Table of contents for February - March 2015 in Facility Management

All solar shading, whether mounted outside, inter pane or inside the glass, must be motorised so it can be controlled on the basis of the changing outdoor climate. I have often met project consultants who assume that manually controlled solar shadings are moved and adjusted more than 50 percent of the time. Experience and recent research shows something very different. A recent study on live buildings, conducted by Lausanne-based company Estia, has shown that manually controlled shades are moved on average 1.75 times per week during a year. This means that all pre-calculations on energy made so far show results that are far too good and are, in fact, unrealistic. The solar shading industry, today, offers a wide spectrum of smart controlling solutions – everything from smaller, plug-and-play solutions to…

Over the last few years, indoor positioning technology has taken off and attracted a lot of excitement across many industries – from retailers to healthcare – about the opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase revenues with indoor location-based services (LBS). This has led information technology (IT) leaders to grapple with another new dimension. This is particularly challenging because, as with any major new emerging technology, indoor positioning is undergoing rapid evolution along multiple competing paths. Here’s an overview of current technologies: There are five basic approaches to solving the problem of indoor positioning that have been evolving rapidly – and gradually starting to converge – over the last few years. 1. Wi-Fi fingerprinting A software-only, device-based approach that reads the digital signatures of the Wi-Fi network. Pros: device-based…

According to a recent report by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), the energy consumption of the Federal Government’s office buildings and assets equates to almost 1.8 million tonnes of carbon and 7.8 million gigajoules of energy per year. Improving the energy efficiency of these buildings could not only save thousands of tonnes of carbon, but also save millions in taxpayer dollars every year. This is a clear win-win for local governments keen to save money, as well as improve the community’s amenities with green and sustainable workplaces and dwellings. Australian research has shown that retrofitting existing buildings does more than simply reducing carbon emissions and operating expense. A retrofit also leads to improved health and well-being outcomes for building occupants. Let’s ‘take the temperature’ of public sector retrofits…

It’s no secret that some sites need to be managed more sensitively than others. Hospitals and schools, for example, require an empathetic and thoughtful approach. And there is no more sensitive site than an aged care facility, where residents may become confused as service providers and maintenance workers traipse in and out of what is, fundamentally, their home. National mechanical services contractor, AE Smith recognised that some of its service technicians were reluctant to work in aged care facilities because they felt confronted and stressed, particularly when dealing with residents affected by dementia. In some cases, the staff were exposed to challenging and difficult situations caused by verbal abuse or cases where elderly residents offered to help technicians do the job by climbing ladders and using their tools. Needless to…

Technology is a major factor that is changing how, when and where today’s workers operate. Armed with portable and powerful technology, today’s mobile workers are using their flexibility to be more agile and productive. They are empowered to avoid the distractions and disruptions, and the cycle of constant meetings that often characterise a typical office workday, and they are using mobility to spend more time meeting and collaborating with customers, vendors and other business partners. When they’re in the office, they are not bound to their assigned workspace by a landline and desktop. They can move freely throughout the office without missing important calls or emails, and spend less time isolated in their workspaces and more time connecting and collaborating with co-workers. Workspace technologies are essential tools for facilities and…

A research conducted by Colmar Brunton has found that, while most Australians understand the dangers of asbestos, only a few have practical skills to identify asbestos products and handle them safely. Commissioned by the Australian Government’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, the research surveyed 2362 tradespeople, DIY renovators, real estate agents, landlords and members of the public to uncover their awareness and attitudes towards this hazardous material. The report, which was officially released in November 2014 at the International Conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management in Melbourne, revealed that while all groups believed it was important to be informed about asbestos and its potential dangers, just 61 percent of DIY renovators and 53 percent of the general public felt they were appropriately informed about the risks. Almost one in five…

