The new restrictions and sensitivities introduced to our societies by COVID-19 forced many architects and designers to re-think and re-imagine our built environment. The result is an accelerating number of buildings designed to minimize touch, optimize fresh air flow, and manage foot traffic more efficiently.
Following a public health crisis, notorious series of cyberattacks, and the evolving nature of modern threats, people in all spheres — private, public, or commercial — have never been more invested in security.
Outsourcing technical services recently emerged as a crucial business strategy. Even if the managers had the technical skills to attend to all the needs of their facilities, outsourcing saves time, money, and hassle.
Door closers usually don't get as much attention as the locks or a handle. However, they're still crucial tools for safety and security. Door closers are inexpensive enhancers of energy efficiency — and they can even stop fires from spreading and save lives.
Preventive care, efforts to prevent a disease before needing to treat it, isn't a new idea and originated in Ancient Greek. However, throughout the 20th century, the increasing focus on understanding the human body to prevent the diseases single-handedly saved millions of lives and cut down healthcare costs.
In 2018, the global commercial drone market was worth USD 5.8 billion, with an estimated 275 thousand sales. The market is forecast to grow by over 60 percent in terms of volume from 2019 to 2025.
Veteran facility and building managers are well-aware of the importance of a regular maintenance schedule: These plans cut costs and enhance safety while optimizing the workflow and productivity.
"If you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything," said the legendary children's author Tomie DePaola. Indeed, the past two decades have been characterized by an enthusiasm for self-study and innovative learning methods.
Planned maintenance is the routine of performing inspections, minor repairs, cleaning, and upkeep, rather than waiting until something breaks down to take action. In fewer words, planned maintenance, also known as preventive maintenance, is a proactive rather than reactive approach.
"Have you tried turning it off and on again?" suggests the customer service agent in the hit British TV series, The IT Crowd. As the frustrated laptop user struggles to understand the agent over the phone, her issue remains unsolved.
The COVID-19 outbreak disturbed the economic, social, and political structures all around the world. The pandemic is shrinking businesses and operations budgets. As a result, companies of all sizes are looking into cutting costs and find new ways to maximize their resources.
There is nothing more vital to a building's integrity than its ability to provide a safe and secure environment. That is why preventive building maintenance is much more than a smart business decision.