Facilities Management Services Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

12/08/2021 Inspection shutdowns in UK AGR nuclear power plants UK nuclear power plants including Heysham 1, Torness and Hinkley Point B have recently undergone shutdowns that have included inspections for cracks in their graphite core. Such work has gained a new sense of urgency in the past few years, ... » Read More

15/07/2021 Singing from the same hymn sheet Will Dalrymple speaks with Hywel Davies, technical director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, about a new group that brings together eight built-environment trade bodies » Read More

15/07/2021 Clearing the air Poorly-ventilated indoor spaces have been highlighted as potential COVID infection hotspots by health authorities. With people heading back to offices as lockdown eases, what has been learned from hospitals that will ensure employee ... » Read More

10/06/2021 Lift-off for no-logo diagnostics A greater number of third parties are now accessing data for lift diagnostics, ending reliance on OEM maintenance contracts. By Steed Webzell » Read More

14/05/2021 The case for industrial sprinkler systems In early April, when industrial fires broke out in two different locations, they both had the same devastating outcome. Neither building contained a sprinkler system and both businesses are now counting the cost of the damage and dealing ... » Read More

06/05/2021 Mind the gap Engineered systems support people living and working indoors. However, there is often a gap between the way those systems were designed to work, and what happens in reality. Enter the growing field of building performance evaluation. By ... » Read More

06/05/2021 Cooking on gas A Dutch association of boiler makers promotes a brand-agnostic communication standard between boilers, heat pumps and their controllers that reflects more efficient control methods then are currently in common use in the UK. By Will ... » Read More

10/12/2020 Lifts: heat to power Lift drives that capture energy generated by the system can help reduce electricity bills, but the savings depend on the specific installation » Read More

19/11/2020 The potential of servitisation for manufacturers Most businesses will say that the digital revolution is making them more customer-centric, but there is a delivery gap between companies’ beliefs about their customer service, and customers’ opinions. This is how connecting with the ... » Read More

05/11/2020 Solar lighting for industrial buildings - UPDATED 26 January 2020 With unpowered light systems gaining popularity in the domestic market, is there scope for production environments to enjoy the same advantages? By Steed Webzell » Read More

05/11/2020 Retrofitting motion controls in commercial building lighting Retrofitting workplace spaces with motion-controlled lighting conserves power and helps slash energy costs. But can you keep the existing lights or is it a matter of ‘rip and replace’? By Brian Wall » Read More

01/10/2020 Tracking asset standards What do railway tracks and brand reputation have in common? Both are defined as assets within the ISO 55000 family of standards, driving asset management to be a multi-functional discipline. Laura Cork reports » Read More

24/09/2020 Use the force: magnetic separators Magnetic separators are often installed in arduous conditions. How do they work, and what are their maintenance requirements? By Adam Offord » Read More

24/08/2020 Smart moves Jody Muelaner explores how a building management system works and the range of equipment and systems with which it can work » Read More

20/07/2020 Flowing smoothly in the field Operations Engineer explores what mobile workforce management software is and the benefits that it can bring to the field » Read More

25/05/2020 Bouncing back from Buncefield Almost 15 years on from the Buncefield disaster, Operations Engineer looks back at what went wrong, why and the steps taken to try to ensure such an incident never happens again » Read More

25/05/2020 Cold comfort Air conditioning is not the only way to provide a comfortable indoor environment. And some of the alternatives have benefits of their own » Read More

04/05/2020 A bug’s life The world has been gripped by the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. Are buildings friends or enemies in the war on the spread of coronavirus? » Read More

20/04/2020 Bearing the brunt Seismic isolation bearings decouple structures, such as buildings and bridges, from the ground. This allows such structures to behave more flexibly during seismic activity » Read More

13/04/2020 Sensing a new era Rapid development of the electronics and manufacturing sectors, along with rising environmental concerns, are driving up demand for passive infrared sensors » Read More

05/02/2020 Fighting floods There are a range of products and equipment that can aid in flooding scenarios – before, during and after they happen. OE highlights some examples currently on the market » Read More

12/12/2019 Stepping up to the challenge Thyssenkrupp Elevator has produced its longest-ever escalators, which are now operating in Baku, Azerbaijan » Read More

12/12/2019 Elevated status As the operator of a tower crane, getting from the bottom to the top and vice versa takes considerable time and effort. Surely there is an easier way? » Read More

12/12/2019 All systems go People that manage lifts and escalators have different requirements to those that supply and maintain the equipment. Richard Peters and Jim Nickerson of Peters Research address the challenges of developing a lift and escalator management ... » Read More

01/11/2019 Building a better way A ‘golden thread’ of core information throughout the lifecycle of a building lies at the heart of a new building safety regime, in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. A vital part of that thread will be the building safety manager » Read More