National Facilities Management | Company
National Facilities Management
Phone: +61 1300 820 330
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25.01.2022 Virus aware buildings means adapting technology One of the immediate impacts on industry of the COVID-19 pandemic is the need to reduce transmission of the virus. This can be achieved through changes to specifications on new projects. One obvious change is making buildings as contactless as possible. The first step to achieve this is being able to determine when someone is entering or leaving any space and the ability to more accurately monitor if people are still present in ...a space. New technologies offer a solution One example is using microwave sensing technology to measure the movements of human breathing, accurate direction of movement and distance to movement. Using motorised doors and intelligent lighting and HVAC would then create a completely contactless environment for users who live in and move through a building. Facilities Management FM is about having a holistic approach to controlling system design and operation, to ensure that data from a single sensor could be used across the system regardless of the application. National FM is focused on enhancing your building asset as efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible in ways that you may not have ever considered pre COVID-19. See more
25.01.2022 The Redfern development is one of the 11 projects in the sixth tranche of ‘shovel ready’ projects green-lit by the New South Wales government under the fast-track program.The approval will see the construction of an 18-storey mixed-use student accommodation development on Gibbons Street comprising 488 student accommodation rooms and ground-level retail.
23.01.2022 Coronation Property Coronation Property is an award-winning developer with a focus on mixed-use developments, combining local-area knowledge with years of development experience. As Sydney locals, they work to create vibrant communities where people thrive. Other projects Coronation have worked developed include The Foundry, The Gild, The Bindery and The Paper Mill. Mason & Main Mason & Main is another highly effective collaboration between innovative Coronation Property and... an esteemed Australian architectural practice, Woods Bagot. Mason & Main combines a new eat street and shopping strip along with individual residential towers, elevated recreation spaces including a green roof, communal amenities and public space. This development is to be the new heart of Sydney’s west and an asset of enduring value. See more
23.01.2022 Innovative SoftwareThe brothers Coorey have created software to analyse the profitability of potential development sites within seconds, and they have shared it with everyone to make real estate investment, development, and design much easier and more transparent for everyone. The technology can even turn a handful of neighbours into millionaires. It’s an interesting story and the software, Archistar, has now been used to analyse the Feng Shui properties of floor plans.Sydney Melbourne RivalsDo buildings in Melbourne have better Feng Shui than Sydney? Read on to find out what Coorey says. Whatever the answer, it’s clear that this technology can provide great benefit to property developers.
22.01.2022 The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment are planning a vibrant town centre in Camellia to bring more open space, homes and commercial spaces to the area, as well as many new jobs. Currently, the strategic planning model for the area, the Greater Sydney Commission The Place-based Infrastructure Compact (PIC), proposes Camellia should only be retained for urban rail services.UDIA NSWHowever, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW has been urgin...g the government to consider a Camellia metro station. Camellia’s strategic location within the Greater Parramatta to Olympic Park Peninsula and the revitalisation of the precinct could create up to 40,000 jobs between now and 2050.UDIA NSW suggests that a new strategic centre at Camellia should be connected by metro rail, light rail and ferry creating the necessary connectivity to be a vibrant mixed-use jobs and entertainment hub for the Central River City.Is it too late?With tunnelling due to commence in 2022 UDIA NSW suggests that it‘s still not too late for the Government to reconsider a station to the eastern end of the Parramatta CBD to provide the opportunity to develop a brownfield site into a thriving urban hub adjacent to the new Parramatta CBD. See more
22.01.2022 A building efficiency campaign out of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reduced the collective annual electricity bills of the 100+ organizational participants by $95 million a year. The Critical Benefits of Energy Efficiency Drastically reducing the operational carbon from our building stock will be mandatory for the world to limit global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius. The challenge for business set by the Climate Group and World Green Buildings Council, is ...to reach net zero carbon for all assets under their direct control by 2030, and to advocate for all buildings to be net zero carbon in operation by 2050. An essential step to developing a decarbonisation plan is reducing consumption through energy efficiency. Why? Three reasons. There is insufficient battery storage to provide sufficient energy from renewables at peak times, moving away from fossil fuels will take time and reducing energy consumption is a cost-effective way to cut carbon. Energy efficiency in buildings is a critical component of decarbonizing the broader economy. So how do we get moving on energy efficiency? - conducting energy audits - modifying building management systems - asset optimisation Contact National FM for more information. See more
22.01.2022 Some interesting predictions here about the changing use of bulding spaces in 2021 and thereafter.
21.01.2022 According to the article, the architecture-designed apartment towers are dubbed "Beyond", are located on a 1.3-hectare site at 93 Forest Road and vary in height from 11 to 20 levels, comprising 563 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. This is good news for the area because it will provide some relief to the housing shortage.
