Table of contents for June - July 2017 in Facility Management

Any profession has its stereotypes – and there wouldn’t be any truth to such characterisations if some people didn’t ‘walk the walk’ as it were. But pigeonholing people is entirely different; breaking away from the perceptions of facility management as a ‘cost centre’ remains a significant challenge for the industry. In this issue of FM, we look at the latest tranche of the ‘Raising the Bar’ research. It should be a siren call to executives right across the built environment to gain a fuller appreciation of the value an experienced facility manager can bring to a business. But the reality is that there’s still too much of a ceiling on facility manager careers within the wider corporate structure. Ultimately, FMs need to become more assertive in demonstrating their expertise in…

On the face of it, it’s a simple enough question. How can facility managers leverage their operational excellence into making a strategic impact within their organisations? But recognition of the value of FMs from within their companies or from the wider industry still isn’t at a level that can see their career paths and prospects take that next step – potentially all the way to the C-suite. Recently a third tranche of the ‘Raising the Bar’ research, a collaboration between the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, IFMA (International Facility Management Association) and Occupiers’ Journal, identified a number of challenges facing FMs and the profession. Melbourne-based FM consultant Martin Leitch, a contributor to all three of the reports to date, says the hope is that through building recognition among business leaders…

While you may be already aware of the advantages offered to facilities that install instant boiling and chilled drinking water systems in the areas of convenience, sustainability and cost savings, have you considered the physical technology of the systems available? There are two main options to consider when choosing a type of system – water-cooled and aircooled. If you are choosing the latter, it’s a good idea to do your research very carefully, as there are now air-cooled systems available that use less energy than others. Heat generation too can be an issue, but again there are currently options on the market that generate far less heat than traditional air-cooled systems. The most energyefficient instant boiling and chilled drinking water systems use water-cooled technology. How it works Water-cooled technology basically…

FM: What technologies have the potential to change HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) as we know it? Ian Tuena: The increasing use of natural refrigerants (all of which are energy efficient and environmentally benign) is certainly worth considering. There are many applications that traditionally have used synthetic refrigerants, but are very suitable for the use of naturals such as ammonia, hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. Consideration can also be given to retrofitting existing systems with hydrocarbon refrigerants. It is important to note, however, that a retrofit is not a simple case of removing one refrigerant and replacing it with a hydrocarbon refrigerant. This would be in breach of OH&S (occupational health and safety) requirements and would leave all involved highly exposed in the event of an incident. A retrofit using hydrocarbons…

Ubiquitous internet-enabled devices and sensors, constantly monitored and communicating with each other, represent a system collectively referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). When sensors are deployed in the built environment as data capture, and communication devices are paired with big data analytics, the concept of smart buildings emerges, providing value-driven results for owners and occupants. IoT technology permits multifunctional building systems to be integrated and interrogated with linkages to the operating needs of occupants via the business’ own core operating systems. The resultant diagnostics enable the analysis of building efficiency, covering services performance, maintenance requirements and energy consumption as well as monitoring occupier use and comfort including space utilisation, indoor air quality, daylight metrics, acoustic levels and more. This connectivity and analysis also enables the performance of the…

Facility management encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology (IFMA.org). It covers a lot of area and discipline. It has a wide scope that covers the facility, or the built environment, and the people in the organisation. Most facility departments need to collect a wide spectrum of information properly, organise and analyse data in order for the facility to run smoothly. “What gets measured, gets managed.” – Peter Drucker, management consultant, author. The first challenge for the facility department is to set up and/or maintain a facility database. Data quality has always been a challenge within the facility management industry; thus a lot of thought and planning should be done in selecting the right tool to get the job done.…

DEFINITIONS BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Web-based maintenance management applications. COMPUTERISED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (CMMS) Used to monitor equipment performance and enhance the efficiency of maintenance operations. DATA COLLECTION AND LIFE CYCLE PLANNING SOFTWARE Collection and life cycle planning software used to build comprehensive data for asset portfolios for building managers and owners. ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT (EAM) SYSTEM Enables holistic control and optimisation of enterprise assets. INTEGRATED WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (IWMS) Support for the tactical tools in computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) solutions and strategic planning. JOB MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Software products that help companies manage off-site workers and the resources they require to do their jobs efficiently. PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Automation of the processes of purchasing materials and goods inventory maintenance. BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Advances in Building Automation www.konex.net.au…

