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Facility Management Articles

Welcome to the FM Innovations articles page. Here we will gather the most important and interesting FM articles from across Australia. Please check back here often as this page will be regularly updated. For case studies on FM Innovations click here, for News please click here.

Intelligent Key Management with Traka and FM Innovations

FM Innovations has been working with Traka to integrate their intelligent key management cabinets with our Vehicle and Fleet Management Software for some of our tertiary education providers. We look forward to a long and beneficial partnership with Traka as we seek to improve, simplify and streamline our clients business processes for managing their assets. As the Traka key cabinets can be used for vehicle keys, room keys, equipment keys and any other key you can think of, they are ideal to integrate with FM Innovation's WSMenterprise suite.

Driving Effective FM at Wodonga TAFE

Accurate and effective facilities management is of key importance to Wodonga TAFE and the facilities team. Ensuring Wodonga TAFE remains at the forefront of the facilities world is Damien Crawley, Manager of Shared Services. Damien is currently seeing a ‘Green’ transformation across the TAFE. Water saving strategies, solar panels and a lighting retrofit will see the TAFE save thousands of dollars in costs and emissions.

Risk Management

A quick Google search on the work ‘risk’ identifies many variations of what it means. References to hazard, exposure and gambling were the consistent themes - no where did I find reference to the fact that Risk can also be the source of immense opportunity for an individual or enterprise. For a business to manage its risks, it must first know what they are. It is easy to list the risks you know about, but what about the ones that haven’t happened yet or of which you are unaware?

Hepatitis B Vaccinations

As part of GJK’s commitment to the safety of its staff, and ongoing OH&S focus, a number of cleaning staff from the Department of Human Services, Office of Housing have completed their third and final round of Hepatitis B Vaccinations. GJK provides all their staff that work across the Office of Housing sites an opportunity to receive free vaccinations, serving as a preventative safeguard against some of the risks encountered on site.

Manual Handling

One constant risk which management must ensure cleaning staff are addressing effectively is Manual Handling – any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any animate or inanimate object. It includes repetitive tasks such as packing, typing, assembling, cleaning and sorting, using hand tools, and operating machinery and equipment.

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Green Team Update

GJK Facility Services has been actively working towards the development of a sustainable environmental plan, both at a management level and at the ground level in our Head Office. Staff from each department have been put into Green Teams focusing on minimising our carbon footprint across a number of key areas including: transport, water, energy, paper, waste management, and green procurement.

FM and Procurement

With so much focus on cutting costs procurement departments in many organisations become more powerful. But moves to enforce existing contracts and drive expenditure reductions can put them at odds with FM departments. The global recession, and its subsequent focus on cutting costs, has seen procurement departments in many organisations become more powerful. Boosted by the greater attention paid to the profession by senior management, procurement has been only too keen to take advantage of the opportunity to get more spend categories under management, as well as enforcing existing contracts and driving further cost reductions wherever possible, often putting them at odds with FM departments.

Commercial Office Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Obligations

In December 2008, the Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) issued a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement and Consultation Regulation Document (Consultation Documents) regarding the proposed Mandatory Disclosure of Commercial Office Building Energy Efficiency scheme. Such a scheme was considered necessary after finding that commercial buildings account for at least 10% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, having risen 87% between 1990 and 2006, and that office buildings contribute the most significant proportion of emissions for the commercial sector.

Data Capture - Filling The Gaps in Information

Data collection projects can be quite risky in terms of time, cost and quality. Unfortunately, too often, these projects have produced disappointing outcomes. If the sourced data is of a high quality, the information management systems can drive great value for the organisation.

Disease Prevention in the Workplace

Whether the cause is H1N1 flu or another potential pandemic illness, facility managers (fms) need to prepare for—and be aware of—a possible worst case scenario. This is particularly true when faced with the prospect of more than 25% to 30% of their workforce absent due to illness (or symptoms of illness), yet still having to run and supervise the main functions of their facility.

10 Ways to Workplace Management

To achieve the above you will need certain management capabilities. But does that involve facilities management or workplace management? Whereas FM is focused on the delivery of technical services, workplace management is focused on the balancing of supply and demand and the sustainable delivery of workplace experiences, embracing all services, technologies and facilities that contribute to it.

Top 10 Benefits of an All-In-One Works Management System

Cost is always a factor when it comes to choosing facilities management software but return of investment is possible within 6 months with the purchase of WSMworks. For example, there is a substantial fine for building managers should any ESM task be missed and with an automated system such as WSM, these cannot be missed. Saving you money, your reputation and the ensuring the safety of your employees.