21.01.2022 Does your cleaner have time to keep you safe at work?National FM ensures that our cleaners are afforded sufficient time to complete all the required specifications of their job to a high level. We employ our cleaners directly, with no murky supply lines or subcontractors. This is what is needed to keep workplaces and workers safe.Do you talk to your cleaners?What does your cleaner(s) say about the time they have to do their job?SafeWork Australia and its state counterparts ha...ve prepared guidelines for keeping workplaces safe.Heavy penaltiesEmployers whose employees contract COVID-19 because of poor cleaning practices face serious legal trouble. If cleaners contract COVID-19 or are injured because of poor conditions the employer may be considered liable even if they don’t employ them directly.The best response is to take that responsibility seriously, more closely enforcing contracts, and if necessary varying their terms, to allow for extra, safe and adequately paid and resourced cleaning. See more
21.01.2022 Approval has been given for 6 buildings to a maximum height of 11 storeys making the development home to 427 residential apartments along with mixed use spaces such as supermarkets, retail, commercial and landscapes common areas. The developer Tian An Australia is committed to delivering projects that provide residents an outstanding quality of life while minimizing environmental impacts. The development will be constructed on the former Auburn RSL Club site.
20.01.2022 The development will transform a full city block in New York’s Greenpoint neighbourhood into a 60,000sq m tower comprising 800 residential for rent apartments. What is most interesting in this article is Lendlease’s plans for The future beyond the current Covid-19 related challenges
18.01.2022 How can building design achieve net zero carbon within 5 years?Researchers for the UK Green Building Council set out to answer questions such as What are the real-world implications for achieving new net zero buildings? How can new buildings be designed to reach net zero performance targets and what effect does this have on cost? The two most salient findings for residential buildings were to replace structural steel and concrete with timber and reduce window sizes. The cost?They worked out that the extra cost for residential was 3.5 per cent (for the medium 2025 goals) and 5.3 per cent (for the advanced 2030 goal). The authors provide an excellent info graphic showing where we are now and what needs to be done to reach targets.
17.01.2022 What Australia's renowned sustainability expert says Alan Pears, AM, is one of Australia’s best-regarded sustainability experts and in his position as a Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University, advises a number of industry and community organisations. For Australia's future his view is that we need "improved quantification of supply chain impacts, as well as enhanced transparency and accountability at the individual firm and product level." He goes on to note that this is ...becoming a reality due to improved "Building Information Management systems, real time tracking within supply chains, and blockchain techniques that can securely allocate costs and benefits to different parties in a supply chain spread and become cheaper." Reduced costs are the ultimate prize in BIM use. What can we learn from ants? Well, it seems that ants are really good at ant colony optimisation, an important evolutionary method for solving various ant-world problems - and these are the same problems inherent in energy supply systems of the future. There are some interesting ideas in the article and links to other resources if you're interested to learn more about ants' problem solving abilities and disruptive energy supply.
17.01.2022 New Technological Trends Businesses will need to adapt to a transition from social, mobile, analytics and cloud (SMAC) to Distributed ledger technology (such as blockchain), Artificial intelligence (AI), Extended reality (including virtual and augmented reality), and Quantum computing (DARQ). If you don’t know what the 15 items in the following list mean you can find out by selecting the image. 5G Network Autonomous Driving The Empowered Edge Democratization of Technology Human Augmentation Distributed Cloud DARQ Age is Here Personal Profiling AI Products Data Policing Momentary Markets Automation Reskilling Human Workforce Medical Upgrade Digital Debit Every one of these technologies will somehow affect your building asset and how it will be managed by facilities staff.
