The First Facility Management Blog

The new Grand Canyon Skywalk, the u-shaped glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River, makes it possible for the first time for visitors to take in incomparable views of the western edge of the Grand Canyon. What makes this engineering marvel possible is the durable and ultra-clear glass that was designed and produced by Saint-Gobain.

Saint-Gobain is known for its creation in 1682 of the spectacular Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. More recently, Saint-Gobain designed and manufactured the glass in the “Pyramid” of the Louvre, featured prominently in the hit movie The Da Vinci Code.

Saint-Gobain – which employs 24,000 people in the United States, many of them through its building materials subsidiary CertainTeed – manufactured the low-iron Diamant® glass for the floor of the Skywalk at its Cologne, Germany, plant. It was processed into laminated glass at three of its European subsidiaries. The deck, approximately 10 feet wide and 70 feet deep, is made of laminated tempered glass more than two inches thick, produced in 46 pieces that were shipped directly to the western edge of the canyon. Each piece of glass is held in place by connectors specifically designed by Saint-Gobain for the bridge. The floor glass includes structural interlayers of DuPont SentryGlas® Plus for optical clarity and strength.

According to Roger Watson of Saint-Gobain Glass Exprover, the business which oversees architectural glass export to nations throughout the globe, the Diamant glass in the Skywalk contains a significantly lower amount of iron oxide than regular glass, which means that it is exceptionally clear, appearing virtually invisible to visitors and giving them a completely unobstructed view of the natural wonder.

The glass deck is supported by outer and inner steel beams anchored into solid stone in the wall of the Grand Canyon. The Skywalk is said to support approximately 100 pounds per square foot, can withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, and 100 mph winds.

The window coverings and architectural products company has acquired ESI, a developer of motor controls for window coverings, to facilitate its involvement in the motorized controls market.

Headquartered in Broomfield, CO, ESI has pioneered controls that incorporate intelligent software and are able to operate any window covering motor.

“The acquisition of ESI will accelerate our expansion in the rapidly growing market for motorized window coverings and enhance our product offerings to our customers. ESI will continue to operate as a separate and distinct company, and management will remain unchanged,” said Marv Hopkins, president and CEO of Hunter Douglas Inc.

In Homeland Security (HLS), not all market sectors are created equal. According to Homeland Security Research Corp. (HSRC)’s flagship research, 2007-2011 U.S. Homeland Security Government and Private Sectors Market Outlook (released in Jan ‘07), the top five fastest growing Homeland Security market sectors are forecasted to average a 2007-2011 CAGR of 34.3%, while the top five largest sectors will accumulate to $140B between 2007-2011, equivalent to 75% of the total business generated by the top 10 sectors.

Much of this forecasted growth and market size is supported by expected bi-partisian support of most current and future HLS investments as well as technology cost-performance becoming the most important factor in HLS procurement decisions.

Top 10 Leading HLS Industry Markets Ranked by 2007–2011 Volume [$B]
Rank HLS Market Sector Total 2007-2011
1. Sector A $46.7B
2. Information Technology $42.6B
3. Sector C $21B
4. Sector D $15.9B
5. Guard Service $14.2B
6. Sector F $13.9B
7. Airport Security $11.2B
8. Sector H $9B
9. Sector I $8.5B
10. Sector J $8.5B

Top 10 Fastest Growing HLS Industry Markets
Rank HLS Market Sector CAGR 2007-2011
1. Sector 1 42.9%
2. RFID Based Systems 35.5%
3. Sector 3 32.6%
4. Construction 30.5%
5. Sector 5 29.7%
6. Sector 6 19.5%
7. Seaport and Maritime Security 14.6%
8. Sector 8 13%
9. Sector 9 12.6%
10. Sector 10 12.1%

The research analyzes each of the fastest growing Homeland Security sectors and the largest sectors in terms of market potential, both horizontally and vertically. The complex market dynamics of U.S. Homeland Security and the trends and business opportunities during the next five years are only but a few of the items described and analyzed in our new landmark market research:

