ey Takeaways: Building owners should define what success means for an FDD program, then communicate those priorities throughout the property management and facilities teams. FDD can identify problems, but owners also need a clear process for prioritizing capital investments and acting on the findings. IT-OT security and data-access requirements can delay implementation, while FDD’s value may extend beyond energy and comfort to demand-based building services. Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) can help building owners improve energy performance, occupant comfort and day-to-day operations—but technology alone is not enough.
Read This » From the Trades to Airport Leadership: Doug McMahan's Journeyoug McMahan is a Las Vegas native and has spent more than 30 years with the Clark County Department of Aviation, working his way through five different airport divisions.
Read This » Campus Mowing Strategies for Safer, Healthier Groundsey Takeaways: Tailor mowing schedules and priorities to each campus area’s use, balancing athletic-field safety and playability with the appearance and accessibility of academic and residential grounds. Choose appropriately sized equipment and maintain it proactively; UW-Whitewater’s autonomous mower helps cover large intramural fields while saving time and reducing turf compaction. Treat mowing as part of a broader turf-management strategy — including fertilization, aeration, growth regulators and efficient landscape design — and measure success by healthy fields and people enjoying the grounds. While mowing grounds at institutional and commercial facilities can seem like a repetitive task, success often requires a more strategic approach.
Read This » The Cost of Waiting: How to Make Smarter Capital Decisions With Limited Resourcesey Takeaways: Delaying capital projects raises costs and risk: Deferral compounds deterioration beyond inflation, while unexpected failures can trigger emergency pricing, operational disruptions, closures and lost revenue.
Read This » Looking Back on Elevatenyone who has experienced the emotional rush of seeing a successful project through completion knows how long the good vibes can carry you.
Read This » Rethinking Emergency Plans Through Critical Event Managementey Takeaways: Static emergency plans can quickly become outdated and may not account for the broader operational impacts of a critical event. Critical event management helps facility leaders evaluate threats across detection, response, communication, mitigation and recovery. Redundant communication strategies can help ensure building occupants, tenants and other stakeholders receive timely and accurate information during an emergency. A binder on a shelf won’t save lives.
Read This » Building a High-Performance Facilities Management Teamey Takeaways: Clear responsibilities help facilities teams reduce confusion, avoid duplicated work and keep maintenance workflows moving. Daily, weekly and monthly accountability routines help teams address immediate concerns and track performance before small issues escalate. Accurate CMMS data, well-documented work orders and supportive leadership equip technicians to work effectively and contribute to continuous improvement. Facilities management is changing quickly.
Read This » How to Plan Plumbing and Restroom Upgrades in Commercial Buildingsey Takeaways: Leaking, outdated or code-deficient fixtures can signal that a restroom is ready for an upgrade. Plumbing improvements should go beyond code compliance to support the building’s performance and owner requirements. Before renovating, assess water, waste, venting and existing system loads to ensure the infrastructure can support the planned upgrades. Plumbing systems and restrooms in institutional and commercial facilities are much more complex than they were even a decade ago.
Read This » How Workplace Wellness Impacts Employee Performanceey Takeaways: The WELL Coworking Rating addresses the unique needs of flexible workspaces through more than 50 health and wellness features spanning 10 WELL concepts. Building systems such as ventilation, lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort can have a greater impact on occupant well-being and performance than visible amenities. Research cited by IWBI links healthy workplace conditions to improved cognitive function, employee satisfaction, productivity and reduced health complaints. For facilities managers, workplace wellness is no longer a question of whether to add a gym, meditation room or trendy cafe.
Read This » Aging School Buildings Pose Health Risks to Studentsey Takeaways: Aging K-12 infrastructure, outdated HVAC and plumbing systems, and a $90 billion facility funding shortfall create persistent challenges for maintaining healthy school environments. Poor ventilation, moisture issues, chemical exposures and other indoor environmental hazards can contribute to asthma, respiratory problems and reduced student concentration. Extreme weather and longstanding funding inequities disproportionately affect schools and communities, underscoring the need for coordinated investment in facility upgrades and preventive maintenance. Is anyone against keeping schoolchildren healthy? Surely not, yet the challenges for maintenance and engineering managers seeking to ensure that K-12 facilities consistently provide healthy environments to students and teachers remain stubbornly persistent.
Read This »© 2026 NFMT. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy