FMLink Weekly News Digest I March 28, 2023
With cloud computing and the ongoing acceleration of technological developments, an increasing number of businesses are turning their attention towards larger and more efficient hyperscale facilities to scale and meet their data storage needs. Industry 4.0 (the fourth Industrial Revolution, focusing on interconnectivity, machine learning and real-time data) is here, says software provider Assetspire. And it’s undoubtedly hyperscaling that forms the backbone of this new era.

Yet hyperscale data centers are up against increasing pressure, especially in a world with growing environmental concerns, soaring rates of energy consumption and sky high energy costs. Data center managers are now turning to next-gen DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) and implementing renewable energy sources in an effort to reverse the negative and costly effects of data centers.

Influenced by the possibilities of social interactions and relationships, contract furniture manufacturer Versteel's newest modular seating series, Catwalk, goes beyond functional design to provide a meaningful outlet for collaboration, creativity and comfort. Designed by David Dahl, Catwalk is a multiple-height lounge seating system with ledges deep enough to sit on. Mix and match omni-directional units to create your desired setting, whether it’s privacy, comfort for relaxation, networking, or all the above.

With a concise offering of single, corner, end, ottoman, and connecting tables and bridge units, Catwalk can be configured to approach from any angle and accommodate a variety of postures. Low and mid ledges are positioned perfectly for relaxed leaning, sitting, or perching. High ledges offer back comfort and privacy, while laminate or veneer ledges provide a space to get work done. Bridges break up the traditional seating with either a table or padded ledge yet maintain continuity and offer storage. Catwalk invites users to kick their feet up and spread out.

As real estate occupiers face increased pressure to lower their carbon footprint, and investors are greening their portfolios, green leases can benefit both landlords and tenants while also serving to decarbonize real estate. Global real estate and professional services firm JLL’s new report outlines the considerations building occupiers and owners should include at all stages of the relationship to incorporate sustainability.

According to Green Leasing 2.0: Bridging the owner-occupier divide to deliver shared ESG value, the U.S. market could reap $3.3 billion in annual cost savings if every leased office building implemented green leases, as estimated by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT). And, with 1.2 billion square feet of office space and 2.5 billion square feet of industrial space experiencing a lease expiration before 2030 in the U.S. alone, an emphasis on collaboration and communication will be increasingly important.

Trojan Battery Company, a global provider of deep-cycle battery technology for almost 100 years, showcased the latest applications of its Lithium-Ion Batteries in partnership with Lester Electrical, a global provider of industrial battery chargers, and Pack Mule, a major manufacturer of electric industrial vehicles and carts, last week at ProMat 2023 in Chicago.

Lester Electrical showcased a prototype Trojan/Lester Battery Pack with a Lester-designed tray, Summit II Charger, and Trojan’s GC2 24-Volt Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Class 3 pallet jack industry. Trojan and Lester built the charger profiles to optimize efficiency and ensure safe charging, and are working to bring the complete package to market. Trojan’s GC2 24-Volt Battery is engineered to charge faster, deliver longer runtimes, and accept opportunity charging, thereby increasing productivity. The Summit II Battery Charger employs an intuitive, free Bluetooth app and cloud connectivity so users can review charge history records and anomalies from the field and increase accountability.

Pack Mule showcased the Trojan CG2 48-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery as a premium offering in two of its vehicles: the BCT-9000 NXG Burden Carrier and the PCT 3500 NXG Tugger. This premium option combines Lithium-Ion Batteries designed to increase runtimes and accept opportunity charging with rugged, high-capacity vehicles to decrease maintenance and round trips. The Lithium-Ion Batteries also last longer than flooded lead-acid or AGM, cutting replacements and total cost of ownership, says Trojan.

In Part 1, Data for all! In one place and always current. A Facility Condition Assessment will reveal everything, of Eileen McMorrow’s interview with Josh Lowe, co-founder and chief solutions officer, AkitaBox, he explained how traditionally, Facility Condition Assessments (FCA) of buildings were performed by A/E firms every five to seven years. That’s no longer acceptable. Contemporaneous data on buildings is in demand as property owners want to know how their real estate is performing or serving the needs of the business. In Part 2, below, Lowe details how new software enables the availability of up to the minute data to be accessible to the facility and building management team and all the technicians who service building equipment.

How does the living FCA benefit the broader lifecycle of facility data?
Lowe: FCA is about checking in and getting validation. We all know what industry standard really means for the lifecycle of a product. You know you may get more time, but maybe an FCA demonstrates that the item is close to end of life. Industry remaining life or estimated or observed remaining life that shows you can get X more years is useful data. You then make a decision that impacts the FCA and spending decisions.

BOOK OF THE WEEK
This week's Featured Book from FMLink's new Books section is from the Management Leadership category. This collection of peer-reviewed books has been curated by the editorial team at FMLink to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Management Leadership topic.

Risk Management: Concepts and Guidance, 5th Edition will help you to manage unexpected risks and sometimes even predict and attack the risks before they happen. Through the powerful techniques and suggestions offered in this must-have manual you can assess and manage different risks all within the realm of the project you are working on or within your program environment.

With sweeping changes in work and workplace, it’s imperative for facility management professionals to lead their organizations to higher levels of performance and experience. Hosted by the association that has provided training, knowledge sharing and support to FMs globally for more than 40 years, IFMA’s Facility Fusion is about building future-ready leadership skills. It’s about exploring what’s possible — for our facilities, industry and careers — and synthesizing ideas and industries for a new world of work.

Facility Fusion is all about focus — on your needs as a facility manager, on your concerns in supporting specific facility types, on your career advancement and on building your professional network. IFMA’s Facility Fusion serves a unique purpose: it builds FM leaders. New in 2023: learning labs, team-building exercises, health & well-being activity, and a community service project. Focusing on leadership and strategy, workplace diversity, sustainability, data and connection, you’ll build future-ready skills for taking the initiative on: Building trust and inspiring vibrancy; Reducing risk and increasing resilience; Finding new opportunities for improvement; and Inspiring and uplifting yourself and others.

Tork, an Essity Brand, has announced that Tork Interactive Training for Healthcare is now GBAC STAR Registered. Under the guidance of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, this training aligns with the GBAC STAR Accreditation Program, and demonstrates cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention best practices that minimize risks associated with infectious agents like Covid-19.

To become GBAC STAR Registered, Tork Interactive Training for Healthcare had to meet specific requirements including demonstrating efficacy, cost, health and safety advantages, etc., as well as show a significant contribution in helping to prevent the spread of diseases. Industry-recognized Tork interactive trainings for healthcare help medical facilities improve hand hygiene practices to reduce pathogen transmission and address the 90% of Americans who believe increased cleaning and sanitizing in healthcare facilities is important.

Fast Reads
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