FMLink News Digest I October 21, 2024 | |
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The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has just announced the release of Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI. This new publication serves as a guide for facility management (FM) professionals ready to embrace the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). From predictive maintenance to optimizing energy efficiency, AI is rapidly reshaping the way facility managers operate, and this guide provides a foundational roadmap for understanding and leveraging these advanced tools.
In Gamechanger, readers will discover clear and practical explanations of key AI concepts such as machine learning and machine vision. More importantly, they will gain valuable insights into how these technologies can effectively apply to real-world FM challenges. The guide provides a step-by-step approach to successful AI deployment, offering actionable advice on aligning AI strategies with business goals, managing organizational change, and ensuring data governance and infrastructure readiness. Crafted with the busy facility manager in mind, the guide is designed to be accessible, making AI a practical and achievable asset for any FM professional.
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A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) reports a comparison of hospital room cleanliness using standard disinfectant wipes versus wipes with a color additive that allows users to see which surfaces have been sanitized. With the color additive, rooms were 69.2% cleaner and were able to be cleaned in slightly less time compared to cleaning with standard wipes. The study was performed at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut.
Proper disinfection of hospital rooms helps prevent the spread of germs from one patient to another. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant risk to patients, and contaminated surfaces in hospitals have been linked to many of these infections, notes the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), publisher of AJIC. For example, one study found that hospital patients were nearly six times as likely to acquire an HAI when staying in the bed of a former patient who had that same infection. Many prior studies have shown that despite substantial effort and attention, hospital rooms are simply not as clean as they need to be to prevent HAIs.
In this study, clinicians tested the outcomes of hospital room sanitation performed two ways. First, they evaluated the status quo for a one-week period: environmental services (EVS) teams used regular disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces in 10 randomly selected rooms. They then educated the EVS teams about using wipes with a color additive, which shows up on surfaces as blue during cleaning but fades to clear several minutes later when force and friction is used. This creates a strong visual cue to help users see what has been cleaned with effective technique and what has not.
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Fire sprinkler corrosion monitoring is easy with CORRinSITE from AGF Manufacturing. CORRinSITE is a corrosion monitor for wet, dry or preaction sprinkler systems manufactured from the same mild carbon steel as the system’s piping. The plug’s surface sits at the same depth as the pipe wall and therefore corrodes at the same rate as the pipe. When the monitor’s plug corrodes beyond its limit, moisture penetrates the sealed chamber and transforms the brilliant white sight glass to a fluorescent orange color, indicating a corrosion problem and a need for further pipe inspection.
CORRinSITE was developed in response to the increase of corrosion-related failures in both wet and dry fire protection systems. CORRinSITE, available in an in-line pipe and mechanical tee, provides a simple-to-install, maintenance-free, and inexpensive method to monitor for hidden corrosion problems in any fire protection system.
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Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, posted this update at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, October 10, the morning after Category 3 Hurricane Milton blasted the city and the surrounding region on the west coast of Florida: "As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Tampa General Hospital remains open and our teams stand ready to care of our community. Last night, our storm mitigation efforts stood strong against #HurricaneMilton. TGH Brooksville, TGH Spring Hill, and TGH Crystal River are operating as normal, serving our community throughout this challenging time." The update was posted again at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 13, confirming that Tampa General’s defenses had withstood the ensuing storm surge of some six feet.
So what did the hospital do to prepare for both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, which had devastated the region only two weeks earlier? Emergency preparations included the previous construction of an on-site energy source and water source, and assembling an AquaFence water-impermeable barrier just before each storm to protect against the storm surge. Watch the video TGH posted on X during Hurricane Helene to show that the AquaFence barrier was holding. Image above is from September 26 after Hurricane Helene, courtesy of AquaFence via TGH. Click below to read more details on preparations at Tampa General Hospital's campuses.
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Two ADA-compliant automatic soap dispensers in the Fino Collection from Bobrick combine two signature looks with top-fill functionality in five finishes. Both soap dispensers feature a lid that opens to reveal an easy-access, patented, top-fill reservoir with a bright red funnel for mess-free, above-the-counter refilling which makes maintenance virtually effortless by eliminating the need to get underneath the counter to change cartridges. Both soap dispensers also accept economical bulk jug liquid or foam soap for significant cost savings of 80% or more over proprietary soap cartridges.
