The First Facility Management Blog

Architects, plan examiners, engineers, and other industry professionals need to be aware of key requirements in the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) to design and review building projects effectively. The Design Professional Institute, March 21-22 in Sacramento, California, is an opportunity to learn how to design code-compliant projects specific to accessibility and usability, means of egress, wind loads, materials, fire resistance and fire protection requirements in the 2006 IBC.

•Architectural Applications for Designers will familiarize building designers with choices in building classification, materials, fire resistance, fire protection, and means of egress.
•Accessibility and Usability will address federal accessibility requirements, including exterior accessible routes, accessible entry versus egress, special occupancy requirements, and dwelling and sleeping units.
•Solving Means of Egress Issues in Commercial Buildings will discuss requirements of means of egress based on a four-story commercial building plan.
•Wind Load Design will focus on wind load provisions of the IBC based on ASCE 7 and explain three methods of analysis. Attendees will study specific design examples and topics like basic wind speed, velocity pressure, gust effect factors, and enclosure classifications.

Instructors for this institute are International Code Council Senior Staff Architect Kim Paarlberg and Dilip Khatri, Ph.D. Paarlberg is a licensed architect and Certified Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner. Her duties at the International Code Council include administering Chapters 10 and 11 of the International Building Code, reviewing plans and specifications for code compliance, providing code opinions, and conducting seminars. Khatri has more than 22 years of experience with land development, subdivision, commercial, residential, multi-family, industrial, and educational facilities. Khatri has extensive structural engineering experience in steel, concrete, and timber buildings involving insurance and litigation investigation.

In addition to education offered by highly recognized building design professionals, the Design Professional Institute allows attendees to interact, network, gain valuable insight, and share experiences with their peers. Participants also can earn continuing education units (CEUs), American Institute of Architects learning units (LUs), and HSW credits. All attendees receive comprehensive manuals to reference during the event and to use as a resource back on the job. All courses are half-day seminars.

To register for the Design Professional Institute online, click here.

The latest real estate investment strategies will be the focus of Information Management Network’s (IMN) Third Annual “Winter Forum On Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing” being held January 25-27, 2006 at the Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach, CA.

The Forum showcases the cutting-edge strategies used by the most successful funds and investors to thrive in the current economic environment. Through structured presentations, panel discussions, and interactive audience participation, this year’s program will explore such relevant topics as comparing core, value-added, and opportunistic investing; first-time funds; redevelopment and rejuvenation projects; institutional investors’ perspective; and evaluating the current economic environment for real estate investments.

To attend the Laguna forum, please visit the event Web site.

The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) has announced the publication of ANSI/BHMA A156.12-2005 American National Standard for Interconnected. This publication is an update of an earlier 1999 version of the standard.

ANSI/BHMA A156.12 establishes performance requirements for Interconnected Locks and includes operational tests, strength tests, security tests, cycle tests, finish tests, and dimensional criteria. This Standard is useful to architects, engineers, building owners, installation and maintenance personnel, and anyone else concerned with the proper operation of door controls, overhead stops, and holders.

“Because Interconnected Locks combine product features from a number of types of locksets, members’ efforts focused on assimilating improvements from recent related standards,” says Mike Tierney, standards coordinator for the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association.

Among the several editorial and organizational structural changes made to A156.12-2005, the A156.2-2003 Axial Load Test description replaced the current test, digital photos were employed to better illustrate testing methods and equipment, along with clarification of test intent and methods.

For more information, or to purchase copies of the ANSI/BHMA A156.12-2005, please visit BHMA’s Web site. Purchased standards are available as printed documents or as electronic files (PDF) for immediate download.

Despite the fact that new construction of single family homes and apartments dropped by 8.9% at the end of the year, 2005 proved to be a banner year for this sector. These figures spiked total construction to its second highest level ever (topped only by figures from 1972). Even with the December falloff, levels reached record highs for the third straight year. A pdf of the complete construction report can be found here.

In other economic news, the Labor Department reported a drop in unemployment benefit claims, sinking to their lowest level since April 2000. For a complete report, see the following release from the Department of Labor .

The following item comes from the Lots of Jokes Web site.

Do you keep falling asleep in meetings and seminars? What about those long and boring conference calls? Monotone voices burbling on and on like a creek for hours on end, forcing you to look for the nearest sharp object or length of wire to end it all. Here’s a way to change all of that…

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar, or conference call, prepare yourself by drawing a square. Typically, 5″x5″ is a good size. Divide the card into columns-five across and five down. That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.

2. Write one of the following words/phrases in each block:
synergy
strategic fit
core competencies
best practice
bottom line
revisit
take that off-line
24/7
out of the loop
benchmark
value-added
proactive
win-win
think outside the box
fast track
result-driven
empower
knowledge base
solution
touch base
mindset
client focus
paradigm
game plan
leverage
3. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those words/phrases.
4. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, stand up and shout “B.S.!”

