Integrating Technology and Controls

LaRowe details how automated alarm systems can provide significant benefits for facility maintenance organizations. In the past, educational facilities organizations have been slow to embrace automated alarm technology other than life safety systems required by building code and, to some degree, security systems. Even though using technology for controlling HVAC systems is now standard practice, automated alarm and notification capabilities included in the software is often not fully utilized and sometimes turned off all together. With recent advances in web-based facilities solutions involving critical and non-critical alarm applications, facilities administrators are showing a renewed interest, and the interest extends well beyond life safety, security and HVAC systems.