2007-2011 U.S. Homeland Security (Government & Private) Market Outlook
•Private Sector Markets - $28.5 billion of HLS products and services are forecasted to be procured from the HLS industry during 2007-2011 by the private sector.
•Top 10 Leading HLS Industry Sectors - 10 HLS industry sectors are forecasted to each total over $8.5 billion cumulative five year revenues.
•Top 10 Fast Growth HLS Industry Sectors - Revenues of 10 HLS industry sectors are forecasted to grow by 60% to 400% during 2007-2011. These fast growth sectors include RFID Systems, Nuclear Screening Portals, Communication Interoperability, Bio-Chem Agents Detection & Mitigation.
•U.S. Government Markets - The cumulative $123 Billion U.S. government HLS five year forecasted procurement schedule is segmented by the 20 HLS leading agencies.

In 675 pages and 599 graphs, tables and figures, Homeland Security Research Corp. provides the only detailed and reasoned roadmap of this complex market. This market research provides an exclusive insight into the vibrant HLS industry and its future. The research drills down in many areas and brings to light a plethora of new angles and business opportunities. To order the report, call (413) 253-0498.

To that end, the company has launched Global WorkPlace Solutions. This business model has been created by Johnson Controls, Inc. to fulfill increasing demands from global businesses for a single supplier who can deliver end-to-end, integrated corporate workplace services, on-demand.

“We are transforming our business to create a truly Global WorkPlace Solutions offer that can support the world’s major organizations throughout the complete real estate lifecycle globally,” said Guy Holden, vice president & general manager, Global WorkPlace Solutions, Johnson Controls Inc. “We have developed this model because we know it is what our corporate customers need and demand based on the 1.3 billion square feet we currently handle for them globally. We are committed to investing in our future to ensure that every part of our offer is industry leading.”

Holden leads a global team across the company’s three global regions: the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), and Asia.

“This new business model addresses the demand from global corporations for a reliable supplier who can deliver consistent solutions to support their employees and processes in all their working environments anywhere in the world,” said Ed McLaughlin, president, Global WorkPlace Solutions - Americas. “We are following a planned strategy to continually improve our offer to these customers by extending our capabilities and professional services to achieve this vision.”

Johnson Controls’ new offering brings together a range of capabilities that enable organizations to plan, source, configure, construct, operate, and renew the workplaces needed to meet changing business needs. These capabilities span eight core offerings:
* Real Estate: strategic advisory, asset management and transaction management services to optimize real estate portfolio performance
* Projects: project and program management for new build, refurbishment, critical services, relocations and moves
* Facilities: designing, procuring and managing the complete scope of integrated WorkPlace support services
* Energy: energy management and sustainability solutions for improved triple bottom line results
* Workspace: improving workspace utilization to create improved efficiency and productivity with reduced cost of occupancy
* Technologies: information technologies for corporate real estate customers to efficiently manage location information, transactions, projects and performance measurements
* Infrastructure: creating intelligent buildings by maximizing the integration of building systems and technology infrastructure such as building management, security access and fire detection
* Consulting: consultancy across all aspects of workplace strategy and operations

“Global WorkPlace Solutions represents our ability to now create better shareholder value for our customers by integrating our offerings where appropriate, and in so doing, significantly improving the performance of their workplace assets,” said Rick Bertasi, vice president & general manager, Global WorkPlace Solutions - EMEA.

“Our new global offering provides greater clarity to the market and is a clear statement on our future direction,” added Julian Harnor, vice president, Global WorkPlace Solutions - Asia. “The integrated approach is already delivering strong benefits for world-leading corporations who are keen to embrace the opportunities for business improvement created through our stakeholder value model.”

The business is active in the following market sectors: Technology; Life Sciences; Retail; Energy and Petrochemical; Commercial; Financial; Industrial and Manufacturing.

During an American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Global Harmonization of Labeling and Classification of Chemicals (GHS) technical audio conference, participants in a Web poll voted overwhelmingly, 98% “yes” and 2% “no”, that they see hazardous communications systems improving as a result of GHS implementation.

