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.

12/10/2023 Safety fears over RAAC Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete has come under intense scrutiny since late 2018, following a school roof collapse. How do you identify it and what is the best means of remediation, asks Brian Wall » Read More

12/10/2023 Building ahead To comply with the Building Safety Act, engineers will have to prove their competence and assure the safety of the buildings they construct. A recent discussion between two technical directors, CABE’s (Chartered Association of Building ... » Read More

19/12/2022 On the rise - lift maintenance developments Technologically-powered connectivity via Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices is driving time, cost, and environmental changes in the lift industry » Read More

14/11/2022 Shedding light on lighthouses Lighthouses use some of the most effective lights in the world but maintaining them can prove tricky. Ben Spencer finds out why » Read More

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

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

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

01/11/2019 Job done A maintenance department may range from a single operative to a full team of personnel. Keeping on top of pending, upcoming and surprise tasks can be made easier by displaying and sharing information » Read More

21/08/2018 Signs of danger Oil & Gas UK held its Safety 30 conference in June to mark three decades since the Piper Alpha disaster. Lord Cullen, who conducted the inquiry into the tragedy, used the conference to illustrate how ‘signs of danger’ need to be recognised ... » Read More

28/02/2018 Spring cleaning Keeping machinery and work areas clean and tidy can often be seen as a chore by already busy workers. However, as Chris Beck discovers, the benefits of a good cleaning regime are wide-reaching » 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

10/08/2010 Uplifting engineering Modern lifts are taking advantage of recent electronic and electromechanical technology advances to improve efficiency and cut emissions. Brian Tinham examines the background » Read More