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    Your New Favorite FM Websites

    Nov. 4, 2004
    American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahma.com)The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) provides members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, as well as lobbies on Capitol Hill. The association’s website provides recent news, updates on legislation and regulatory issues, and information on more than 30 hospitality management courses available through home study or online via its CourseLine® program. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up to receive the free, daily Lodging SmartBrief e-mail newsletter.American Society for Healthcare Engineering(www.ashe.org)hospitalconnect.com, the website of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), offers users more than just the society’s news. There is information on legislative activities; the Federal Communication Commission’s Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS); and a list of links to associations, federal agencies, and other healthcare resources. Information on relevant codes and standards (JCAHO, NFPA, OSHA, etc.) are explained in straightforward terms, and make this site an excellent tool for anyone responsible for healthcare facilities.APPA: The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (www.appa.org)APPA’s website is packed with research and information on topics ranging from quality management and the facilities condition index to workplace violence in higher education. Learn about APPA’s Strategic Assessment Model (SAM) and gauge the overall organizational effectiveness of your facility operations. Be sure to keep up-to-date on all the educational opportunities that APPA offers; the website’s educational calendar will keep you from missing out.Association for Facilities Engineers(www.afe.org)The Association for Facilities Engineers (AFE) website’s online question-and-answer forum (called cAFE) provides both scheduled and impromptu opportunities to ask for advice – or to give it. AFE provides education, certification, technical information, and other relevant resources for plant and facility engineering, operations, and maintenance professionals worldwide. Browse the AFE bookstore, the schedule of virtual interactive seminars and online courses, or check on your eligibility and apply for CPE, CPMM, or CPS certification/recertification.BOMI Institute(www.bomi-edu.org)A leader in commercial property information, BOMI Institute offers prospective students the power of knowledge and the chance to pursue a professional designation. Various study methods are offered, along with e-mail newsletters for prospective students and graduates. Not sure which designation is right for you? Want to know what courses are required? What are the real benefits? The answers are just keystrokes away at BOMI Institute’s website.Building Energy Codes (www.energycodes.gov)Get information on federal building codes and check your building’s compliance with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website’s COMcheck materials. No need to wonder any longer about those befuddling acronyms; an energy codes glossary keeps you in the know. View PowerPoint presentations on International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 requirements. Weary from unsuccessful Web searches? Find the energy to check this site; it’s worth it!Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International (www.boma.org)BOMA, a 19,000-member organization for building owners and managers, offers a wealth of information on its website. Shop to your heart’s content: The site’s online BOMA store offers resources on the ADA, emergency planning, property management, and more. Review BOMA’s position on key legislative and codes/standards issues relative to the commercial real estate industry or connect with your local BOMA chapter via this online resource.Buildings.com(www.buildings.com)Get the latest information on industry trends, strategies, and your peers’ activities at Buildings.com. The site offers articles from Buildings magazine, a continuously updated news feed, and a Buyers’ Guide with more than 1,500 company listings. Participate in online polls, order books, and stay abreast of upcoming industry events. While you’re there, don’t miss out on the chance to subscribe to any – or all – of the site’s e-mail newsletter offerings: @ the Moment, Greener Facilities, or Roofing News. If you design, build, or manage buildings, this site’s a “must-bookmark.”The Center for Health Design(www.healthdesign.org)The Center for Health Design supports healthcare and design professionals worldwide with research, education, advocacy, and technical assistance. The center’s goal is to improve the quality of healthcare through evidence-based building design. Get information from the site’s six research reports on topics, including how the built environment affects patient’s medical outcomes. Review published articles, join the center’s e-newsletter subscription list, or peruse a list of recommended books.Construction Specifications Institute(www.csinet.org)The mission of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is to continuously improve the process of creating and sustaining the built environment. CSI’s website is a continuation of that mission, spreading knowledge on the basic language of construction – specifications. Use the Industry Quick Search to locate products, manufacturers, and local contacts. Remember to download the section numbers and their titles for the upcoming MasterFormat 2004 edition while you’re there (www.csinet.org/masterformat).The Construction Users Roundtable(www.curt.org)As an association whose primary goal is to keep construction and maintenance costs competitive, the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) website is a “sure-to-be-bookmarked” resource for professionals involved in the ownership and development of buildings nationwide. Want to know about reverse auction technology or the skilled workforce shortage? Check out the publications available on CURT’s website. In addition to the organization’s activities and events, there is a list of links to other construction-related websites.CoreNet Global(www.corenetglobal.com)With the merging of former International Development Research Council (IDRC) and NACORE International in 2002, CoreNet Global has a unified goal of advancing knowledge, connecting people, and promoting personal excellence. In doing so, the organization has provided information on its website regarding the Executive Development Program designation and certification, VIP Knowledge Series (an e-learning program), and “Learning on CD-Rom” programs. Get the details on local chapter events (as well as the association’s global summit) here.Federal Facilities Council(www7.nationalacademies.org/ffc)The Federal Facilities Council (FCC) is a cooperative association of 24 federal agencies with interests and responsibilities related to all aspects of facility design, acquisition, management, maintenance, and evaluation. The council’s goal is to improve the performance of facilities over their entire life-cycle and its list of available publications and reports are evidence of this. Discover what kinds of issues the FFC Standing Committees are addressing, when the council is holding future events, and what studies are ongoing and planned online.First Source(www.firstsourceonl.com)Browse the First Source website for suppliers offering everything from tilt-up precast concrete to art glass. The directory of product manufacturers and services makes this site a true resource to individuals tasked with the operation, modernization, and