GHS is an international system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals as a way to increase safety. The U.S. and other countries developed the GHS after more than a decade of technical work and negotiation. GHS is intended to enhance public health and environmental protection, as well as reduce barriers to trade. The GHS is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to defining health, physical and environmental hazards of chemicals; creating classification processes that use available data on chemicals for comparison with the defined hazard criteria; and communicating hazard information, as well as protective measures, on labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

The ASSE GHS conference call featured Jennifer Silk, former deputy director, directorate of standards and guidance at OSHA, and Mary Frances Lowe of the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, discussing the impact of GHS on hazard communications for all industries, whether a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or end user. They also discussed how GHS would change MSDS, company Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) Programs, and the impact it will have on safety, health, and environmental professionals.

“Hundreds of safety, health and environmental professionals participated in the GHS call. This clearly illustrates that GHS will be a critical issue for the profession in the near future and has the potential to make a significant impact on workplace safety and health when the System is fully implemented,” Assistant Administrator of the ASSE Management Practice Specialty Christopher Gates, of San Bernardino, CA, said. Gates facilitated the call.

GHS conference call participants were asked and responded to additional poll questions on this issue which included: Does your company/organization have a HAZCOM program that has international issues?
Yes 72%
No 28%

Is your company currently preparing for GHS?
Yes 72%
No 48%

Does your company dedicate significant resources to international issues?
Yes 52%
No 42%

Will GHS assist you in streamlining your HAZCOM issues?
Yes 88%
No 12%

Shaw Contract Group, a manufacturer of corporate and institutional carpet markets, will donate 1% of sales on its Colour of Life Collection to the Alzheimer’s Association. With the goal of creating a welcoming environment, Colour of Life is a collection designed specifically for long-term care environments.

“Shaw Contract Group proudly supports the work of the Alzheimer’s Association through a donation of 1% of the revenue on Colour of Life, up to $50,000,” said Mark Taylor, director of healthcare markets. “Shaw Contract Group applauds the Alzheimer’s Association for its research and education efforts.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Web site, its mission is to “eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.”

Said West: “Shaw Contract Group is a strong supporter of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers and other healthcare organizations. Our specialized sales force is trained to help create warm and inviting interior environments for our healthcare clients.”

For the first time in over 18 years, ASHRAE has proposed increases to the minimum required roof and wall insulation levels in Standard 90.1 – the national model energy code for commercial buildings. The more important news at this writing is that the Standard 90.1 committee has approved these proposed changes for the next version of the Code.

What does this mean?
The above-deck roof insulation requirements currently at R-15 go to R-20 – a 33% increase in roof insulation levels. Similar increases are proposed for walls. The next step in this process is ratification of the committee’s approval by various levels of the ASHRAE Standards development process, culminating in acceptance by the ASHRAE Board of Directors – expected in June of this year.

Why is the ASHRAE Board expected to adopt these new values?
The Board charged the 90.1 committee to deliver a new commercial building energy standard that is 30% more efficient than the 2004 version by 2010!

The actual changes are climate zone and building type specific. The ASHRAE Standard has various performance compliance mechanisms – from prescriptive requirements to computer simulations and trade-offs. But regardless of the code compliance approach used, these new insulation values establish a new benchmark for commercial building energy efficiency.

This is ASHRAE’s first step to support the emerging trend to make buildings significantly more efficient. In many ways these new insulation levels are long overdue. Architects across the country are already installing insulation at levels that exceed these values. Those architects and designers seeking beyond-code recognitions (such as LEED, Energy Star, Building America, etc.) will now go even further to deliver advanced building envelopes and higher levels of insulation. While issues of implementation and timing are yet to be fully resolved, once approved by the ASHRAE Board these new values will represent a new national standard against which all codes will be compared. Architects, specifiers and other certifying professionals will have a new standard of care to meet regarding commercial building energy efficiency.