Creating Another Tier in the Property Market with Sustainable Property

A two-tier property market based on energy performance could be less than two years away, an environmental management and compliance firm has said. Sustainable buildings could see their rental yield reduced by up to 3 per cent and value by up to 16 per cent as a result of changes by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to its Red Book.

CoStar Study Finds Green Buildings Outperform Peers

In America a new study by CoStar Group has found that sustainable "green" buildings outperform their peer non-green assets in key areas such as occupancy, sale price and rental rates, sometimes by wide margins. The results indicate a broader demand by property investors and tenants for buildings that have earned either LEED® certification or the Energy Star® label (similar to a NABERS classification in Australia) and strengthen the "business case" for green buildings, which proponents have increasingly cast as financially sound investments.

ESD Green Building Design and Delivery

The incorporation of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles into modern developments is one of the most important considerations that must be implemented in their design. Whilst the environmental benefits from designing for ESD are clear, the most overwhelming benefit is seen in the value provided to the occupants in terms of physical and mental health.

Exit and Emergency Light Maintenance

Emergency / exit lighting systems in buildings are required (under Part 11.1 of the Building Code of Australia and Part 11 of the Building Regulations 1994) to be adequately maintained. The standard recognised for such maintenance is AS/NZS 2293.2. The standard prescribes, that the installation be tested at six-monthly intervals by a discharge test to see that the fittings operate for the required duration of not less than 90 minutes. In addition, at twelve-monthly intervals the fitting diffusers and reflecting surfaces are required to be cleaned.

Innovation with Integration

Innovation leading to increase productivity is the fundamental source of increasing wealth in an economy. In today's economic environment, innovation has never been more important and acceptance of it more critical. Economists tend to focus on the process itself, from the origination of an idea to its transformation into something useful and finally to its implementation. Since innovation is seen as a major driver of the economy, especially when it leads to increasing productivity, the factors that lead to innovation are also considered to be critical to decision makers.

Aligning FM objectives with your corporate governance strategy

Corporate governance is not just a case of processes, customs, polices and laws affecting the way a corporation is directed, administered or controlled. Corporate governance also includes the relationships among the many stakeholders involved and the goals for which the corporation is governed. So how does this affect the Facilities Management team within an organisation?

Green Stars for Indoor Plants

From home to car to office and back again - we acknowledge that most office workers spend up to 90% of their lives or in enclosed spaces while commuting. But do buildings create a healthy environment for the people who work in them? The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development suggest that illness - such as asthma and respiratory problems, headaches and allergies - from indoor air pollution are now one of the most acute problems related to building activities around the world.

Quick Resource Guide; The Handling of Sharps

Keeping staff updated with OHS developments is an integral part of risk management and ensuring employee safety. One constant risk which management must ensure cleaning staff are addressing effectively is the handling of sharps; hypodermic needles, lancets, razor/scalpel blades or any other instrument which could result in puncture injuries or damage to skin.

Ins and Outs of the Disability Discrimination Act

Universal Access means equitable access for all, including people with disabilities, to any aspect of the built environment, services and facilities. The Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (D.D.A.) provides information to people who design, build, own, manage, lease, operate, regulate and use premises about their responsibilities and rights under section 23. Section 23 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with a disability, or their associates, in relation to access to, and the use of, premises that the public enter or use.

WSM 4.5 Release

WSM 4.5 is ready for release with some fantastic new features. The installation and upgrade process has been made simpler with the WSM setup guide. Enhancements have been made throughout WSMenterprise and WSMindustrial, a new reports management section has been designed, the web portal WSMplanNet has been upgraded, a new Vehicle Management Module designed and much more.

Become a Home Sustainable Assessor

The Federal Government recently announced the launch of the Home Sustainability Assessment Scheme (HSAS) and the Green Loans Program. Sustainable Footprint has recently been appointed as a training organisation for the Federal Governments HSAS. More than 1,000 people have undertaken the Home Sustainability Assessor training to become accredited by the Association of the Building Sustainability.

Essential Safety Measures (ESM) Explained and FM Innovations ESM Software

No matter what you call them; Essential Safety Measures, ESM, Essential Services, Fire Protection Services, etc. by law they must be maintained. When the construction of a commercial building is complete the building owner is responsible for its upkeep and maintenance, particularly its safety measures. FM Innovations has designed the WSM software to establish, track and manage all your essential safety measures once they have been established by a registered building surveyor or on the occupancy permit.