Fino Collection soap dispensers, winner of the Best of NeoCon 2024 Silver Award for Architectural Products, feature low-soap LED indicators that flash when the dispensers are at approximately 25% capacity, letting maintenance staff know it is time to refill. Bobrick’s patented design features a lid that opens to reveal an easy-access, top-fill reservoir with a top-fill reservoir for mess-free, above-the-counter refilling which makes maintenance virtually effortless, saving 25% in labor costs by eliminating the need to get underneath the counter to change cartridges. They also reduce waste and landfill impact by eliminating disposal of partially filled cartridges.
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NFMT REMIX (National Facilities Management & Technology) returns to Las Vegas October 29-30 with the theme "Empowering People, Advancing Practice." NFMT REMIX will empower FMs with world-class education sessions, constant networking opportunities, and access to pertinent FM subject matter, experts and influencers. Process, procedure and technology converge at NFMT Remix to give attendees the tools to advance their practice by driving innovation and optimizing performance within their facilities. The scope and scale of NFMT Remix attract facility leaders from all types of organizations, from Fortune 500s to small municipalities. By attending education sessions, visiting the Expo Hall, and joining networking events, NFMT Remix attendees stay at the forefront of facilities management and gain the perspective they need to make informed decisions.
The McMorrow Reports & FMLink editors recommend the following sessions:
Register for NFMT REMIX here.
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Dublin-based HT Materials Science (HTMS) recently announced the successful deployment of Maxwell, a ground-breaking heat transfer fluid for commercial and industrial cooling and heating systems, at an industrial plant. The plant, located in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is owned and operated by Almatis GmbH, a world leader in the development, manufacture and supply of premium alumina (aluminum oxide) and alumina-based products.
Maxwell increased segments of the plant’s cooling system capacity by approximately 20%, which results in an increase in production capacity by an estimated 10% or more per year. The Ludwigshafen plant produces high-quality materials for the refractory, ceramic and polishing industries, and is one of the company’s eight production facilities. The installation was commissioned to demonstrate that Maxwell could reduce the plant’s maintenance requirements and increase production capacity during certain periods of high ambient temperature. This is the second industrial plant in which Maxwell has been used to achieve similar results.
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Isomi, from the U.K., entered its Layer desk system in the Furniture Systems category of the Best of NeoCon, earning Gold and an overall Finalist for the Best of Competition among 294 products, and won a Sustainability Award for modular seating system Tejo, all while participating as a NeoCon exhibitor for the first time.
Mix, match, rebuild and repeat. Layer (shown) is Isomi’s most flexible modular desk system to date. Designed for longevity, replaceability, and material variety, the Layer system prioritizes adaptability and sustainability. Its modular design allows for the easy replacement of panels, enabling users to update the desk’s aesthetics with new materials. This eliminates the need to purchase a new desk for a refresh. All panels are mechanically fixed for easy disassembly, enabling the desk to be refreshed/redressed to suit new environments and purposes over time, avoiding disposal.
Made by recycling cork waste from the production of wine stoppers, Tejo is the recyclable sofa system that helps preserve Portugal’s cork forests and marks a major step towards the circular economy. Combining soft contours, tactile surfaces, and clean, clear aesthetics, Tejo is a PFOA/PFOS/PFAS-free, practical and environmentally conscientious seating solution. Each base module replaces plywood with natural, renewable and recyclable cork material. Seating elements replace foam with natural latex and wool, while the fabrics are sourced from flax and hemp harvested in the U.K. Tejo comprises a bench, a single sofa, and a double back-to-back sofa in varying depths, with optional table units as well as planters to integrate biophilic design.
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This week's Featured Book from FMLink Books is part of a collection of peer-reviewed books curated by the FMLink editorial team to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Costbooks topic.
The 2025 BNi Electrical Costbook is your essential resource for precise cost estimation. Key features:
- Access precise details for over 10,000 items from paving to finish carpentry.
- Unit of measure, material cost, labor cost, and equipment cost per unit provided for each item.
- Stay up to date with accurate material costs researched by experts.
- Labor costs based on the latest prevailing wage rates from the U.S. Department of Labor.
This and other Costbooks titles are available for purchase on FMLink.
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