How facilities managers are protecting against climate risks

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.

In addition to implementing resilience measures, companies are evaluating existing emergency procedures against mounting climate risks.

“In drought-prone regions, water audits are helping to establish usage and potential solutions prior to and during an emergency,” says Milner. “Resilient operations rely on monitoring costs, spending and damages related to climate impacts at the facility level. Establishing a baseline for how climate-related changes affect an organization is an important aspect in response plans."

Robust facilities management strategies should also consider a company’s regional infrastructure and supply chain, mapping critical systems across different assets and quantifying local risks to establish focus points within response plans.

“When analyzing where to allocate limited funds, organizations must identify their most exposed buildings and their potential impacts to prioritize key requirements for keeping business running,” says Karim. “Each building needs a tailored approach, with engineering and design teams assessing the right solution.”

Technology offers growing support for planning around volatile climates. “With the proliferation of smart building platforms, facilities managers can leverage weather data and AI modelling in predictive maintenance, projecting long-term impacts to make proactive adjustments, which also drives cost savings,” says Jim Whittaker, Head of Global Engineering Product at JLL.

Applying data about future climate events to existing hazard vulnerability analyses can also influence how – and how frequently – contingency plans are updated.