Here we talk about what are Essential Safety Measures and how we can help.

Growing Up: Rooftop Gardens

A group of young Melbournians is attempting to take climate change through a new program called 'Growing Up', designed to promote rooftop gardens atop inner-urban buildings. As you look out to a vista of concrete-topped roofs of multistory buildings, a number of young business people want to imagine a sea of green, with every available roof space covered in plants.

Mandatory Disclosure of Commercial Office Building Efficiency

The Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have recently established the 'National Framework for Energy Efficiency (NFEE), which has proposed the Mandatory Disclosure of Commercial Office Building Energy Efficiency. Basically these regulations proposed would mean that by 2010 the energy efficiency (NABERS energy ratings) of commercial office buildings or tenancy equal to or over 2,000m2 to be disclosed at the point of sale or lease so that buyers and tenants can compare energy efficiency on a 'like for like' basis.

The Pitfalls of Slipshop Risk Management

Recently I met a facilities manager who was in the midst of a stressful legal battle which stemmed from an oversight which could have easily been avoided. It wasn't altogether his fault, in fact it is fair to say it was his boss channeled vision which bought them to strife. Perhaps the facilities manager wasn't firm enough in what he believed, but for whatever reasons, corporation X had decided to cut their facilities management budget as a knee-jerk reaction to the economic downturn. As a result maintenance schedules have not been kept up to date and an injury has occurred.

Complete Education and Tertiary Guide and the Role of Vocational Education and Training in Facilities

From its largely trade based beginnings, the facility management industry has grown progressively towards a business management focus. Critical to the accommodation of this result has been the number and scope of educational opportunities available for those looking to enter the industry as a career of choice. Since the range of responsibilities and demands being placed on facility managers has also increased during this time, facility managers already in the industry increasingly need opportunities available to upskill and meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Achieving Sustainability Ratings and Asset Value in Hotels

Sustainability has already become one of the quickest and most effective commercial initiatives that can be undertaken by any organisation individually, and the country as a whole. Many hotels are now taking steps to improve their sustainability outcomes. At the same time, guests are seeking evidence of environmental responsibility when they choose to stay.

FM Innovations Launch the Evergreen Software Rental Option

In response to the recent economic downturn and the current financial crisis, FM Innovations (FMI) is looking to provide solutions for our potential clients to take the pain out of the budget approval process. We understand that the legal and corporate governance requirements of managing infrastructure are still as critical as ever, however many companies are struggling to allocate the finances needed to implement the tools to manage their property effectively. As a solution, FMI is putting together an Evergreen software rental option which will allow companies to implement and run our Property Works management software solution for as little as $650 per month. However, we are only offering this to a limited number of exclusive companies who have a tight budget.

Essential Safety Measures - Are you compliant?

With the release of the Building Regulations 2006 it is now a requirement for all public buildings to have an annual essential safety measures report prepared before 13 June 2009.There is also an additional requirement for buildings constructed prior to 1994 to be issued with an essential safety measures schedule. After this date, all new buildings will have an essential safety measures list as a schedule to their Occupancy Permit.

Essential Safety Measures - Which ESM certificate is required?

A maintenance certification is not required in all states, nor is this required to be certified by a building surveyor/certifier, however under each of the states legislation the premises may be inspected by a member of the local council or fire brigade. Upon this inspection all maintenance documentation for the essential safety measures is reviewed and areas of non compliance may result in fines of $10,000 for individuals or $50,000 for companies. Even higher penalties apply, including jail terms in some states, if there is an incident and failure to maintain an essential safety measure results in a fatality.

Essential Safety Measures - What maintenance standard is required?

Form the introduction of the maintenance standard AS1851-2005 building owners have been unsure of their responsibilities in relation to the acceptance to the new maintenance requirements. In some instances building owners/managers have chosen to adopt some elements of this standard for convenience and also the water saving benefits but not enthusiastic in adopting other features. Click the link for a table that indicates the building owners requirements in relation to this issue.

Catch 22 of Facilities Management - A business case for Facility Management Software

In today's financial crisis, budgets are being slashed and panic seems to be ruling over reason in many cases. Regardless of any financial crisis, the facilities management of buildings is still of utmost importance with fines and mismanagement consequences firmly in place. Here we discuss a business case for implementing a sophisticated software solution that is easy to use.