Rapid-prototyping 3D printer RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, has added the small-format production-quality micro-SLA ProJet 1200 from 3D Systems to its range of rapid-prototyping 3D printers. It is the first product in the RS 3D printer range to use stereolithography (SLA) technology. In addition to building prototype concepts, the ProJet 1200 is ideal for small, precise and detailrich casting patterns. Factory calibrated for reliable and accurate operation, the micro-SLA ProJet 1200 integrates enhanced LED DLP (Digital Light Processing) laser technology to print 30-micron (0.03-millimetre) layers at a resolution of 56 microns (effective 585 dpi), which results in extremely fine feature detail and smoothness. The printer measures 230 by 230 by 356 millimetres and offers a vertical build speed of 14 millimetres per hour. www.rs-components.com Robustel GoRugged…

NABERS Energy ratings are now a common feature of commercial leases and for good reason – they provide insight into both the building owner’s commitment to the environment and the tenant’s future energy bills. However, while a high NABERS Energy rating is certainly worth looking out for, there are other indicators that may be just as useful for tenants when evaluating a potential office space. The quality of indoor office environment is becoming increasingly important owing to new office trends such as activity-based workspaces, hot desking, increasing worker mobility and a growing familiarity with productivity research. NABERS Energy ratings have risen to prominence because energy consumption is easy to measure, and quantifying the benefits of energy efficiency is relatively straightforward. On the other hand, the benefits of good indoor environment…

We can design a world-leading sustainable building and fill it with clever cutting edge technology, but if it isn’t managed correctly, it won’t be a sustainable building. True sustainability is found at the intersection of good design, good construction, good behaviour and good management – and often the quickest, cheapest way to improve a building’s performance is to look at how it is managed. In 2009, the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering embarked on the Low Energy High Rise Project, discovering that most buildings could achieve a four-Star NABERS Energy base building rating solely through improved management practices. The Warren Centre’s research team found that major improvements in energy efficiency are possible withouthuge capital expenditure. In fact, some improvements can be achieved without spending a cent. Buildings where management is…

Energy use in buildings is responsible for 26 percent of Australia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and it is the primary cause of peak energy demand on the electricity network. Ordinarily, heating and cooling buildings accounts for over half of a building’s energy needs. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, buildings use about 40 percent of global energy, 25 percent of global water and 40 percent of global resources, and they emit roughly one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings that have been in operation for over 50 years contribute higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions due to inefficient systems and outdated construction. However, buildings also have the potential to achieve significant GHG emission reductions in both developed and developing countries. Governments and private agencies across the globe are working…

US-based workplace storage systems company Lista is turning the old adage ‘do as I say, not as I do’ on its head when it comes to manufacturing products at its Holliston, Massachusetts facility. The company uses its own products to organise its manufacturing space for efficiency, improved throughput and waste reduction. And through its lean initiatives, the company eliminates wasted effort and then configures the space with the proper cabinets to increase efficiency. Lean initiatives the basis for improvements In today’s competitive environment, nimble manufacturers focus on continual improvement, recognising that, no matter where you are in the manufacturing cycle, workstations must perform functions and they can always be performed better. Regardless of any efficiency improvements that may have gone on in the past, there is always room to go…

As a huge public facility that hosts more than 2000 events and 10 million visitors every year, the Federation Square precinct is a complex venue that needed an effective and expandable communications network to keep the large numbers of visitors and staff safe and informed. In August 2014, Fed Square Pty Ltd deployed Simoco’s DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) technology and, as a result, is showing signs of increased operational efficiency in communications management. Simoco’s DMR solution replaced the MPT1327 Motorola system, with departments now having their own private talk channel. The solution also helps rationalise frequencies and the associated licensing overhead. The organisation’s event, security and cleaning staff now use SDP660 portable radios that run on the IP enhanced SDB670 infrastructure. The system is set up with four talk groups,…

The City of Melbourne was named Australasian and International Organisation of the Year at the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) 2014 Core Values Awards. It also won an environment category award for its Urban Forest Strategy consultation. The City of Melbourne has demonstrated its commitment to community engagement – involving people in major projects that have helped redefine the shape of Melbourne such as the Swanston Street redevelopment, the Urban Forest Strategy, the Queen Victoria Market renewal and the Future Melbourne project, which portrayed the views of 15,000 people, businesses, organisations and community groups. The Urban Forest Strategy consultation has encouraged the community to become involved in the rollout of the Council’s plan to double the city’s tree canopy by 2040. The City of Melbourne has also launched a…