16.01.2022 Changing Landscape of Property Development This short 14 minute video reveals some interesting changes coming for the industry. Across the country, start-ups and established proptech companies have begun to disrupt and redesign the development process from the ground up. Technologies are now being rapidly rolled out for wide-ranging initiatives from urban planning, design and construction, search, sale and acquisition, leasing and management, data analytics, and sustainabil...ity. Other Areas Affecting Change Other areas, such as autonomous vehicles, the sharing economy, the internet of things, open trading platforms and asset financing, and liquidity platforms, are also anticipated to incur rapid technology advancements. See more
13.01.2022 GPT Group GPT has a portfolio of 12 high quality shopping centres across Australia. The group’s management approach, priorities and performance in addressing material environmental, social and governance matters is aligned to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: Comprehensive option. With their commitment to a 2024 Carbon neutral target and a 2030 water neutral target it will be exciting to see what this new development unfolds. Large Scale Development Given the ...large scale of the development, to be built on eight super-lots including towers up to 25 storeys of residential and commercial-retail space, it will be interesting to see the strategies implemented to reach GPT’s sustainability targets. Sydney Metro Rouse Hill Station is Key Rouse Hill is part of the Hills Shire Council, which has attracted an influx of transport-focused development. Developments in the area include the 227 apartment development by Castle Group on Tallawong Road and the 350-apartment development by Deicorp on Civic Way. See more
10.01.2022 Did you miss this?In case you missed this information from the 2020 editorial desk check out this comprehensive review - the Western Sydney Aerotropolis in numbers, the timeline summary and the key facts at the end of each precinct section provide an interesting overview of what’s happening for Australia’s next CBD.
09.01.2022 Surprise stats for Melbourne Top 20Compared to Sydney’s Top 20 developments, Melbourne’s top 20 include Melbourne’s largest ever residential development, Australia’s tallest building and Australia’s tallest hotel.
08.01.2022 All sold!All 719 apartments in the 40-storey East tower development have already been sold. The building also includes three floors of amenities including private dining spaces, a residents’ lounge, theatre, pool, spa, sauna and gym. A further 2 residential towers are planned, to eventually house over 3000 residents as well as many more workers in the 3 commercial towers and retail spaces.Melbourne Quarter precinct, once fully completed, will be an outstanding accomplishment for Lendlease.
08.01.2022 Four months ahead of schedule in COVID? What an achievement! The First Stage The first stage of the Rhodes Central Project has a $450 million construction cost and consists of the "heliostat tower and a 25-storey tower, totalling 548 apartments on top of a 12,000sq m shopping centre". Coming Next... Future plans include another three towers in the Rhodes Central precinct as well as a "$70 million community recreation centre to be delivered in the next stage". It will be interesting to watch the progress and see if the project team, which has done such a fantastic job so far, can maintain their momentum. See more
08.01.2022 Growth in Sydney’s North West Sydney Central Planning Panel has given approval for Proximity, a 375-mixed-use apartment development with 1, 2- and 3-bedroom residences in Sydney’s Northwest precinct. The developer, Deicorp, is also responsible for other transit-based developments like the Pemulwuy Project in Redfern, the up and coming 987 unit development in Tallawong and the Castle Hill development of 272 units.
07.01.2022 The next revolution in the building construction industry? Curvecrete has developed a Zero Waste curved concrete panelling system using robotic technology in the next revolution of the building construction industry. It's cost effective, it doesn't produce any waste and can create beautiful curved forms to generate incredible design impact. Curvecrete uses less formwork This saves precious resources. Curvecrete uses fly ash, a waste product from coal fire generation, as a bin...der. This uses up a waste product in a productive way. Cutting costs for developers Curvecrete not only dramatically lowers the cost of delivering curves in buildings, a desirable feature often ‘value managed’ out of a project due to cost, but also could cut building cost by up to 70-75 per cent. Curvecrete can produce non-structural panels for external cladding or interior use. The shift into structural panels could solve two major issues in multi-storey construction: fire rating of cladding material and the long lead time for delivery of cladding material produced mainly in overseas countries. This innovative technology produced locally has the potential to stimulate Australia’s own manufacturing industry while also reducing our reliance on overseas products. Sounds like a win for Curvecrete. See more
07.01.2022 Sydney’s inner west winsThis redevelopment will be comprised of 167 apartments, commercial space, including 'live/work' units, and a new public town square with a supermarket, speciality retail and a community arts studio. The lower levels of the complex will comprise the new Tigers Leagues Club.Creating jobsThe entire project is proposed to create over 1,000 jobs - with over 417 jobs in the construction phase and nearly 600 direct and indirect operational roles with the new club, retail and commercial components of the development. This is a great outcome for the inner-west community.
