Tim Conroy

Northwell Health Finds Energy Savings in Steam Systems Case study: A proactive steam trap maintenance program is delivering millions in savings, fast payback and measurable carbon reductions across one of the nation’s largest health systems. In 2018, Northwell Health launched an Energy Steering Committee to oversee energy use and implement initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. One such initiative, a partnership with American... https://lnkd.in/ehbMQ6D2

1

I would appreciate input from fellow Philadelphia building operators in regard to this notification from PHL Air Quality Management- "Effective May 6, 2025, Philadelphia Air Management Services (AMS) will only accept Air Quality Index (AQI) data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) for the Southeast PA Region to demonstrate compliance with Air Management Regulation XV. AQI data from any other source, including AirNow, will no longer be accepted." Since data from the AirNow app is now longer acceptable, is there an app that provides AQI data from PADEP? Looking at the Southeast region on the PADEP website, it doesn't even list Philadelphia.

8

Rutgers Health and University Hospital Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion https://lnkd.in/eqdXpZgX Rutgers Health and University Hospital celebrated breaking ground on the first phase of a multiyear redevelopment plan to expand the campus and increase access to care, education and research. The groundbreaking follows the long-awaited demolition of administrative offices built in the 1970s – at the time intended for temporary use – marking the official start... https://lnkd.in/eqdXpZgX

3

Smart cities aren’t just about efficiency—they’re about aligning technology with public health, accountability, and better decision-making. In this episode, Christine McHugh lays out a practical framework for using IoT, AI, and continuous monitoring to reduce Legionella risk, unify data across BMS and cloud dashboards, and build resilience that leaders can defend to boards, insurers, and regulators. Find the FREE Discussion Guide in the Connect with the Guest section of the show notes when you visit: www.scalinguph2o.com/439. Look for the Slide-In Graphic on the episode page—register with your email for quick access. #ScalingUpH2O #WaterTreatment #IndustrialWaterTreatment #TraceBlackmore #WaterEvents #WaterYouKnow #JamesMcDonald #WhiteStrand #AMPT #ASHRAE #USPropTechCouncil #USPC

4

1 Comment

https://lnkd.in/ghxp4vxW Do you wonder how air cooled chiller tonnages compare to RTUs? I break this down for HVAC techs in my course lesson linked above.

1

What is an FCU? FCU stands for Fan Coil Unit a compact HVAC device used to heat or cool individual rooms or zones within a building. It is commonly used in hotels, apartments, offices, and hospitals for localized temperature control. 🔹How an FCU works: An FCU consists of a fan and a coil. Chilled water or hot water flows through the coil, and the fan blows air over it to adjust the room temperature. 🔹Main Components of an FCU: Fan Heating/ cooling coil Air filter Control valve Thermostat or sensor 🔹Why FCUs are important in BMS: Provide zone-wise temperature control Improve occupant comfort Enable energy savings by conditioning only occupied areas Allow centralized monitoring and control 🔹Where FCUs are typically used: Hotel rooms Office cabins Residential buildings Hospitals Unlike large systems such as AHUS, FCUs are designed for individual spaces, making them ideal for buildings requiring flexible temperature control. #BuildingAutomation #BMS #SmartBuildings #HVAC #Automatio_Engineering #Building #ManagementSystem #IoT

7

A simple condition grade system can transform decision making. For example: 🟢 Good = no action 🟠 Fair = monitor / minor works 🔴 Poor = plan replacement / urgent risk It turns opinions into priorities. PGSO condition reporting gives FM teams clarity on what matters most. As always… How can we help YOU??? #ConditionReporting #AssetManagement #FacilitiesManagement #FM #LifecyclePlanning #Engineering #PGSO

