Operations
Flooding brings immediate, downstream costs
Water spills, leaks and floods are a common occurrence that can have a costly impact on public and workplace safety and building operations.
Legislation gets to the heart of health and safety
Manitoba is the first Canadian province to mandate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in specific facilities.
Problems underfoot
Hard-surface flooring is often selected because it’s practical. However, this doesn’t mean it's impenetrable. Here are five of the most common hard-surface floor problems and tactical solutions to resolve them.
Clean smarter with microfibre mopheads
While often more expensive than traditional cleaning cloths and mopheads, microfibre products tend to be more absorbent, use significantly less chemicals and water, and clean surfaces more effectively.
Understanding carpet warranties
Over the years, carpet warranties have changed considerably, limiting their liability. In some cases, the manufacturer will: specify what type of cleaning is appropriate to maintain the warranty; require cleaning receipts to indicate when and ...
Underfloor air distribution
Textile ducts are now being introduced inside underfloor air distribution systems to transfer and distribute the supply air to exact zones of the system.
Data detours on the information highway
The OSCRE is working to devise and implement specifications for system interoperability that would allow data to move between disparate systems without the need for customized interfaces.
Specifying an effective sound masking system
To ensure a sound masking system works as expected, a clear set of performance standards should be established prior to procurement. If not, the system may not provide the desired level of speech privacy or noise control.
Information security
By 2020, information security will become the key enabler in allowing organizations to operate in a highly collaborative world where workers can utilize any device they want and run virtual applications (or "apps") that are hosted and secured ...
Raise the roof
A roof that lasts longer is usually more sustainable since less waste is generated through the removal of an additional roof.
Recommissioning finds qualitative quick fixes
Recommissioning focuses on right-sizing a building’s mechanical and electrical systems and their operation for today’s conditions.
Making good pest control moves
Whether moving into an existing office space or eyeing a new development, a building’s pest control plan should be a primary concern.
Energy audits
An energy audit is the logical first step in helping to reduce a facility’s utility costs and carbon footprint, and justify capital expenditures. Here are 10 things every building manager should know before embarking on an energy audit.
ISO 50001 energy management systems standard
The ISO 50001 energy management systems standard initially focuses more on commitment to performance than performance itself.
Saying goodbye to T12 fluorescents
Since the first Canadian energy efficiency regulation that phased out a handful of inefficient general service fluorescent lamps (GSFL) was introduced in 1995, there has been steady progress in the availability of more efficient lighting solutions ...
Utilizing site-recovered energy
Many commercial building owners are turning to energy recovery ventilation technology that recovers energy on-site and reuses it to reduce the demand ...
Zooming in on onscreen problems
Studies have found there is a relationship between a computer user’s vision and the position and size of what’s on that person’s screen.