05.01.2022 Useful initiatives There are a number of useful initiatives that can be used to mitigate viral transmission in HVAC systems. It really depends on 3 major factors: air filtration and cleaning control of humidity levels effective education and communication for residents. Possible solutions Audit and remediation of ventilation rates and airflow patterns and pathways Management of indoor humidity levels to reduce the formation of aerosols Provision of proper maintenance along with appropriate testing and reporting to provide accurate information to occupants. If you need advice contact National FM for more information.
05.01.2022 This technology is a suitable and sustainable solution to meet the requirements of a carbon-neutral future. Self-learning to Improve Well-being DABBEL AI learns from occupancy habits and allows the technology to self-adjust for each situation, creating a green and healthy space where people feel comfortable. Up to 40% Energy Reductions The approach of layering AI-powered predictive modelling atop legacy BMS to power next-gen building automation has the potential to generate s...ubstantial energy savings - with reductions in energy consumption of up to 40%. Almost Immediate Implementation The added incentive for commercial building owners is that Dabbel squeezes these energy savings without the need to rip out and replace legacy systems -- nor is there a need to install lots of IoT devices or sensor hardware to create a 'smart' interior environment. The AI integrates with and automatically calibrates the existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. All that's needed is the SaaS - and less than a week for the system to be implemented. Furthermore the installation can be done remotely! See more
04.01.2022 Waterloo State Significant PrecinctThis development is part of a 20-hectare area in central Sydney that has been identified for urban renewal. The Waterloo Metro Quarter project includes a 17-storey office building, a 24-storey apartment building and a 25-storey student accommodation building.Over-station DevelopmentsWaterloo Metro Quarter project is another in a series of over-station developments in Sydney as it will be integrated with the new Waterloo Station.Other over-station developments in Sydney include Oxford Properties’ 65,000sq m over-station development at Pitt Street, and Deicorp’s metro station precinct at Tallawong Station, the last station of the northwest arm of the metro line.
04.01.2022 Innovative Selling Selling off the plan strategies for Realspace users include: high res screenshots sent to an email address lifestyle animations and videos quick access to all floor plans full immersive VR experience All this user engagement results in more qualified leads and shorter selling times. Innovation and technology at their best.
04.01.2022 Progress on Our Climate Goals Sustainable buildings can set the tone for the kind of change we need to make progress on our climate goals throughout the next decade. NABERS Ratings NABERS ratings can provide the framework for providing long-term efficiencies and healthier, better quality environments for tenants. Operational changes... Greater building efficiencies can be achieved through innovative sustainable solutions ranging from design decisions through to operational parameters. For example in the case of 171 Collins Street, the super-clean of the building cooling towers produced an estimated 12 - 15% increase in efficiency. This in turn created improvements in energy consumption. Importance of Green buildings Given the urgency of changing our environmental footprints, greening buildings can greatly impact our move towards climate targets. Contact National FM if you need to know more. See more
04.01.2022 Australian Workers underpaid $1.35B per year Research conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers indicates 13 per cent of Australian workers are underpaid a total of $1.35 billion each year, diverting millions from government coffers and costing taxpayers millions. Harsher Penalties for Wage Theft The Commonwealth government has shown leadership in this space and this announcement by the NSW government on new legislation, including harsher penalties and naming taxpayers who have un...derpaid payroll tax on wages, sends a clear message to businesses - do the right thing by your employees and by the taxpayers of NSW. Need for More Inspectors However, if there aren't enough inspectors to deal with existing payroll tax evasion, how will there be enough to crack down on the wage theft epidemic? See more
03.01.2022 True recycling - a first for the plastic industryTo be recycled, a plastic bottle goes on a long journey from the consumer to a collection center, then to a material recovery center where the food-grade transparent bottles are sorted out. A massive PET processing plant melts the bottle back into a resin to sell to bottle manufacturers.However, that little recycling symbol on the bottom of a soda or shampoo bottle has a dirty secret. There’s only a 30 percent chance the PET pl...astic in the bottle will get turned into a new plastic product, and the chance it will become another drink or shampoo bottle is almost zero.The French startup, Carbios, hopes to change that with a new enzyme one that could usher in an entirely new way to recycle plastic, one that actually lives up to the arrows of the symbol. The innovative process is so important that the likes of Pepsi, L’Oreal and Nestle are backing Carbios to give the small company a boost to bring to market this industry changing tool.This is will be a huge game changer for facilities management because it will change recycling processes and how waste is sorted managed at the source. See more
02.01.2022 Do you know?Which Sydney CBD building is currently set to become the city’s tallest residential tower?Which project is the largest investment in arts and culture in the state since the Sydney Opera House?Which commercial tower is inspired by the Walkie Talkie in London?Which development is set to become the tallest timber structure in Australia?
