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.

01/07/2014 Court in the act Attending court, whether as defendant, plaintive or expert witness, can be a chastening experience. Brian Tinham talks to INITA's Jim Haire about a recent training event » Read More

19/05/2014 Carrying the can and doing a lot more besides Conveyors are capable of far more than simply moving raw materials, components and assemblies around a factory. They can also count, weigh, sort and feed workstations... and they can have a positive impact on quality and health & safety. ... » Read More

14/12/2013 Taking the credit To the excessively cautious, buying on credit is like getting drunk – the buzz comes immediately and gives you a lift, but the hangover that follows can be painfully debilitating. Ian Vallely dishes out the paracetamol » Read More

20/05/2013 Tough choices Moving bulk product around the factory and warehouse is no mean feat without the most robust conveyors. » Read More

05/10/2012 Lifting the bar Case law demonstrates that courts are taking an increasingly tough line with lifting-related accidents, if companies and plant managers cannot prove due process, writes Crispin Kenyon » Read More

08/06/2012 Blowing hot and cold Energy efficiency demands are driving ever more sophistication in both HVAC and building energy management systems. Steed Webzell aids plant engineers faced with tough technology decisions » Read More

08/06/2012 Lighting the way As plant engineers and facilities managers continue to seek out ways to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, one key area often overlooked could have significant impact. Brian Wall reports on the control and use of lighting » Read More

08/06/2012 Thorough examination of escalators and moving walks In the second of his two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements of SAFed's new guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks aimed at the competent person carrying out thorough examinations » Read More

05/04/2012 Safe operation of escalators and moving walks SAFed's guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks was published in May last year. In the first of a two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements for owners and operators » Read More

05/04/2012 Is your boiler house safe? As de-manning on steam and hot water boiler plant continues to gain momentum, operators need to consider best practice and their legal duties in respect of operational safety, warns S Moore Holmes » Read More

06/02/2012 Shock tactics About 1,000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns – of which around 30 prove fatal – are still reported to the HSE annually. Brian Wall investigates procedures that could prevent needless deaths » Read More

07/12/2011 Cool and legal Nearly every commercial and industrial building has refrigeration plant. Some is well maintained, some not – until things go wrong. John Cherry updates plant engineers on their duties » Read More

07/12/2011 Playing it safe The October 2011 arrival of new guidance for the safe operation of steam and hot water boilers gives boiler operators and managers up-to-date advice, and recognised training is a key focus. Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/12/2011 The case of Mr S The role of an individual acting as, or on behalf of, a 'competent person' under PSSR (the Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000) comes with serious obligations S Moore Holmes takes us through the case of Mr S » Read More

06/10/2011 Gorgon’s Ex-lighting saves local sea turtle population Cooper Crouse-Hinds reports that it has engineered an explosion-proof fluorescent light fitting for the Chevron-operated Gorgon project, at Barrow Island, that specifically minimises disturbance of the local sea turtle population. » Read More

06/10/2011 Hazardous electrics Hazardous areas demand properly certified equipment – and that applies to maintenance kit, too. But cost and efficiency are also key. Gordon Low examines the issues » Read More

08/08/2011 Health and Safety North Health and Safety North, the third in the regional series this year, claims to offers plant engineers a valuable learning and networking experience. Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/06/2011 Making light work There's more to cutting lighting energy costs and carbon emissions than the luminary technologies themselves. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

07/06/2011 Green without eco-bling As energy saving climbs up plant engineers' agendas, Dr Tom Shelley reviews some of the good and not so good technologies for heating, ventilating and air conditioning » Read More

07/04/2011 Fail to danger Most toxic and flammable gas detectors feature the fundamental flaw of failing to danger. Dr Tom Shelley looks at the problem and some useful solutions » Read More

07/04/2011 Risk-based changes Get it right and the savings can be huge, but get it wrong and the cost is unimaginable. Brian Tinham talks to John Wintle about changing best practice for hazardous plant inspections » Read More

09/02/2011 Variable speed drives save £22,000 on HVAC Operators of the Omnibus building in Reigate, Surrey, report savings of £20,000 per year on HVAC energy costs since installing ABB standard variable speed drives. » Read More

06/10/2010 Deepwater Horizon Last month's report by BP into the causes of its Gulf rig explosion and fire, and the lessons to be learned, point to a chilling sequence of failures. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

06/10/2010 The benefit of hindsight now BP's long awaited report into the causes of its oil rig explosion and the worst oil spill in US history is finally out (page 8). The Deepwater Horizon saga makes grim reading, providing, as it does, a detailed study of the sequence of ... » Read More

10/08/2010 Alighting on lighting Equipment for illumination, both internal and external, is not standing still. Brian Tinham sheds some light on the technologies and their application » Read More