Rodent Control can be dangerous to maintenance personnel. Take precautions before and during clean up of rodent-infested areas. Rats and mice can spread over 35 diseases.
These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites; and indirectly, through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent.
Following are suggestions to assist building management and maintenance services address the issues: [click to continue…]
My current building project is a large, 5 story library for a university in an eastern, mid-Atlantic state.
Heating and cooling are provided through a combination of tempered air, distributed through grilles and chilled beams, and radiant panels using hot and chilled water coils.
If you have experience with the use of chilled beams and the associated activation issues, I would welcome comments through the Comment Form.
I will share the information with all readers through a supplemental article.
Thank you for your assistance.
Birds gathering on and around your building can create problems that reach far beyond building maintenance challenges.
It’s no surprise that birds, their droppings, and nesting materials can cause serious health risks. There have been many documented cases of humans contracting diseases in areas with bird infestations, beginning with Histoplasmosis and West Nile Virus.
But the financial health risks are arguably more substantial. Some are budget line items, directly impacting return on investment (ROI) from a cost standpoint; others are opportunity costs, impacting ROI from the other side — potential lost business. None are a good move, when facilities worldwide are struggling to keep financially fit and viable among competition, the economy, and the media.
Here are five examples of the ways birds can cause money to “fly” out your door:
- Birds can damage or down equipment. Whether you’re running one, two, or three shifts, downtime costs money. Idle workers, overtaxed backup equipment, delayed jobs, unhappy customers… this all affects profitability.
- Birds and their droppings send a negative image about the cleanliness and the quality of the facility, the product, the workers, and the community. The “ick” factor does not bode well with customers, employees, or potential employees, making your facility someplace they’d prefer to not be. Further, no organization’s public relations department wants to be the subject of a news story on its bird infestation! [click to continue…]
Motor problems can be minimized by maintenance management plans that include regular inspection and service. The frequency of the inspections should match the service; i.e. if a part of life safety or critical data center , systems a monthly checks would be appropriate.
Written records indicating date, items inspected, service performed and physical condition are important to an effective routine maintenance program. From such records, specific problems in each application can be identified and solved quickly to avoid breakdowns and production losses.
Following are suggestions for activities in the maintenance management schedule:
Dirt and Corrosion
Wipe, brush, vacuum or blow accumulated dirt from the frame and air passages. Dirty units run hot when dirt insulates the frame and obstructed ventilation openings reduce cooling air flow. Heat reduces insulation life and eventually causes failure.
Feel for air being discharged from the cooling air ports. If the flow is weak or unsteady, internal air passages are probably clogged. Schedule removal of the motor from service for a complete cleaning
Check for signs of corrosion. Serious corrosion may indicate internal deterioration and/or a need for external repainting. Schedule the removal of the unit from service for complete inspection and possible rebuilding.
In wet or corrosive environments, open the conduit box and check for deteriorating insulation and wet or corroded terminals. [click to continue…]
BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECTS REQUIRE PLANNING TO ASSURE SUCCESSFUL CONTROL OF COST AND TIME.
(THIS CHECKLIST SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY BUILDING OWNERS OR BUILDING MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, BEFORE SELECTION OF DESIGNERS OR CONTRACTORS. THE INFORMATION RECORDED AND THE QUESTIONS IDENTIFIED WILL PERMIT MORE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF A SATISFACTORY PROJECT.)
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Property Management and Maintenance Services personnel must be prepared to respond to complaints from occupants, as tight, energy efficient building contribute to allergic reactions.
Most information about sources and health effects of biological pollutants is based on studies of large office buildings and two surveys of homes in northern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that 30% to 50% of all structures have damp conditions which may encourage the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. This percentage is likely to be higher in warm, moist climates.
Some diseases or illnesses have been linked with biological pollutants in the indoor environment. However, many of them also have causes unrelated to the indoor environment. Therefore, we do nut know how many health problems relate only to poor indoor air.
Health Effects Of Biological Pollutants
All of us are exposed to biological pollutants. However, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Some people do not experience health reactions from certain biological pollutants, while others may experience one or more of the following reactions: [click to continue…]
Property maintenance, facility management and home maintenance services must prepare for significant changes in the light bulbs that are available for common use.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has published a summary of the options.
In 2007 then President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) into law. The provisions in this law are intended to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and enable the U.S. to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. One of the provisions provides for phasing out today’s 40W, 60W, 75W and 100W general service incandescent light bulbs in favor of lower wattage, energy saving bulbs.
This is important to you, the consumer, because lighting accounts for about 15% of the electrical use in homes.
GENERAL SERVICE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS are basic light bulbs with medium screw bases; finishes including clear, inside frosted and soft white; provide one level of light and operate at 120 – 130 Volts. You use them in a variety of applications in and around your home such as overhead light fixtures, wall sconces, table and floor lamps, fan light kits, outdoor entrance fixtures and post top decorative lanterns.
The law provides for a three year phase out schedule:
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