02.01.2022 More wage theftAfter Fair Work Inspectors investigated nine cleaning companies following surprise site visits to various locations they found that nearly 80 per cent were non-compliant with workplace laws. Seven of the nine companies investigated were found to have underpaid their employees and three had breached pay slip obligations.Ignorance is no longer a defenseLayers of sub-contracting, operating without appropriate checks and balances to ensure workplace relations compliance, can create breaches that carry heavy penalties. Ignorance is no longer a defense. Do you have a facilities management company that offers full transparency in all contracts? If you’re worried contact us for advice.
02.01.2022 How to Nurture a Globally Competitive Sydney? The planning framework by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment aims to provide a clear path for investment to help rebuild business confidence and support jobs in small and large businesses. It aims to ensure Central Sydney maintains its role as Australia’s most productive and attractive city. A core consideration of the Planning Strategy for Sydney was how much future office space the city needs, and how this ...affects the potential for increased residential property in the city. Should Empty Office Space be Repurposed? There have been calls for half-empty office blocks, especially lower-tier assets in the Sydney CBD, to be turned into residential or mixed-use accommodation and that more residential accommodation would bring more vibrant life to the city. But experts have warned that Covid-19 has influenced the dynamics in the property market and that reducing office space in favour of residential accommodation could prompt a shortage of work space down the track. It seems that by removing the incentive for residential towers the decision has been made to maintain the levels of office space. See more
01.01.2022 Good news for the property marketAlthough the road ahead will still be difficult, the federal, state and territory governments, as well as the Reserve Bank, unions and businesses can all claim credit for these surprising job figures.The expectation is that the unemployment rate will now peak well below previous official forecasts of nearly 10 per cent. This is good news for the property market because without jobs, wage earners have no financial ability to pay rent or mortgage payments. The unemployed are financially unable to occupy any type of residential property (without direct government funding or personal wealth). So, jobs move real estate.
01.01.2022 St Leonards has significant potential Being located right on the North Shore rail line, in close proximity to Crows Nest, surrounded by education, health and high technology industries and already supporting a growing creative culture, St Leonards has the potential to be a highly desirable place to live, work and visit. Sydney’s Projected Growth Sydney is growing rapidly. Current estimates suggest 1.6 million additional people will be living in Sydney by 2031, requiring 664,000 more homes and 689,000 more jobs. This is unprecedented growth that is most sustainably accommodated near existing transport infrastructure. The development, which includes 627 residential apartments as well as retail and commercial space, will transform St Leonards into the modern mixed use Centre that the area needs for revitalisation.
01.01.2022 Concrete’s Carbon Footprint The traditional process of making concrete accounts for nearly 10 percent of all global carbon dioxide emissions, while the U.S., China and India accounting for the largest portion of that footprint, according to a report published by ClimateWorks Foundation, about potential decarbonization solutions for the sector. The focus on concrete is particularly important because of the trillions of dollars that will be spent on infrastructure projects duri...ng the COVID-19 recovery. Carbon-sequestering concrete In mid-April, two climate-tech startups focused on decarbonizing the world’s most widely used construction material, CarbonCure Technologies and UCLA CarbonBuilt, split the top prize in the $20 million competition. Each will receive $7.5 million to further the development and commercialisation of their approaches. Scalability These solutions are fully operational and are easily integrated into supply chains. It is just a matter of time and greater incentives to ensure the availability of these innovative solutions to Australian construction. See more
