Facilities Management conference to tackle thermal comfort, smart buildings

Australia's largest dedicated Facilities Management conference kicks off this month at Sydney's International Convention Centre (ICC), Darling Harbour.

The 2017 Total Facilities event, March 29 – 30 will host a range a range of workplace experts discussing thermal comfort, making smart buildings, wellness in the workplace and co-working as a sustainable workplace solution.

A key theme will be how much further the built environment commercial sector needs to go in reducing its environmental impact.

Andrew Lawson, event manager, Total Facilities, said the exhibition and education program reflects the evolutionary nature of the industry.

“Today it’s about integrating the built assets of real estate and facilities with technology and other solutions to meet the needs of building owners and occupiers," he said.

"It is the role of a facility manager to ensure the proper operation of all aspects of a building to create a healthy, safe and cost-effective environment in which tenants can function.”

The keynote speaker at Total Facilities will be the world’s leading expert on thermal comfort, Professor Richard de Dear, Director of Sydney University’s Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Lab.

He said searching for thermal pleasure may not make the priority list for employers or staff, but optimal, stimulating thermal environment in an office has transformative potential in terms of staff wellbeing and productivity.

“Research findings on enhanced air movement informs recommendations for both air conditioned and naturally ventilated buildings alike.” 

He will also bring along a life-sized thermal mannequin named Laura Palmer, whose task it is to define heat fluxes between the human body and the built environment surrounding it.

Kirsty Angerer, global ergonomics expert at Humanscale, willdebate the growing requirement for the FM industry to address health and wellbeing in commercial buildings and tenancies.

"Fruit bowls and gym memberships are a good starting point, but we need to do more in terms of wellness programs,” she said.

“Companies measure lost time due to injury and illness, but how many measure lost time due to 'discomfort' and people seeking medical assistance (physios, chiros etc) due to being in pain or feeling uncomfortable?

E"veryday simple strategies can be implemented across the office to help reduce fatigue and improve posture.”

Other headliners at this year’s Total Facilities speaker series include:

• Libby Sander, respected thought leader on corporate agility, performance and workplace design, who will be sharing her ideas on co-working as generational fad or a sustainable workplace solution;
• Kate Harris, CEO - Good Environmental Choice Australia will join with Tony Arnel, Global Director Sustainability for Norman Disney & Young to consider how much further the built environment commercial sector needs to go in reducing its environmental impact; and
• Paul Edwards, GM Workplace Experiences – Mirvac, and James Armstrong, National Director, Workplace Management Services at Colliers International, who will look at meeting the demands of the evolving workplace.

To register for a rundown on the full education program, please visit www.totalfacilities.com.au