To support facility professionals dealing with the ongoing devastation caused by wildfires in Southern California and elsewhere, IFMA (the International Facility Management Association), has launched a Wildfire Crisis Resource Hub.

IFMA’s Wildfire Crisis Resource Hub is designed to equip FM teams for success. It includes strategies for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) before, during and after wildfire events; guidance on filtration and ventilation to safeguard indoor spaces; tips for natural disaster preparedness and wildfire impact reduction; and more. IFMA members are invited to share additional tools or insights. Read more . . .

An old hotel turned into trendy apartments; a restaurant built in a former bank; and a warehouse divided into cool office spaces are prime examples of adaptive reuse, explains Lawrence Group. In today’s climate of sustainability, the benefits of adaptive reuse are attracting new attention from property owners and developers. Repurposing an existing, underutilized structure to give it a new lease on life benefits owners, the environment, and communities.

Adaptive reuse is the practice of refurbishing an existing building for a new purpose. The term became popular in the early 1970s when Boston’s Old City Hall was converted into an office and retail complex. This article differentiates between restoration, preservation and adaptive reuse as architectural renovation projects on old buildings. Read more . . .

ASHRAE offers free guidance to mitigate the impact of wildfires on indoor air quality (IAQ)



As wildfires and prescribed burns increasingly impact communities worldwide, global building technology society ASHRAE recently published a new resource aimed at safeguarding indoor air quality (IAQ) during these events. In response to the devasting ongoing wildfires in Southern California, ASHRAE is providing free public access to a read-only version until February 11, 2025. ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024, Protecting Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, outlines best practices for commercial and institutional building design, operation and maintenance to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke. Key features include its focus on vulnerable populations, and comprehensive best practices for building envelopes, ventilation systems and air-cleaning technologies to mitigate smoke infiltration and improve IAQ.

In addition, ASHRAE Journal podcast episode Where There’s Smoke, There’s HVAC explores the impacts of wildfire smoke on buildings and public health. Read more . . .

At the world's largest HVACR event, with over 1,600 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees annually, the AHR Expo offers education sessions that are a key draw for facility and building managers, engineers and architects. Education is offered in multiple formats including sessions, free industry seminars, New Product Theaters with 146 product presentations, the AHR Panel Series, For-Credit Sessions, and Podcast Pavilions. 

The AHR Expo, the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition, is the annual trade show that brings together HVACR professionals, manufacturers and industry leaders to showcase the latest trends and advancements in the industry. Our editors offer recommendations here for the AHR Panel Series that begins on Monday, February 10. Winners of the 2025 Innovation Awards will be showcased at the event. Read more . . .

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released updated guidance on indoor air quality (IAQ) strategies for preventing the spread of common respiratory viruses in homes, schools, offices, and commercial buildings. EPA’s updated guidance reflects the latest scien ce on indoor air quality strategies and recent ventilation recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EPA will also hold a webinar February 6, 2025: .

Read more . . .

While the NFMT expo floor is the big draw, everyone appreciates what they can learn at the education sessions that take place before and after exhibit hours at NFMT. In December, The McMorrow Reports + FMLink editors offered session recommendations for March 25 and 26.

For March 27, we recommend these sessions: 

• AI in 2025: What We’ve Learned & What’s Next
• Emergency Disaster Response & Mitigation: Before & After the Storm
• Empowering the Next Generation of FM
• Climate Adaptation: Decarbonization and Resilience in LEED v5
• If Buildings Could Talk: Investing in Health for Facility Managers

Read more . . .

This week's Featured Book from FMLink's Books section is from the Architecture category. This collection of peer-reviewed books has been curated by the editorial team at FMLink to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Architecture topic.

Since 1932, Architectural Graphic Standards has been referred to as the "architect's bible." From site excavation to structures to roofs, this book is the first place to look when an architect is confronted with a question about building design.

With more than 8,000 architectural illustrations, including both reference drawings and constructible architectural details, this book provides an easily accessible graphic reference for highly visual professionals. 

This and other Architecture titles are now available for purchase on FMLink.