Most critical facilities demand continuous operations for extended periods typically measured in years if not decades. To achieve this challenging goal, these facilities rely on robust and redundant infrastructure, sophisticated monitoring and controls systems, and competent and disciplined facilities operating staff. Providing continuous operations during normal site conditions over the long-term is difficult enough, but even more difficult when you introduce inherently risky scenarios such as major site upgrades, expansions, and renovations as well as allowing for equipment and/or system “major” maintenance and repairs.
One characteristic of many successful critical facility management organizations is the interdependence and integration of the functions and capabilities of the facilities staff and the site building management system (BMS) and other associated monitoring and control systems (including electrical power monitoring systems (EPMS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), building automation systems (BAS), etc.). Facilities staff consider the BMS as one of the most important tools (if not the most important tool) to managing site operations and maintenance activities. Likewise, the BMS can report indirectly on the overall performance of the facilities staff. When integrated properly, the BMS and facilities staff back-up, supplement, and oversee each other respectively.