Testimonials from satisfied “B.S. Bingo” players:
• “I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won.”
- Jack W., Boston

• “My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically.”
- David D., Florida

• “What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win.”
- Bill R., New York City

• “The atmosphere was tense in the last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box.” - Ben G., Denver

• “The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed ‘B.S.!’ for the third time in two hours.” - Kathleen L., Atlanta

HNI Corporation is pleased to announce that Forbes magazine named the company to its “Platinum 400” – also known as America’s Best Big Companies. This represents the eighth consecutive year HNI Corporation has been included in this prestigious list of companies. The listing appeared in the January 9, 2006 issue of the publication.

“It’s a distinct honor to be included among this elite group of outstanding organizations,” said Stan Askren, chairman, president, and CEO of HNI Corporation.

Forbes uses a thorough process to select the elite list. For a company to be considered, fundamental requirements include revenue of at least $1 billion, stock prices of more than $5 per share, and public trading status for more than two years.

Forbes then ranks candidate companies for financial performance against their industry peers in one of 26 industry groups over the latest five years and most recent 12 months. The ranking items include sales and earnings growth, stock market returns, and debt to total capital. Forbes also ranks companies on their consensus forecasts for long-term earnings growth. Once Forbes determines individual company metrics, it tabulates a composite rank and score for each company.

“Knowing the comprehensive process that Forbes endures during its selection, it is extremely gratifying to be named to this list for the eighth consecutive year,” added Askren. “HNI’s commitment to strong financial performance, high quality products, and dedication of our member-owners, has enabled us to earn this recognition.”

Growing Need to Reduce Costs and Improve Productivity Fuels Companies to Adopt Integrated Facility Management in Central Europe

The increasing awareness of the need to enhance business efficiency and reduce costs is fueling the demand for integrated facility management (I-FM) solutions in central Europe. Investing in a comprehensive I-FM program is likely to enable companies to minimize their costs by supporting improved personnel productivity.

“Properly managed facilities can prove to be a means of meeting corporate goals while also being an indirect source of profits, instead of merely generating overhead costs on the company’s balance sheet,” says Mireille Pierrevelcin, research analyst at Frost & Sullivan .

Further, large manufacturing industries with several offices and production sites dispersed across central Europe as well as multi-site companies such as banks and insurance firms prefer contracting with a ’single-stop’ FM provider to meet all their needs. This trend is favoring I-FM providers with the largest possible service offerings. Hence, I-FM companies will benefit by widening their range of facilities services and acquiring necessary skills in different sectors.

At present, I-FM solutions in the building operation and maintenance market segment contribute to the highest revenues. Meanwhile, these solutions are also finding increasing application in support services, environmental management, IT, and telecom, as well as property management in both private and public sectors.

The private sector (which represents 80.5% of end users) remains the main source of revenues as finance, IT, and telecom and aerospace sectors as well as manufacturing industries are investing in I-FM applications.

At the same time, increasing market growth is forecast in the public sector due to the implementation of recent initiatives (such as the partnership between private and public sector programme (PPP)). Accordingly, the public sector, with 19.5% of the market revenues, will increase its involvement in outsourcing I-FM. In keeping with this trend, hospitals, universities, schools, and city authorities are likely to boost investments in I-FM projects.

I-FM companies are also increasingly investing in research and development (R&D) in a bid to enhance their offerings. Such technological innovations will enable these companies to combat growing competition. Besides, the increased focus on I-FM certifications will also prove beneficial, as this will assist I-FM companies to assure end-users of the high quality of their services.

Sustained by these trends, market revenues in the central European I-FM market (comprising the German, Alpine, and Benelux I-FM markets) are expected to grow from $4.40 billion in 2005 to $6.70 billion by 2011.

The German I-FM market, which is the leading I-FM market in central Europe, will witness further growth thanks to the increasing demand from the public sector for PPP. Moreover, with growing acceptance of I-FM outsourcing, revenues are also likely to increase in the Alpine and Benelux I-FM markets.

Efforts by new entrants in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to break into the central European I-FM market have resulted in intensifying competition. Thus, international I-FM companies will need to be keenly aware of cultural and social particularities in the region to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Currently, in a bid to combat competition, several I-FM companies are promising a wide range of services. However, as most of these companies are failing to deliver these promised services, customer confidence has fallen and is likely to hamper future market growth.

Yet another challenge is the growing number of I-FM companies that are adopting a low price policy to control existing competition. However, clients are growing aware that a low-price I-FM contract often fails to meet all their requirements.

