BIM - the ultimate FM tool

Building information modelling (BIM) is taking the building services design industry by storm, but what can it possibly do for FMs? Sue Sharp has some answers.

The emergence of a new generation of intelligent design tools is already changing building engineering design and, as it develops, will be pivotal in delivering the better performing buildings the country needs, with many long-term benefits for their owners and operators.

A New Horizon: Systems Integration

Giuliano Digilio explains why facilities managers need to be aware of the latest technologies in commercial audio-visual integration systems.

The proliferation of AV integration is staggering. Constant technological advances have meant that multi-faceted systems, combining lighting, sound, television, internet, computer systems and more, are becoming increasingly desirable to corporate clients.

Technology White Paper

Introduction
Surveying, as defined by the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), is the science and art of making all essential measurements to determine the relative position of points or physical and cultural details above, on, or beneath the surface of the Earth, and to depict them in a usable form, or to establish the position of points or details.

Staying cool, efficiently

When considering upgrading chiller plant to improve energy efficiency, it’s worth being aware of the features that are now available on modern plant. Dean Ward of Climaveneta UK explains.

A draft report published in July by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), entitled ‘Capturing the full electricity efficiency potential of the UK’, has highlighted the importance of reducing electricity consumption to help meet energy targets. It also suggests that the biggest areas for savings include building efficiency improvements in the commercial sector.

Accessing the right data

How many? How busy? How old? How safe? Just a few of the questions every facilities manager or management team will be asking about their automatic doors. GEZE UK’s service director Steve Marshall explains how capturing data, and using it well, can make door maintenance easier, more transparent and even reduce the lifetime cost of the doors.

Clean ventilation ductwork is a legal and moral issue for ‘those responsible’

Darren Ling, a Director of Systems Hygienics, talks about the importance of complying with the regulations,
standards and guidelines to avoid the loss of your business, loss of life and facing fines or jail.

“Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS), as it was coined in the Health and Safety Guidance Notes HSG202, is the result of insufficient fresh air in buildings. This can lead to tiredness, lethargy, headaches and, in extreme cases, skin irritation for the building’s occupants. Insufficient air in buildings is directly related to poor function of the building’s ventilation ductwork. But SBS is not the full extent of the dangers posed by breathing contaminated air from dirty ventilation ductwork.

Electrical Installation Condition Reports

By Anthony Smith, BENG, MIET, Lantei Compliance Services

At the beginning of this year we saw changes to the wiring regulations come into effect, in the form of BS7671 17th edition incorporation amendments 1, 2011: One of the largest fundamental changes to the wiring
regulations concerned inspection and testing, from January 1, 2012 the old periodic inspection reports were no longer to be used and became non-compliant.

Energy efficient building services: an overview

Sustainability is a word that you can’t miss these days, writes Jo Harris. Whether it’s the full agenda or just energy issues, many companies are doing excellent work in this area

Compliance... "testing times for busy FMs"

As any FM will tell you, Lighting Maintenance, Fixed Wire Testing, or Periodic Inspection and Testing, is a time consuming and complex business, especially for the busy FM with multi-sites to manage. However, it is perhaps the most important task that needs to be done

Clearing the DECs

It’s a safe bet that Display Energy Certificates will be mandatory for all buildings before too long. Frank Logan outlines the case for action

Specifying for successful flooring repairs

Robert Bentley, Product Manager Performance Flooring, BASF

A strategic approach to enterprise mobility

By Iain MacLachlan, Business Development Director at TotalMobile

Going beyond the minimum

Maintenance of building services plant now needs to go beyond the ‘basics’ to encompass the performance of the system as a whole and ensure that it operates at optimum efficiency. Martin Poyner explains

Asbestos awareness training

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was use extensively as a building material in the United Kingdom from 1950s-1980s. Employers have an obligation to employees to provide them with adequate asbestos training, Darren Newman, of ALcontrol, examines some of the issues involved

Why Air duct cleaning is an important part of building maintenance?

By Rossano Luhulima, Managing Director, Pressovac Ltd.

Contractors and FMs: Bridging the gap

The construction industry is unique by virtue of the fact that buildings costing many millions of pounds and still often have very little in the way of a structured handover to the people who will use and manage them.  Marcus Hill explains what is being done about that.

Cost in use evaluations – more than a simple equation?

The seemingly simple economics of purchasing bathroom tissuemay not be as strightforward as you thought.  Jonathan Hooper, of Kruger Tissue, explains some of the hidden complexities and how to maximise your budget.

Managing power distribution and conducting thermography surveys

Ken West of Fluke explains the benefits of using thermal imagers and power loggers

Is bigger best?

The FM market presently is dominated by the large groups, with smaller firms clustered in niches. So do these large players make better suppliers? Peter Black reports.

Soft Landings: A New Partnership

What we need, argues Roderic Bunn, is a fresh scope of service that closes the credibility gap between what building designers intend to happen and what happens in practice.