Author: MaintenX

Tips for Streamlining Construction Projects

Although technology has changed almost every aspect of our lives, its effect on the construction industry has been profound. Tech is always developing new practices, while construction methods have changed comparatively little over the years.

If a company subcontracts its construction management, it’s important to select a construction company that utilizes the latest technologies and methods to ensure good organization and project precision.

Here are a few tips on how to streamline your next construction project:

Information Management Systems

Managing all the work of building designers, service providers and subcontractors without disturbing facility operations is no easy task. Luckily, computer software has allowed construction companies to help facility managers stay in the loop.

These programs produce real-time data on project expenses and milestone completion, which can be used to save you time and money while streamlining projects substantially.

Electronic Processes

Advances in technology have created a variety of software systems which make the entire bidding process digital. Long meetings with contractors and expensive red tape are no longer necessary.

Use the Latest Tools

There have been many tech advances in the construction industry in recent years. One example of this is Building Information Modeling, which creates 3D images of a building site. This can aid in determining possible construction snags.

Integrated Systems

In the construction world, clients need to be in-the-know at every step of the process. From planning and execution to completion, you want to have complete information available. Integrated project management systems allow their users to share relevant construction information instantly. These powerful tools can be utilized by project managers, contractors and clients so that all parties stay current on reports, progress photos, change orders, order requests, and more.

Want to know more about construction streamlining? Call MaintenX today!

Understanding OPEX & CAPEX

To run a successful company, there are few financial terms you need to know. CapEx and OpEx are two such terms. Read on to learn more about them.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures (CapEx) are the monies used to buy important physical assets or services that will be used for at least one year.

Capital expenditures can include things like:

  • Facility equipment acquisition
  • Expansion and/or improvement to a facility
  • Hardware purchases

A business’s sector can change the types of capital expenditures it makes.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are the expenses incurred from a business’ regular day-to-day operations. These can include things like

  • Rent
  • Utility bills
  • Salaries and pension plan contributions
  • Expenditure related to sales and administrative expenses
  • Research & development
  • Property taxes
  • Business travel
  • Licensing payments
  • Advertising expenses
  • Legal and/or attorney fees
  • Insurance costs
  • Property management expenses
  • Property taxation payments
  • Vehicle fuel, service and repair expenses
  • Leasing contract costs
  • Employees’ salary and wages
  • Raw materials and supplies costs

Because a company’s largest expense is usually operations, administrators usually try to find ways to cut operating expenses without producing a serious impact on a company’s overall output. Unlike capital expenses, operating expenses are entirely tax-deductible for the tax year in which they were incurred.

It’s easy to see how operational expenses and capital expenses make up a big part of a business’s annual budget. When attempting to lower expenses and boost profits, it’s a good idea to properly balance your CapEx and OpEx. When handling an enormous CapEx project while simultaneously dealing with balancing your CapEx and OpEx, it is very important to keep your company’s established expenditure approval procedures updated, clear and transparent.

Want to know more about OpEx and CapEx and how they can help your business succeed? Call MaintenX today!

What is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)?

Total cost of ownership (TCO) assigns a dollar value to a facility asset over its useful life. This value includes each level of an asset’s life cycle.

Total Cost of Ownership Differs by Industry

The expense added to determine the TCO often varies by industry:

Information Technology

TCO is often used for IT hardware, and includes factors like:

  • Cost for out-of-warranty repairs
  • Cost of annual service agreements
  • Prorated cost of any necessary supplementary hardware or software

Financial Sector

Mutual funds and related financial products often charge regular management fees. These secondary expenses need to be included to find the true cost of a product.

The True Value of Facility Assets

The value of each element of the TCO can vary widely depending on each particular asset. Some of these elements include:

  • An item’s worth
  • Asset content
  • Physical characteristics
  • Method of delivery
  • Individual asset lifecycle
  • Order processing costs
  • Program management expenses
  • Opportunity costs

True total cost can also take incremental revenue changes into account. The variation in cash flow is what lowers TCO.

Real TCO analysis is vital in the decision-making process for businesses of any size. Calculating TCO correctly calls for both a thorough understanding of each facility asset and its potential financial impacts over time.

Although TCO can seem daunting, it is necessary to create an accurate financial picture of any business or organization. Make sure you think through all your options while keeping your company’s long-term bottom line interests top of mind.

Want to know more about how to accurately calculate Total Cost of Ownership and why it’s important to do it correctly? Call MaintenX today!

Is Your Rooftop a Usable Space?

Today’s facility occupants need environments that match the way they work and the way they play. But is that space your facility’s roof?

A usable rooftop might be the perfect investment for your facility.

Benefits

Usable rooftops can draw would-be employees to your business. Employees also benefit from a place where they can blow off steam and get a breath of fresh air.