ASHRAE Climate Zone Map
In all climate zones, insulation can dramatically help to reduce cooling loads and lower energy costs. This is predicated on existing ASHRAE requirements and independent analysis that concludes that additional roof insulation is cost effective, saves energy, and reduces pollution and carbon emissions.

The ASHRAE Standard addresses building envelope and system requirements for commercial buildings, residential buildings higher than three stories, and semi-conditioned buildings (warehouses, etc.). It is the nation’smodel standard for establishing the energy performance requirements of these building types.

In just a few weeks, everyone that’s anyone in facility management will be joining TFM & Co. at Chicago’s Navy Pier for the TFM Show. Specifically, from April 17 to April 19, top notch professionals from owner occupied buildings will have the opportunity to learn, network, and shop for products during this three day event.

Now in its 10th year, the TFM Show offers the best of the best in terms of speakers, exhibits, and informal meetings. And while there won’t be another $50,000 basketball competition, there are many exciting events planned for the show.

So if you haven’t already registered, or you’ve registered but haven’t selected your classes, get with the program! While you’re at the show, make sure to stop by and talk to us about FacilityBlog. Do you like it? Are you a regular visitor? Would you like to contribute too?

We’re all about delivering what you want–just tell us!

The New Yorker has its cartoon caption contest, so why can’t FacilityBlog? Our readers are certainly just as clever, even if our history isn’t quite as long.

So here’s our first caption contest. The business cartoon posted here came with a caption, but I think FacilityBlog visitors can do better! Post your suggestions in the comment portion, submit them as voicemail messages on the recording device on the right, or instant post them on the bulletin board. Then next week, I’ll pick the top submissions and guests will vote on the best!

Does doubling up sound protection products provide an added buffer against extreme noise levels? The Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group addresses the question in a recent bulletion.

The answer to the above question is yes, according to a new Sound Source™ bulletin recently released by Bacou-Dalloz, but perhaps not as much as one would think. The bulletin, Sound Source #11a, “Dual Protection,” is authored by audiologist Brad Witt, Audiology and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Hearing Safety Group.

According to Witt, dual protection is not required by OSHA regulations for general industry in the United State, but it is required for mining operations governed by the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) for noise exposures over 105 dBA (8-hour time-weighted average). Similarly, NIOSH recommends dual protection for any exposures over 100 dBA, and some companies require it for employees with progressive noise-induced hearing loss despite normal protective measures.

However, Witt cautions, there are also risks associated with dual protection. “Using earplugs and earmuffs concurrently seriously isolates the wearer,” he writes, “so it is warranted only in extreme noise levels.” He also suggests dual protection is overused. “When a high attenuation earplug or earmuff is properly fitted and the user is motivated to use it correctly, some hearing professionals say the need for dual protection is rare.”

So how much protection will doubling up provide? That depends on the fit, says Witt, but it “is not simply the combined ratings of the earplug and earmuff. There is a ceiling effect that limits the amount of combined protection. Even if wearing a perfectly fitted earplug and earmuff with ideal attenuation, we would still hear sound transmitted through our bodies and bones to the inner ear.” The maximum amount of attenuation that can be attained by most people is 35-50 dB, depending on the frequency of the sound.

As for a rule of thumb for estimating the effects of dual protection, OSHA recommends adding 5 dB to the NRR of the higher rated device. But this, says Witt, “sacrifices some accuracy. An earmuff typically adds about 4 dB to the NRR of a well-fitted foam earplug, and about 7 dB to a well-fitted pre-molded earplug.” He also says that an earmuff with moderate attenuation provides the same effect as a high-attenuation earmuff when either is worn over a well-fitted earplug.

“The key to obtaining maximum benefit from dual protection is proper fit,” Witt writes, “especially the fit of the earplug. When a poorly fitted earplug is worn with an earmuff, the resulting dual protection is little more than the earmuff alone.”

Sound Source is a periodic publication of the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group, addressing questions and topics relating to hearing conservation and hearing protection. Sound Source bulletins are offered as a public service and are freely available from the company’s web site at http://www.hearingportal.com/hearingconservation/hc-snd-ame.asp