11

🚧 Starting & Stopping Plant in a 30–40 Storey Building: A Reality Check 🚧 In high-rise buildings—especially those 30+ storeys—starting and stopping large HVAC/smoke control plant as part of routine testing isn't always as straightforward as the standards suggest. When HVAC systems are multi-use (comfort + smoke control - Dual Duty), the line between compliance and equipment care gets blurry. Sure, testing is essential. But we also need to think: ➡️ whole purpose is to clear smoke, or contain it on one floor or single smoke compartment? ➡️ How much wear-and-tear are we introducing by forcing full shutdown/startup cycles? ➡️ Can we lean more on the intent of AS1851:2012 to rationalise tests without compromising life safety? Mentioned in AS1851 2012 – Table 13.4.2.3 frequent starts to be minimalised, who will take that risk? ➡️ what speed drive parameters can we ensure we are programming to be kind – ie – Fly Start? ➡️ can we use the Fire Fan Control Panel to alter dampers to keep plant operational? ➡️ thinking of other interfaces that will enter a fire mode state from auto such as curtains, Vents and shutters, how can we care for them in a fire mode state? We need to Keep in Mind for our facility managers that we welcome back staff and visitors to not only a compliant system, but a comfortable system come Monday Morning. AS1851:2012 provides a framework (one size fits all?)—but it also opens the door to risk-based justifications and performance-based interpretations. Have you seen issues with repeated start/stop cycles? Are we doing enough to protect both occupants and plant longevity in our test regimes? #HVAC #SmokeControl #AS1851 #HighRiseSafety #EssentialServices #FacilityManagement #FireSafety #BuildingPerformance #Compliance #RiskManagement #SmokeManagement

36

3 Comments

Plumbers are you ready for some change? Our piping systems have gone through various flow issues over the last few decades. Low flow devices Housing crash COVID What’s next? I love the article and the intent of a software that handles regional changes but know the science behind the code is more important. #plumbingcodes #plumberslife Ryan Boggs June Day

7

7 Comments

For residence managers & commercial facilities managers, an HVAC monitoring system can simplify your job while also reducing costs. #energysaving #hvacNYC #hvacNY #commercialhvac #facilities #facilitymanager #hvacservice #hvacmaintenance

3

Stationary Engineers Local 39 – Lock Out/Tag Out Training Stationary Engineers Local 39 is now offering a “Lock Out/Tag Out” seminar both in our classrooms and directly on the job site. This course provides critical instruction on identifying and controlling workplace hazards. Students will: Learn about the dangers present on job sites. Gain hands-on experience with a variety of lockout/tagout devices. Participate in live exercises, both individually and in groups, practicing proper lockout procedures. Develop the skills to accurately log data and maintain compliance records. This training is designed to give participants the knowledge and confidence to perform safe lockout/tagout practices, protecting themselves and their coworkers.

168

10 Comments

Sprinklers Protect Lives: CMS requiers all High Rise Healthcare Facilites in existing heath care occupancies are to be sprinklered thoroughout by July 5, 2028. The definition of HIgh Rise Buildings is found in NFPA 101;2012-3.3.36(7). There are many life safety code exceptions when your Healthcare facility is fully protected throughout with an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system. Published on March 09, 2026 by the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/QUALITY & SAFETY SPECIAL ALERT SPECIAL ALERT-ALL MEMO     Ref: QSSAM-26-02-ALL DATE: March 09, 2026 TO: Providers and Suppliers Subject to Life Safety Code Regulations FROM: Directors, Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG) and Survey & Operations Group (SOG) SUBJECT: Reminder: Upcoming Deadline for Sprinkler System Requirement for Existing Health Care Occupancies in High-Rise Buildings.  Background: CMS adopted the 2012 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safe Code: This memorandum is intended to remind CMS-certified facilities classified by the Life Safety Code (LSC) as existing heath care occupancies and located in high-rise buildings of an upcoming requirement. This memorandum does not impose new or additional requirements. • The 2012 edition of the LSC included a new provision in Section 19.4.2.1, which requires all high-rise buildings containing existing health care occupancies to be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system within 12 years of CMS’ adoption of this Code. • CMS adopted the 2012 LSC on July 5, 2016, therefore all CMS-certified facilities classified as new or existing health care occupancies located in a high-rise building must have an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system throughout the entire building by July 5, 2028. • Facilities subject to this LSC provision that have not begun to install a sprinkler system or expanded existing sprinkler coverage, as necessary, are highly encouraged to begin the process. The installation of sprinklers can take a significant amount of time and resources, and may involve other building systems such as the fire alarm system.The 2012 LSC included a new provision in Section 19.4.2.1, which now requires all high-rise buildings containing existing health care occupancies to be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system within 12 years of CMS’ adoption of this Code. CMS adopted the 2012 LSC on July 5, 2016, therefore all CMS-certified facilities classified as new or existing health care occupancies located in a high-rise building must have an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system throughout the entire building by July 5, 2028, as discussed in the Final Rule. https://lnkd.in/eGKZaDZE equirements-for-certain-health-carefacilities Joe