As cities become more and more crowded, space is at a premium. A usable rooftop may be a costly addition to your facility, but can improve employee morale and job satisfaction.

Sustainability

Rooftop spaces can also make your facility more sustainable. You can add a rain-collecting reservoir to supplement your facility’s water system or add solar panels to make the building more energy efficient and lower its utility costs.

A Roof with a View

If you plan to shell out the money for a usable roof, you want to make sure the view isn’t terrible when it’s done. What do the surroundings of your facility look like? If the view isn’t very attractive, you lose out on a lot of the benefits of the space in the first place. Make sure the roof is worth the view your occupants will have.

Load Capacity

A retrofitted roof is definitely not a perfect fit for all facilities. Structural concerns should also be addressed. Adding a usable roof adds a lot of weight to the top of a building, and many facility roofs were not designed for people to walk on them. So make sure you have a structural engineer, construction expert, or architectural firm survey your roof before you start the process.

Tips for Improving Facility Cybersecurity

Recent developments in the Internet of Things are making facilities easier to operate and manage than ever before. But these powerful technologies also expose facilities and their internal networks to cybersecurity attacks that can wreak real havoc to facility systems and expose sensitive data.

Improve your facility’s cybersecurity defenses with these tips:

Keep Everyone in the Loop

IT usually takes care of a facility’s cybersecurity plan, but Internet of Things devices may also be the responsibility of facility managers.

That’s why it’s a good idea to consult with your IT department when planning future Internet of Things upgrades. This way, you can ensure the products you purchase have the most-recent security features built into them.

Know the Risks

Facility managers need to find the weak points where hackers could break into facility networks and infect it with malware or even destroy or steal sensitive data.

Luckily, most IT workers are experienced at finding system weaknesses, but if you don’t bring them into the conversation, they will not be able to advise you on the best security strategies.

Mobile Device Action Plan

Mobile devices can present a major security challenge for facility managers and IT staff. That’s why it’s a good idea to require staff to password-protect all of their devices, encrypt their data, and install security apps to keep criminals out and sensitive data protected.

Backup Data

We also suggest frequently backing up the data on all facility computers, but especially the ones holding your most sensitive data.

Want to know more about security your facility? Call the experts at MaintenX today!

UV Benefits When Cleaning Coils

Ultraviolet (UV) light is commonly used to sterilize HVAC systems. UV destroys bacteria, mold, and other contaminants often found in these systems. Cleaning your building’s HVAC system is not only beneficial to the health of your occupants, but it keeps the system running smoothly.

UV may be applied to a system’s drain pipes or ducts, but another excellent use of UV is for cleaning the cooling coils.

How UV Works on Coils

Cooling coils are a central part of an HVAC system. When contaminants build up, pressure drops and the building’s temperature rises.

Cleaning these coils is necessary to restore your system to optimal function, but the process of cleaning is normally a hassle. Traditional cleaning methods may involve pressure washing, which is not only time-consuming but may not destroy all contaminants.

When a UV light is installed in an HVAC system, it enters through the air handler and moves throughout the system. When it reaches the cooling coils, it quickly destroys contaminants like mold and bacteria. This is much easier, and much more efficient, than pressure washing your coils.

The Downsides to UV Systems

While UV is an excellent tool for keeping your HVAC system clean and operational, it’s not without its downsides. Be aware of these as you consider installing a UV system:

  • Upfront costs. UV lights aren’t usually expensive, but there are additional costs, such as installation and bulb replacement. However, they save on time and energy, and there are do-it-yourself options for installation.
  • Limitations. While UV light is highly effective at killing some contaminants, such as bacteria and mold, it’s not a replacement for filters.
  • Radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous to humans, so UV lights should be turned off while they’re being cleaned. However, you won’t be exposed to radiation on a regular basis with UV systems.

The Bottom Line

There are pros and cons to every system, and UV is no exception, but the benefits certainly seem to outweigh the problems. UV systems can save you a lot of time and energy.

Energy Saving VRF Systems

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is an energy-efficient HVAC system that is growing in popularity around the world. It’s not a new technology, but it only recently entered the U.S. markets. Japan has been using it since the 1980s, and it’s a popular choice in many other parts of the world.

What VRF Systems Do

While conventional HVAC systems deliver a consistent amount of refrigerant, VRF systems can use a different amount for each evaporator. This lets you adjust the temperature for each part of the building, using a single HVAC system. With some VRF systems, you can even heat and cool different parts of a building.

There are currently four kinds of VRF systems:

  • Cooling-only systems
  • Heat pump systems, which can be used for both cooling and heating, but not at the same time
  • Heat recovery systems that can heat and cool simultaneously.
  • Water source systems have the features of other VRF systems. However, they are more efficient than air source systems because water carries heat more efficiently.

