Latest news and blogs from

BACnet has been the international standard for building automation systems ever since its introduction in 1995. More than 1,000 vendors and 25 million devices across the globe now use the BACnet communication protocol, and this widespread use has generated plenty of data about the strengths and weaknesses of the technology.

Modern facility management tools give users sophisticated control over their buildings. We can track detailed performance data, adjust setpoints, map trends, set schedules, and program automated adjustments that will boost energy efficiency. However, the most important change in the industry today is the gradual shift towards remote building access.

Cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IOT) have changed the way we live, work, and play. We now use smartphones, mobile devices, and computers to communicate and access our data from anywhere, at any time — on-the-go, on-site at a service call, or in bed on a Saturday night. 

A unique set of obstacles regularly challenges technicians and facility maintenance contractors servicing assisted living facilities. You may have a campus of buildings to look after, a series of individual living units with unique resident needs, or even multiple communities that you serve. This can present certain technical problems that, in the past, were considered the cost of doing business.

It takes more than a skilled team of techs and a BMS to maintain an optimal, compliant environment in your residential care facility. The residents in your care are counting on you for fast responses to any HVAC issues and minimal disruption in their environments for maintenance or system checkups. 

Assisted living facility managers know the importance of putting residents first. A consistent and carefully controlled environment is critical to the health, comfort, and safety of everyone in the facility’s care. Nonetheless, sudden HVAC equipment outages can lead to maintenance downtime that’s inconvenient at best and potentially a serious risk at worst.

The new year is coming up fast, and HVAC technicians will need to be prepared for another year of change in the facilities management field. Many manufacturers have experienced supply chain difficulties that have affected the availability and cost of raw materials, equipment, parts, and supplies. Regulations continue to evolve as well, with an increased focus on the HFC phase-down and total energy efficiency.

Every piece of university facilities equipment will become obsolete eventually. And if it doesn’t make it to a point of natural obsolescence, it’s probably because you’ve needed to replace it or upgrade it due to reduced efficiency or breakdowns. This cycle is, on some level, unavoidable.

Longstanding neglect of HVAC in schools has created an urgent need for an update. Recent research has shown that more than half (54%) of public schools need “to update or replace multiple systems like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) or plumbing.” More than a quarter (26%) will need to update or replace at least six of the critical facility systems.

Many healthcare organizations maintain expansive buildings with multiple wards, separate outbuildings, multi-building campuses, or even additional locations in other towns and cities. This can make medical building management into notoriously complex work.