“Hence, while an aggressive pricing strategy might meet with an initial enthusiastic response from customers, over the long-term, the inability to meet their needs is likely to pose a challenge to I-FM solution providers,” remarks Pierrevelcin.

Thus, to increase their market share effectively, I-FM companies will need to invest in constant innovations. Besides, pursuing long-term partnerships with their customers and providing tailor-made services will prove beneficial to I-FM solutions providers, even while the integration of the full I-FM services will become the new challenge for medium and large-sized companies trying to remain competitive in the market.

For more information, send an e-mail to Magdalena Oberland, corporate communications, at magdalena.oberland@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and source of information. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you through e-mail.

Last month, Lockheed Martin was declared as the Top Corporation for Multicultural Business Opportunities of 2005 by over 500,000 diversity business owners. The honor extends to another forty-nine major corporations and is collectively called the Div50.

The sixth annual list was produced by DiversityBusiness.com, a multicultural B2B online portal. The voting business owners based their decisions on such factors as the volume, consistency, and quality of business opportunities granted to women and minority-owned companies. Other large companies at the top of the list are Office Max, BellSouth, Bank of America, Dell, Toyota, and Wal-Mart.

Top Honors for Top Corporations
While other awards and “top” lists crown companies for overall economic growth, returns to shareholders and similar metrics, the Div50 is an indicator of which organizations provide the best and the most business for diversity owned companies. In a marketplace that is increasingly as sensitive to diversity as it is to revenues, recognizing the top buyers of multicultural products and services is becoming a natural part of the new socioeconomic food chain.

“Those organizations that buy the most products and services, most consistently, from diversity businesses, and that sustain the most mutually beneficial business relationships with their multicultural suppliers, should be recognized not only by the suppliers but also by the general public,” says Kenton Clarke, CEO of DiversityBusiness.com.

The Business Power of Diversity
As minorities gain more buying power and their lifestyles become more affluent, multicultural markets are growing in economic muscle. This in turn attracts more corporations, as they compete for market share in minority communities. The Div50 list has become, by virtue of association, a consumer guide of sorts for women and minority consumers.

“As a diversity business owner, I appreciate the business we receive from corporate buyers; and in turn, when I buy products and services, either as a company or as a private individual, I am much more likely to buy from the same companies that are supporting my business, or that I know are supporting businesses like mine,” says Sush Tripati, owner of IT-Source headquartered in Southbury, CT.

The Div50
The Div50 is a listing of the top 50 corporate and organizational buyers of diversity products and services throughout the country. It represents the voices of over 500,000 diversity-owned (women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Indian and other minority groups) businesses in the U.S., in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services.

Over 500,000 women and minority owned businesses had the opportunity to vote in the 2005 online election.

Haworth Inc. announced it has started the Gold rating process for a United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) certification for the corporate headquarter renovation. The 300,000 square foot project is believed to be the one of largest office building LEED applications in Michigan.

To read about another high profile sustainable design story, see “Just Build It” from the TFM archives.

“Sustainability is a cornerstone to our planning just as it is to our products,” said Franco Bianchi, Haworth president and CEO. “This renovation represents our commitment to sustainability and to helping our customers achieve their goals for the environment and LEED.”

The Haworth headquarter renovation project will completely remake the 1,000-foot-long facade of the existing headquarters building, add a sun-filled atrium and will include a section of roofline that gently angles down to blend with the surrounding environment.

This announcement caps off an extremely successful year for Haworth’s sustainability endeavors. Recent sustainable accomplishments include:
• Recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise award program for significant waste reduction and recycling achievements with an honorable mention in the Green Buildings Gold Achievement category.

• Earning the first McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry Gold Cradle to CradleTM Product Certification for the Zody chair. This certification means that the chair is made with sustainable materials, components and systems, including appropriate energy usage, water usage and socially responsible corporate practices. Zody’s sustainable design includes using 100% Green-e wind-power credits to manufacture the chair, being up to 51% recycled content and having up to 98% recyclable materials, as well as being PVC-free, chrome-free and CFC-free.

In 2006, Haworth will continue sustainable evolution with renovation projects and by participating in a feasibility study for wind power generation at industrial sites. This Holland (Michigan) Board of Public Works study will evaluate the viability of wind turbines for generating electric power and have chosen Haworth’s Holland corporate headquarters as a test site. The company will also continue to seek LEED certifications for regional showroom renovation projects.

Advance, a ballast manufacturer located in Rosemont, IL, has launched a website to help promote awareness of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Located at www.energybillinfo.com, the site is designed to assist industry partners and end users in their lighting upgrade decisions.

Included on the site is information about the implications of the Energy Policy Act, including the federal tax deduction opportunities available to qualifying energy efficient lighting installations. Visitors to the site can access upgrade tools and calculators to help assess the magnitude of their lighting upgrade opportunities.