAC systems aim to reduce energy and improve air quality, including in one building that has been unusable in extreme weather.
By Joe Burns • April 11, 2025 -
Ousted school facilities chief had lost the trust of parents over lead abatement
Community groups had been calling for the dismissal of Milwaukee Public Schools facilities director Sean Kane for what they said was a failure to act on risks and follow safe practices.
By Robert Freedman • April 4, 2025 -
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Why HVAC efficiency shouldn’t downplay outdoor air
Focusing on filtration alone is unnecessary and could compromise occupant well-being, IAQ specialists say.
By Robert Freedman • April 2, 2025 -
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Digitizing emergency operations can ensure plans are accessible
Hard copies of procedures can be time-consuming to locate or use when it matters most, according to 911inform.
By Joe Burns • March 28, 2025 -
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Daikin, Poppy partner to accelerate building ventilation rate testing
Adding Poppy’s real-time air-tracing and ventilation solutions to Daikin products and services can help buildings reduce energy costs and meet IAQ standards, the companies say.
By Joe Burns • March 27, 2025 -
Courtesy of Eagle Eye Networks
Sensors help building operators detect vaping
The sensors can also monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 levels to make air quality easier to manage, the manufacturer says.
By Robert Freedman • March 25, 2025 -
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Routine HVAC cleaning can lower energy use and help meet ventilation standards, study says
Cleaning can be a cost-effective tool for increasing occupant comfort and health and building energy efficiency, researchers from two universities found.
By Joe Burns • March 20, 2025 -
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Operational changes, education can help curb cleaning complaints, survey says
Implementing daytime cleaning schedules, staff training and occupancy technology can reduce the amount of “subjective or frivolous” complaints and help to optimize operations.
By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025 -
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Occupancy-based controls found to cut energy use 22%
Implementing ceiling- and wall-mounted sensors connected to a building management system could pay for themselves in two years, a Schneider Electric paper says.
By Joe Burns • March 12, 2025 -
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HVAC improvements shown to improve student outcomes
Metrics on absenteeism, suspension rates and math scores did better as upgrades or replacements were made, a study finds.
By Robert Freedman • March 10, 2025 -
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Improving IAQ means looking beyond ventilation strategies
With technology like germicidal UV and building management systems, it’s possible to improve indoor air quality without driving up HVAC costs, experts say.
By Joe Burns • March 6, 2025