The case for learning business acumen

In today's difficult economy it becomes more important than ever that each and every person in your organisation understands exactly how your business makes money, how and what they do on a daily basis, contributes to the bottom line and how the decisions they make impacts the profitability of the company, keeping the company strong enough to weather difficult times.

The Australian Government 'Green Building Fund' provides funding for retro-fitting existing commercial buildings

A new initiative from the Australian Government provides funding to assist with the green retro-fitting of existing commercial buildings. The Green Building Fund provides $90 million over four years to help encourage green-retro fitting initiatives, particularly those aimed at improving energy efficiency. Under Stream A of the funding, owners of existing commercial buildings can apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Grants are available for up to 50% of project costs and must be matched by private funds.

Facing the Financial Crisis, What you should know - DLA Phillips Fox Lawyers

Rapid and unprecedented changes in the global financial markets are affecting businesses around the world. The sub-prime mortgage crises that began in the USA over a year ago has drastically affected the global credit system, with the severe impacts on the stability of financial institutions, financial services providers and on global and domestic economic activity. Several economies are already in or on the brink of recession, with others likely to follow. Here DLA Phillips Fox keep you informed on what you should know about the current market conditions.

Future Switch

You home entertainment and computer systems are never really 'off'. Standby power creates harmful greenhouse gases as well as costing you money. In fact, according to Sustainability Victoria, 10% of residential power is wasted on standby power. All that is about to change. Future switch, the clever plug, sits between your appliance power board or plug and your power point, reducing your greenhouse gases and saving you money. Future switch is operated by a wireless remote button that can be easily placed in a convenient location in your home or office. Its simple to install with no electrician required.

Eco Bright - Energy Savings Solutions

ecoBright currently delivers sustainable and dependable technology to reduce energy consumption by magnetically ballasted fluorescent lamps - offering two methods to reduce energy;

1. upgrade to T5 fluorescent lamp technology through the use of patented Save-It-Easy electronic ballast. This small device enables T5 fluorescent lamps to fit directly into T8 luminaries. In many cases savings greater than 30% can be achieved through the direct swapping of the old T8 lamps

2. Voltage reduction through the use of Light Eco Plus an Australian designed and tested energy saving unit, which when wired into the circuits controlling fluorescent lighting, will reduce energy consumption by up to 27%.

Conducting an environmental assessment of sustainability

Sustainable Footprint is an energy assessment provider delivering energy, water and transport assessments. They provide advice to assist organisations to create effective sustainable business outcomes. Sustainable Footprint guides organisations to develop a more sustainable footprint for their business operations. A business will benefit in many ways by conducting an Environmental Assessment of sustainability including: reduced operating costs, improved environmental Performance; targeted sustainable efficiency strategies; Sustainable Marketing and importantly creating an informed and Motivated Workforce.

Essential Safety Measures - DLA Philips Fox Lawyers, ESM reports are now mandatory

Owners of multiple occupancy buildings and places of public entertainment in Victoria have long been familiar with their obligations to monitor, maintain and produce annual compliance reports under the building regulations. However up until now, those regulations only applied to buildings constructed on or after 1 June 1994. As aconsequence of the amended Building Regulations 2006 (Vic), there is now an obligation on all owners of multiple occupancy buildings to prepare an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report. To find out more about this new obligation and how to comply with it read the attached article by lawyers, DLA Phillips Fox.

Sidney Myer Music Bowl turns 50

Melbourne's much loved open air concert venue, the Sidney Myer Music bowl, celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2009. It has been the place for music lovers and fans of the arts to gather an enjoy the 'free music for the people' concerts established by Sidney Myer in 1929. The design overcame the problem of deflecting noise from nearby traffic with the canopy clad with plywood and lined both sides with sheets of aluminium and excavating 'the bowl' to a depth of 35ft with mounds of excavated earth built up around it.

Sustainable Footprint

EcoGlo

ecoglo is the "Leading Edge" in the emerging market known as supplemental (or passive) emergency lighting. ecoglo has relied on its innovation and technology to help establish its products in markets around the world. From winning the rights to develop world leading technology for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Buildings to installing blackout beaters in high rise buildings in North Americas East, ecoglo has been consistantly ahead of the competition in product specification and innovation.

Renewable Energy - Commercial Green

DIAMOND ENERGY'S electricity retail arm "Commercial Green" delivers a range of green power options to the commercial sector. Diamond Energy is an Australian renewable energy and low carbon generation company. It specialises in building, owning, operating and retailing electricity. It is a holder of Australian electricity market registrations and licences. Diamond Energy'e recent project is the development and operation of a 1.1MWh biogas generation plant in Tatura, Northern Victoria. A second generation plant at Shepparton is also on target for commissioning in December 2008.