People have been congregating in public spaces and venues since we first left our caves. And wherever there is a mass congregation of people, there is always the danger that, should something go wrong, getting everyone out safely is a major issue. Recent dreadful events in cities including Paris (France), Taloqan (Afghanistan) and Manchester (the UK) have only underlined such a necessity. For centuries, however, this wasn’t given the priority it deserved. But radical change is often prompted by a significant and/or shocking event or, in the case of the introduction of panic exit devices (PEDs), two events. The first took place in 1883, at a magic show in Sunderland’s Victoria Hall in the UK. The stage magician offered free gifts, leading to hordes of excited children running down the…

As organisations increase focus on digital strategies, it can be easy to forget that bricks and mortar are still highly relevant to the future of most organisations. Facilities managers will need to work closely with chief data officers and chief information officers as the Internet of Things (IoT) exerts a greater influence over how facilities are managed. Gartner research shows by 2020, there will be 21 billion IoT devices worldwide, with almost six percent used for industrial IoT applications and, according to US giant Verizon, the market is set to grow to US$1.3 trillion in this time. Building functions such as security, lighting, heating, cooling and alarm systems will all be connected to a central server. IoT technology will enable automated responses to building conditions, while also providing greater insight…

For future generations, climate change and increased population in cities will significantly limit the access to and availability of wholesome water. Utility companies have already recognised that water shortages and droughts will increase across Australia and have started to increase the price of water. Managers in all types of facilities need to start considering the next generation of plumbing technology, as part of their efforts to restrict water and energy usage. Smart technology, energy efficiency and high population growth will almost certainly have a major impact in plumbing systems of the future, but what’s next and are you prepared? In his book, Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization, Steven Solomon predicts our water resource will be a major source of conflict this century. Solomon says water is…

Growing up in Cairns, Rebecca Pelling discovered a love of the built environment very early. “My father was an electrician,” she recalls. “My brother and sister and I would go out on construction sites with him when we could and helped him with cables and light fittings and assembling fans. Dad’s friends were architects and developers and it really inspired a love of the building process.” As she progressed through school, Pelling, now the head of Project Services at Colliers International in Sydney, felt she had a lot to offer but wanted to break free from narrow career confines. “When it came time for me to think about what I wanted to do I knew I didn’t want to be an assistant to anyone. My exposure to Dad’s world and…

The study and awareness of ergonomic principles has been traced back to Ancient Greece, with a notable early example being Hippocrates’ description of the optimal layout of a surgeon’s workplace and placement of the tools used. In more recent times the application of ergonomic principles in workplaces has increased in prevalence and acceptance. But while there is widespread agreement that this is good for the health and well-being of employees, what many organisations don’t realise is the impact this can have on ROI (return on investment). In short, applying ergonomic principles in your workplace is good for bottoms and the bottom line. But the practice has a perception problem, with it being seen simply as a required component of an occupational health and safety (OHS) program, rather than a component…

In the race to build our careers, we default into doing what we learned at school – by building our skills and knowledge. We assume that being smart and capable, the veritable ‘A’ grade student who tops the class, will help us on our career journey. Take Ben and Emma. Straight out of university, they both get selected to work at a facilities management company. A few months into their job and the pleasant realisation that they can do the job well ignites their personal ambitions, propelling them both to work hard and prove their worth. Ben becomes addicted to winning and being the best. Outworking, belittling and outthinking Emma and other colleagues is a daily sport. He works hard, often complaining he doesn’t have time and that he can’t…

Marcus listened to Harry recount his meeting with one of his key team members. Marcus knew the meeting was going to test Harry’s skills given the level of dissatisfaction previously voiced by his team. “I remembered your advice about encouraging Charlie to reflect on how he felt but, really, I thought I was in for a real pasting.” “And?” “He gave no quarter!” “How did you go with that?” “Once over the shock, I found myself appreciating his honesty and his courage. Your advice prepared me well. I quickly realised where he was coming from. He was lucid and directed as I went through your focused conversation outline. I have a good set of notes of our discussion.” “Excellent Harry. What’s next?” “I promised Charlie a transcript and we’ll have…