Regulations

Accessible public bathrooms show bad form

Accessible public bathrooms show bad form

Low-cost investments and practical adjustments to the configuration of fixtures could improve safety, convenience and assurance for people with disabilities.
New oversight regime set for Ontario elevators

New oversight regime set for Ontario elevators

A new oversight regime for Ontario’s elevators and escalators will come into force on March 1, bringing shorter timelines for rectifying an extensive list of designated high-risk deficiencies.
accessibility

A path to barrier-free buildings: Facility assessments and strategic accessibility plans

A pressing issue facing facility managers is the crucial impact that barrier-free accessibility can have on a strategic renewal plan.
CDM program hiccups logged in Ontario review

CDM program hiccups logged in Ontario review

The COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions are frequently cited, but not the only reasons for uneven uptake of Ontario’s energy retrofit and performance incentives over the past two years.
Ottawa commercial landlords bid welcome

Ottawa commercial landlords bid welcome

Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, confirms that public service employees will be expected to spend 40 to 60 per cent of their working hours in a formal office setting.
health care

Innovations in health care monitoring technology

There are so many innovative ways to use surveillance technology and equipment beyond traditional security.
mould

Minding mould in LTC and hospitals

Air exchanges and mechanical systems that were sufficient when buildings were constructed may be considered undersized today, allowing fertile ground for mould growth.
monitoring

The new employee monitoring policy

While the deadline to prepare the policy was October 11, 2022, it is better late than never to get an electronic monitoring policy in place.
World Workplace

A recap of IFMA’s World Workplace

In the past, cleaning suppliers, landscapers, and pest control companies dominated FM shows. Not anymore.
FMs

FMs: From backroom professional to essential team member

As pandemic protocols begin to wane, FMs must continue to shine and maintain the profile they earned and the renewed relationships built and established throughout the past two-plus years.
psychological

Psychological ergonomics in the workplace

Jobs with high cognitive demand and/or psychological stress have also been linked to increased incidents of musculoskeletal disorders.
Ontario boosts energy efficiency spending

Ontario boosts energy efficiency spending

The Ontario government has pledged $342 million in additional energy efficiency spending to be rolled out between the spring of 2023 and the end of 2024.
Fossil-fuel-fired power plants place on notice

Fossil-fuel-fired power plants placed on notice

Utilities and other entities selling power into public transmission and distribution networks have about 12 years to cut the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their production processes down to near-zero levels.
carbon

Fuel-switching challenges expected to ease

Climate, cost and capacity pose fuel-switching challenges for building owners looking to curb greenhouse gas emissions in line with Canada’s target for a 40 per cent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030.
hybrid

Hybrid workplaces give rise to legal dilemmas

Organizations are kickstarting work models that reflect flexible preferences, but along with this culture shift comes new legal considerations and best practices for equitable treatment.
Flammable refrigerants spark GHG reductions

Flammable refrigerants spark GHG reductions

Researchers and manufacturers have now done much of the work to prepare for the HFC phase-down, but codes and standards will need to catch up before a new generation of lower-GWP refrigerants can be used.
disabilities

Tapping into the disability purchasing market

Canadians with disabilities make up the largest potential market of consumers, clients, employees and homeowners, with an annual buying power of $25 billion.