The cost of Green

The analysis of returns that FM Innovations software allows is critical to evaluating and improving the returns you get from your property assets. It'll be increasingly important to know the payoff from measures to implement sustainability improvements... Bond University researchers are planning a new study that will aim to determine whether sustainable buildings are worth the extra time, effort and cost by examining the performance of Green Star buildings around Australia

GBCA launches new rating tool

FM Innovations strongly believes that Sustainability issues will grow rapidly in importance and play a major role in commercial differentiation and the viability of facilities and the companies that operate them or operate in them... The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has launched an updated version of its world-leading green star rating tools. The new versions are now called Green Star-Office Design and Green Star-As Built.

Resolving Conflicts in the Workplace

Edie Hester from Training Connection talks about identifying and resolving conflicts in the workplace. Conflict at work often results in low morale, decrease productivity and bitterness between employees. Client relationships are also affected when staff are at odds with one another. Part of the managers role encompasses the ability to help staff members resolve their conflicts in a non threatening way, so that staff can effectively solve problems, improve relationships and achieve goals.

FM Innovations Launch WSM 4.2

The first customer to take up the 4.2 install is one of FMI's longest serving clients Rio Tinto, now housed at 120 Collins Street in Melbourne. The installation was planned by FMI in conjunction with Rio Tinto's Andrew Steffanatti and their IT group. There were a number of aspects to the installation process but it was down in less than 4 hours and then over the next 24 hours it was monitored and tested by Andrew and the IT team at Rio. FM Innovations is proud to announce one of the most important releases of new FM and property management software in Australia for the last 2 years. This release of WSMenterprise 4.2 is significant because of its breadth, scope and the incorporation of a fundamental change in FM software deliverables

CIC Group

CIC Group are leaders in the field of high grade electronic key security systems in Australia and Asia. CIC Secure supplies security systems and maintenance services to government departments and large corporations. CIC Secure markets a range of key security systems which provide improved security, accountability and prevent stock and equipment theft.

FM Innovations is always looking for more Innovative and exciting products to link in with, just like the CIC Secure key system.

Hobsons Bay Named the 2009 Victorian Sustainable City

Hobsons Bay City Council was named as Victoria's 2009 Sustainable City at the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) Sustainable Cities Awards on 29th May 2009. The council submitted 14 nominations in the KABV Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches Awards for a selection of Council and Community projects. Seven of these project were finalists and three projects won in their respective categories.

World Sustainable Building Conference 2008 (SB08) - FM Innovations Wrap Up

FM Innovations launched WSM Sustainability Management at the Word Sustainable Building Conference 2008 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre between Sunday September 21st - Thursday September 25th to a resounding success. The conference focused not just on the topic of new buildings and their construction but on the retro fitting and refurbishments of existing building stock that will not only add significantly to Australia's sustainable building credentials, but will prove that building refurbishments to world leading levels provide commercial returns worthy of attracting large scale investment from private enterprises and from all levels of government.

Towards the end of the conference people were looking at ways they could analyse their current levels of energy/waste/water usage and plan for the future. Around the FM Innovations exhibition booth there were many discussions about how the FM Innovations software will allow you to map your current environmental conditions against current industry benchmarks.

June 2010 / July 2010

FMI welcomes three new clients, Reece, UniSuper and IAG, FMI teams up with Traka, FMI newsletter.

April 2010 / May 2010

FMI releases WSM Version 4.6, we welcome our first WA client, FMI launches on Facebook and Twitter, FMI newsletter.

February 2010 / March 2010

FMI welcomes another new client, FMI launches their new Customer Service Team, FMI newsletter.

December 2009 / January 2010

FMI welcomes a new year and a new client, FMI newsletter, FMI donates money to chairty.

October / November 2009

FMI newsletter, FMI welcomes two new clients, Kador Group and Morton and Morton.

August / September 2009

FMI newsletter, WSM 4.5 release, latest client upgrades, FM articles and much more.

Check again soon for upcoming events!

Limited Budget:

FM Innovations Evergreen Software Rental Option

Essential Safety Measures

With the release of the Building Regulations 2006 it is now a requirement for all public buildings to have an annual essential safety measures report prepared. Click here for the latest ESM updates.