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.

31/05/2023 UV light for decontamination While UV light is effective at destroying pathogens, it also poses dangers for their hosts – namely people. How can UV-C irradiation be used for disinfection in healthcare without endangering those in its vicinity, asks Brian Wall » Read More

29/03/2023 Optical sensors and ambient light Baumer explains why ambient light has such a significant influence on optical sensors. It contends that its sensor toolbox provides the benefits of ambient light immunity, eliminating many error sources in production » 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

14/11/2022 Lighting for ATEX environments Illuminating hazardous and explosive environments can be quite a technical matter. Codes specify the technical solutions appropriate to the risks. By Toby Clark » Read More

14/03/2022 Understanding light measurement Users looking to understand the brightness of a light may come across various terms, some of which date back to the candle. Although lighting technology may have moved on (to LEDs), measurements of light remain unchanged, explains vehicle ... » 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

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

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

01/11/2019 Let there be light Solar lighting sounds like an oxymoron, but the rapidly decreasing cost of photovoltaic cells for solar power and growing lighting efficiency makes it a viable option – particularly where mains electricity is difficult to find » 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

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

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

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

01/03/2010 Wasting away The Carbon Trust reckons that UK companies are still wasting €1 billion worth of energy per year, largely due to unresolved plant optimisation issues and inefficiencies in energy generation plant itself. Brian Wall reports on ways ... » Read More

01/10/2009 Saving the earth In the rush to save energy and reduce emissions, it's easy to forget the sheer range of potential solutions. Dr Tom Shelley reviews some of today's most powerful options » Read More

01/08/2009 Clear vision Selecting the right lighting for a plant or building requires some understanding of current options. Brian Wall explains » Read More

01/08/2008 Get a green light Legislation, such as the Building Regulations Part L, places pressure on engineers to make facilities more energy efficient, and replacing fluorescent lamps is one way to do so. Part L2B of the regulations, which applies to facilities with ... » Read More

01/10/2007 Light fantastic With government and regulators calling for industry to consider environmental issues, to drive down energy consumption and to rein-in waste, selecting commercial lighting has become more than just a simple 'cost versus illumination' ... » Read More

01/10/2006 Maintain power With the cost of unscheduled downtime for some engineering and manufacturing companies running into hundreds of thousands of pounds a day, plant engineers are under pressure to ensure continuous production. Yet with more pressure being put ... » Read More

01/08/2005 Lighting - Control systems come out of the shadows In the early days of lighting, the first person into the office, building or workshop generally just switched the light on at a wall location, interrupting the power supply and causing a surge of demand for power throughout the plant. At ... » Read More