Over the last 30 months, Zurich Insurance’s Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management team has hosted several online crowdsourcing events to provoke conversations across the FM industry about its future. Our first forum asked people to re-imagine FM in 2017 based on 16 themes spanning from the business relevance of FM through to the nature of work and workplaces of the future. Over 500 people joined the initial debate and, as the discussions progressed, we hosted further forums to pursue the emerging themes, including a debate dedicated solely to the future of client-provider cooperation. Overall, the picture of the FM industry that emerges across all of these forums is one of disruptive attack from the impacts of digital technology – from the associated challenges produced by new attitudes and new…

Clipwall, the latest offering from Laminex Australia, is set to revolutionise the commercial interiors industry with time saving qualities and contemporary designs. Clipwall is an effective wall lining system that allows you to incorporate various patterns and textures with ease into any type of interior wall, and is particularly suited for larger walls. It uses the innovative Uniclic® tongue and groove technology, to virtually seamlessly connect different panels. With eight décor styles, ranging from neutral to woodgrains, Clipwall is an ideal fit for retail and commercial fitouts and settings like reception areas, office interiors and more. The floor-to-ceiling internal wall lining system is easy to install, giving architects, specifiers and designers the ability to incorporate different patterns and textures into commercial settings. It eliminates the time-consuming process of plaster jointing…

Managing a diverse and ageing property portfolio within a tight budget is a challenging task. Surprises are the last thing you need. The usual questions that come up are: What assets do I have? What condition are they in? How must they perform? How much money do I need/have? Who will I get to deliver the FM services? But, somehow, things still don’t go according to the plan. What could be missing? We need to look beyond just the physical assets and ask some other questions. Let’s look at the five most important, and sometimes omitted, things to consider. Question 1: Have I adequately engaged and aligned all of my stakeholders in the process? It is easy to think that we are in the business of managing buildings, but we…

Award-winning international workplace design researcher and architect Dr Donna Wheatley, who joined architecture practice Warren and Mahoney last year, believes that workplace design should not just be company-centred, but also aim to motivate people and promote their aspirations to ensure the overall success of the organisation. Living and studying in Australia, Finland and Germany, Wheatley has led the design of many large-scale commercial, workplace, cultural, education and master planning projects, including the National Museum of Australia, Australian Museum, Minter Ellison, GBT second generation, South East Water HQ, Griffith Hack workplace, Medibank HQ, University of New South Wales and University of Sydney. In a chat with Facility Management, Wheatley discusses the current trends and future innovations in workplace design. How has workplace design changed in the past five to 10 years?…

The current understanding of data centre performance is concerned with uptime above all else, and in particular the fabled ‘five nines’ availability promise. As a result, power efficiency has been sacrificed on this altar – data centre operators build highly redundant electrical and mechanical support systems. They keep servers running indefinitely to provide for unexpected peaks in demand that call on new capacity in the blink of an eye. However, this practice is drawing to a close and the focus is increasingly shifting to availability at the right cost. Virtualisation makes more efficient use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems, seamlessly handling variable usage and quickly moving workloads from overburdened or failing hardware. This shifts emphasis to overall power efficiency Energy usage and efficiency is also becoming a big…

Major data breaches are an increasingly common occurrence, whether it is with retailers, healthcare networks, or ecommerce sites. Cyber security is a truly global issue and a costly one at that. According to the European Cybercrime Centre, the global cost of cyber security (for victims) is about $400 billion each year, a higher cost than the global marijuana, cocaine and heroin trades combined. Facility managers may not consider their buildings prime targets for cyber criminals, but given the increasingly connected nature of today’s intelligent building management systems (BMS), it is important to take proactive steps to protect buildings and deter cyber criminals. Clever hackers can use a BMS as an entry point to a corporation’s network and, in worst case scenarios, exploit a vulnerable BMS to gain access to highly…