14

RESPOSTED: not my words, but they HOLD TRUE If you’re hiring a Maintenance Manager, make sure you understand what they don’t do: They don’t grab every wrench or diagnose every fault — they build and lead the team that does. They don’t just react to breakdowns — they put systems in place so breakdowns become the exception, not the norm. They don’t replace Health & Safety — they ensure safety standards are lived out on the floor, not just written in a manual. They don’t run from machine to machine — they coordinate the resources, schedules, and priorities that keep the plant running smoothly. They don’t wait for equipment to fail — they plan, predict, and prevent. What a Maintenance Manager actually does: Builds and executes preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance strategies. Aligns maintenance activity with production goals, uptime targets, and overall business objectives. Manages technicians, contractors, and vendors across shifts or sites. Tracks asset performance, downtime, costs, and compliance to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations.

841

45 Comments

This past summer, a Legionella outbreak in Central Harlem killed seven people and sickened 114 others. The NYC Health Department identified the bacteria in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings, including Harlem Hospital and a construction site for the city's new public health laboratory. While remediation efforts contained the outbreak, it serves as a stark reminder of how water systems—when left unmonitored—can become deadly. Water failures can disrupt operations overnight—from a burst pipe cascading through tenant floors to unsafe hot water loops triggering health risks. Despite this, water remains the least digitized building system. This article explores why water deserves attention now, how the marketplace is evolving, where our partners Nexa and Metron fit into the mix, and what building owners should know about water management. What do you think?

12

3 Comments

Commercial AC problems can be insidious. But ignoring them is costing your business in more ways than you realize. Here are 7 easy and budget-friendly solutions. #hvacNYC #hvacNY #hvacservice #hvacmaintenance

6

Just a friendly reminder of the importance of having a good inspection and preventive maintenance schedule for Emergency Eye Wash Stations. Its something that at almost every place I have worked people often overlook or do not take seriously. As seen in this picture is a "fresh update" for a classroom that should always have a functional emergency eye wash station. Some quick suggestions to have an effective program: -Have an assigned team member check that they operate "weekly", if there is an assignment made, it will more times than not get done. -Have a different assigned team member check that they operate "monthly", this helps with some quality control. on the monthly inspection flush the eye wash out, clean the aerator or screen, run for at least 1 minute to make sure it operates as intended. -Make a "real" sign off sheet, as seen in my picture it is not a tag with a piece of string where it is going to get wet. Example in the picture shows a bright piece of green cardstock in a work order sleeve to keep it from getting wet. It also has the dates of the weeks it should be getting inspected to make it easier for the person checking it off to sign off of when they did it. -Clear and easy to see "Signage". Make it easy so everyone remembers where they saw the sign. In my pictured example, this is an area that does not get covered up and everyone sees it at least several times a day. It may seem like just another thing to implement these procedures so often, but once they are in place it runs so much smoother. And in the event someone needs to use it, you and they will be grateful that you did your due diligence to ensure that these stations work.

12

🔥 New guide: How to read a fire alarm trouble code — panel-by-panel for Simplex, Notifier, Edwards EST & Fire-Lite. Essential reading for facility managers and technicians. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ePtBQAfm

2

Preventative maintenance is not a cost, but an investment in asset preservation Building owners and operators shift from a "run-to-fail" approach for their significant HVAC assets to a strategic, proactive maintenance plan to avoid higher replacement costs, emergency downtime, and increased energy bills .

7