Is VRF the right choice?

VRF can cut energy costs by as much as a third. This makes them environmentally friendly as well as cost-efficient for many people. If your company is trying to get a green building certification, a VRF system may help you achieve that.

The upfront cost of VRF may explain why some people are slow to adopt it. A VRF system can cost twice as much as a DX system, and sometimes more. However, the energy savings can often quickly make up for the initial costs.

VRF systems are most popular for small buildings, but they can also be a smart choice for larger buildings with variable heating and cooling needs. Take into account your own building’s needs, and you’ll know if VRF is right for you.

Predictive Maintenance Tips to Keep in Mind

The world of facility management is a fast-changing one. For example, many facility managers are now beginning to move from preventive maintenance to a predictive maintenance model. New and powerful software, sensor technology, and an expanding Internet of Things (IoT) have all led to new ways to precisely monitor facility metrics at an affordable price.

Below are some of the new technologies used in predictive maintenance:

Power System Assessment

Power System Assessments are done by licensed electrical engineers. They involve visual inspections of a facility’s power system. Flaws, corrosion, hazards, or system weaknesses are identified so facility managers can deal with these issues before they cause a problem.

Online Temperature Monitoring

Online Temperature Monitoring gives facility managers 24/7 access to critical systems. It evaluates the current condition of facility assets and can even detect problematic irregularities before they get out of hand.

Circuit Monitor Analysis

Circuit monitors record relevant voltage and power data. They help facility managers recognize where hazardous sags and swells occur in the system.

Intelligent Protective Devices

Monitoring of circuit breakers provides facility managers with accurate, real-time data, such as:

  • Identification and position
  • Number of operations
  • Cumulative interrupted currents
  • Operating times
  • Charging time
  • Travel-time curve
  • Excess closing energy
  • Wear of contacts

Motor control centers can be checked for:

  • Motor current and power
  • Thermal capacity
  • Line currents
  • Average current
  • Ground current
  • Motor temperature
  • Current phase imbalance
  • Voltage frequency
  • Line to line voltage
  • Line voltage imbalance

To learn more about maintenance solutions, call MaintenX today!

Longest-Lasting Facility Flooring

While durability is always a factor when choosing a flooring material for your facility, it’s an absolute must for high-traffic areas. Below are some of the most durable facility flooring materials:

Terrazzo

Terrazzo is durable and relatively inexpensive, but it’s high in upfront costs. This material is best-suited for large, high-traffic areas where aesthetics are also a factor, such as transit hubs.

Quarry Tile

Quarry tile is the go-to option for commercial kitchens because it’s easy to clean and grease doesn’t stick to it. Quarry tile will have a long life if it’s installed correctly and is well-maintained.

Inexpensive and sturdy, quarry tile is a great low-cost option for kitchen and some construction floor applications.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

Generally speaking, LVT isn’t well-suited for industrial or commercial kitchen environments. It can, however, handle a lot of foot traffic, scrapes, scratches, scuffs and spills. This is why it’s a good option for offices, hospitals and schools.

Epoxy

Epoxy flooring is designed for durability—IF properly installed. If putting it over concrete, the surface of the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and ensuring that all cracks are patched with urethane before applying the epoxy coating. If these steps aren’t taken before applying the epoxy, it is much more likely to peel or chip early. Epoxy’s maintenance needs include daily sweeping and occasional deep cleanings. These small measures should help keep your epoxy flooring looking like new for years to come.

Want to know more about facility flooring options? Call MaintenX today!

Tips for Integrating Sustainability into the Workplace

Many facilities roll out sustainability programs expecting that everyone will follow them. Unfortunately, there’s more to a successful sustainability program than putting up signs and flooding inboxes with sustainability program rules.

To make sure your sustainability initiative goes off without a hitch, follow these tips.

Have Clear Goals

Be upfront and transparent with your employees by making it clear why sustainability helps them and the company. Creating simple, easy-to-follow guidelines can help motivate workers to join in the effort.

Reward Success

Positive reinforcement is a much better method than shaming your workforce into complying with your initiative. When we feel good about doing something—that we feel we’re not being forced to do—we’re much more likely to keep doing it in the future.

You can recognize the employees who shine in many ways. Company-wide contests are a great way to get employees onboard. For example, the person in the company that collected the most plastic containers to be recycled wins an extra day or week vacation. Make it fun, and people will be much more likely to get onboard.

Patience

Don’t give up or lose hope if you don’t see noticeable changes right away. Humans are creatures of habit, and it can take time to break habits.

Make sure to include employees in the conversation through planning, implementation, and rollout, along with alterations the policy might need down the road. When workers feel like part of the conversation, they’re much more likely to conform to the rules.