construction of commercial and institutional buildings. However, that’s not all the site has to offer. “Construction News,” its RS Means Cost Calculator, and a building code library elevate this site from “helpful” to “essential.”Institute of Real Estate Management(www.irem.org)If you’re looking for professional development opportunities, look no further than the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) website. As the only professional real estate management association serving both the multifamily and commercial real estate sectors, IREM offers educational programs including the Certified Property Manager® (CPM) designation, the Accredited Residential Manager® (ARM) certification, and the Accredited Management Organization® (AMO) accreditation. Course descriptions and schedules are posted online, along with the dates and descriptions of IREM conferences.International Code Council(www.iccsafe.org)Keep updated on the initiatives of the International Code Council (ICC), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a single set of national model construction codes, via the Web. Wonder how these codes will affect you? Read articles online from the Building Safety Journal, visit the website’s “Codes & Standards” page and ask, or sign up for online classes at the International Code Campus (www.icccampus.org).International Council of Shopping Centers(www.icsc.org)Continuously updated information on the latest news in the retail real estate industry makes this website a great resource. Along with this information, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) website provides multiple opportunities for professional development (University of Shopping Centers classes, 1.5-day seminars, self-study online education, and more). A job board helps employers and individuals seeking new opportunities. Don’t miss out on all the research and survey data offered here, either.International Facility Management Association (IFMA)(www.ifma.org)When the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) website says “IFMA is absolutely FM,” it isn’t making false claims. Look online and you’ll find a treasure trove of data on the organization’s mission, as well as ways facility professionals can advance their knowledge through certification or designation. Want to find out what the recent Facilities Industry Study revealed? Curious about the impact of e-commerce on FM practices? These research reports and others are available for purchase on IFMA.org. International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Public Sector Facilities Council (www.ifma-psfc.org)Connecting with other facilities professionals involved with government buildings was never easier. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Public Sector Facilities Council brings you a group of individuals committed to providing this forum. Get information on the council’s upcoming events, peruse the newsletter, and review resources submitted by members. Don’t forget to visit the “GOOD PRACTICES” portion of the website and learn from the best practices and successful strategies implemented by others.National Association of Industrial and Office Properties(www.naiop.org)The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) represents the interests of developers and owners of industrial, office, and related commercial real estate. Find out about NAIOP’s upcoming Real Estate Capital Markets Conference or its Running a Real Estate Company program on the association’s website. The site provides information on education and professional development opportunities and offers links to helpful Internet websites arranged by topic on its “Industry Resources” page.National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities(www.edfacilities.org)Created by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) is a free public service and provides information on planning, designing, funding, building, improving, and maintaining schools. The NCEF website includes endless data on more than 100 topics, including disaster preparedness, the decision to build or renovate, and healthy school environments. Cost estimating data for new construction projects is also available.National Fire Protection Association(www.nfpa.org)The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website is brimming with some of the best information on fire and life safety codes and strategies that the industry has to offer. You can stay on top of the latest NFPA codes, fire investigations, research findings, and get tips on facility preparedness. Don’t create an evacuation or fire system maintenance plan without stopping here first. Bring a customized NFPA seminar to your facility; this website tells you how.National Multi Housing Council(www.nmhc.org)The National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) website is your online directory to rental housing issues. The site covers everything from apartment myths to rent control to student housing. The council’s Cost of Risk Survey can help members benchmark insurance rates. Site users can stay abreast of apartment market conditions and discover which legislative and regulatory issues the NMHC considers a priority. A calendar of events helps you plan ahead for forums, conferences, and meetings you won’t want to miss.The Society for College and University Planning(www.scup.org)Participate in audiocasts, conferences, and other educational opportunities presented by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP); you can find the details on the organization’s website. Reference books are also available for sale online. This organization and its website provide resources no facility planner should ignore, including links to a school survey and articles on topics such as return on investment and technology.U.S. Department of Justice’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page(www.ada.gov)What this site lacks in design, it more than makes up for with ample information on the sometimes complicated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. You’ll find the ADA Standards for Accessible Design available for download (in PDF or HTML format), as well as answers to commonly asked questions. Still unsure about your compliance? Call the toll-free ADA Information Line; the telephone number is posted at ADA.gov.U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration(www.osha.gov)The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) website furthers the department’s mission to train and educate individuals with the purpose of encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. The website provides compliance assistance, information on laws, regulations, state programs, and statistics. Get the answers to your questions on ergonomics, emergency preparedness, and construction safety here.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star®(www.energystar.gov)Reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency is a priority. Recognizing this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Energy Star program. Information on certified products (like cool roofs and lighting) and energy management guidelines can help you on your way toward using less energy and creating a better bottom line, all the while benefiting the environment.U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)(www.usgbc.org)With its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is revolutionizing the way buildings are built. To find out how to build, design, construct, and maintain facilities to lessen their impact on the environment, surf this website; it’s the best resource you’ll find on the topic.

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