How facilities managers are protecting against climate risks

With today’s buildings increasingly feeling the effects of a changing climate, facilities managers are facing the dual challenges of improving resilience and ensuring the right emergency plans are in place.

Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, more frequent and intense storms and heavier flooding are already putting building infrastructure and operations to the test.

By 2050, over 90% of the world’s largest companies will have real estate financially exposed to climate risks, according to S&P Global.

“Mitigating climate risks in real estate is becoming an urgent priority as companies seek to protect business continuity and minimize the costs of disruption,” says Glenn Milner, Senior Climate Advisor at JLL. “The changing regulatory landscape also demands action to make buildings more resilient.”

As climate risks threaten building operations, facilities managers are upping maintenance efforts.

“There’s intensifying pressure on preventative maintenance as facilities managers focus on maintaining a safe, stable working environment,” says Jessica Rose, Global Sustainability Integration Lead at JLL. “Testing is evolving in terms of frequency and focus areas and there’s ongoing evaluation around whether existing building safety standards are sufficient for today’s climate.”

Prolonged heatwaves, for example, cause concrete and metal to repeatedly expand and contract, requiring more monitoring of structural integrity. Hotter environments also increase the need for air-conditioning for people inside, straining HVAC systems.

Collaboration is another key element in climate risk planning – and not just between facilities managers and building owners.

Strong partnerships with building health and safety teams, local jurisdictions and first responders are essential for ensuring rapid action during and after extreme weather events. “Collaboration with local agencies significantly enhances preparedness and response effectiveness,” says Whittaker.

Strengthening resiliency in large corporate campuses can also support municipal emergency planning. For example, in Portland, Oregon, which lies on an earthquake fault line, a large corporate headquarters serves as an emergency evacuation hub.

“Following Hurricane Sandy, there’s been a significant push for resiliency in large campuses, with growing expectations for them to maintain water and energy availability through natural disasters,” says Rose.