Latest news with #facilityManagement
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
NFPA signs MoU with Saudi Facility Management Association to upskill the Kingdom's facility management workforce
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Facility Management Association (SFMA), a key organization dedicated to advancing vocational training for facility managers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Formalized in Riyadh, the MoU sets the stage for a strategic collaboration focused on enhancing fire safety standards across the Kingdom. The MoU was signed by Olga Caledonia, director for International Business Development at NFPA, and Aiyd A. Alqahtani, board chairman at SFMA. As part of this strategic collaboration, NFPA and SFMA will work together to share knowledge, best practices, and research insights to strengthen fire and life safety awareness across Saudi Arabia. The partnership includes plans to co-host conferences, develop certification programs, and launch training initiatives focused on raising safety standards. By empowering facilities management professionals with the latest tools and expertise, the collaboration aims to drive meaningful improvements in fire and life safety across the Kingdom. 'Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid development across sectors, from housing to hospitality, and from smart cities to iconic mega-projects, placing it firmly among the world's fastest-growing economies. With this scale and speed of growth, comes a heightened need for robust fire and life safety measures to ensure that progress is not compromised by preventable risks. Through our partnership with SFMA, we are proud to support this national momentum by bringing NFPA's nearly 130 years of expertise and a portfolio of more than 300 globally recognized codes and standards to assist in preventing loss,' said Olga Caledonia, director of International Business Development at NFPA. ' At SFMA, our mission is to elevate the professional capabilities of facilities managers throughout Saudi Arabia, in alignment with Vision 2030's goals of building safer, healthier, and more dynamic communities. This collaboration with NFPA will amplify our efforts by providing access to international best practices in fire and life safety, enriching training programs, and promoting knowledge exchange that will positively impact communities across the Kingdom, ' said, Aiyd A. Alqahtani, Board Chairman of SFMA. Additionally, SFMA members will benefit from access to a wide range of NFPA resources, including the NFPA Fire & Life Safety EcosystemTM, a framework that features extensive research and data on fires, including their economic impact. SFMA members will also have opportunities to participate in NFPA conferences and contribute to the development and review of relevant fire safety codes and standards. About the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) Founded in 1896, NFPA® is a global, self-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. About The Saudi Facilities Management Association (SFMA) The Saudi Facilities Management Association was established on June 30, 2020 as a non-profit organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The association aims to promote the concept of facilities management in Saudi Arabia as a key component in achieving Saudi Vision 2030. Through a comprehensive and integrated strategic plan, the association strives to achieve its objectives by building effective and sustainable partnerships across government, private, and non-profit sectors. The association focuses on developing national expertise in all aspects of facilities management while providing high-quality services to support and advance this vital sector.
Trade Arabia
3 days ago
- Business
- Trade Arabia
National Fire Protection Association to upskill Saudi FM workforce
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has signed an agreement with the Saudi Facility Management Association (SFMA), a key organisation dedicated to advancing vocational training for facility managers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Formalised in Riyadh, the MoU sets the stage for a strategic collaboration focused on enhancing fire safety standards across the kingdom. As part of this strategic collaboration, NFPA and SFMA will work together to share knowledge, best practices, and research insights to strengthen fire and life safety awareness across Saudi Arabia. The partnership includes plans to co-host conferences, develop certification programs, and launch training initiatives focused on raising safety standards, said a statement from NFPA. By empowering facilities management professionals with the latest tools and expertise, the collaboration aims to drive meaningful improvements in fire and life safety across the kingdom, it stated. The MoU was signed by Olga Caledonia, director for International Business Development at NFPA, and Aiyd A. Alqahtani, board chairman at SFMA. "Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid development across sectors, from housing to hospitality, and from smart cities to iconic mega-projects, placing it firmly among the world's fastest-growing economies," said Olga Caledonia, the director of International Business Development at NFPA, after signing the deal with Aiyd A. Alqahtani, board chairman at SFMA. "With this scale and speed of growth, comes a heightened need for robust fire and life safety measures to ensure that progress is not compromised by preventable risks," he stated. "Through our partnership with SFMA, we are proud to support this national momentum by bringing NFPA's nearly 130 years of expertise and a portfolio of more than 300 globally recognized codes and standards to assist in preventing loss," he added. Alqahtani said: "At SFMA, our mission is to elevate the professional capabilities of facilities managers throughout Saudi Arabia, in alignment with Vision 2030's goals of building safer, healthier, and more dynamic communities." "This collaboration with NFPA will amplify our efforts by providing access to international best practices in fire and life safety, enriching training programs, and promoting knowledge exchange that will positively impact communities across the kingdom," he added.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
NFPA signs MoU with Saudi Facility Management Association
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Facility Management Association (SFMA), a key organization dedicated to advancing vocational training for facility managers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Formalized in Riyadh, the MoU sets the stage for a strategic collaboration focused on enhancing fire safety standards across the Kingdom. The MoU was signed by Olga Caledonia, director for International Business Development at NFPA, and Aiyd A. Alqahtani, board chairman at SFMA. As part of this strategic collaboration, NFPA and SFMA will work together to share knowledge, best practices, and research insights to strengthen fire and life safety awareness across Saudi Arabia. The partnership includes plans to co-host conferences, develop certification programs, and launch training initiatives focused on raising safety standards. By empowering facilities management professionals with the latest tools and expertise, the collaboration aims to drive meaningful improvements in fire and life safety across the Kingdom. 'Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid development across sectors, from housing to hospitality, and from smart cities to iconic mega-projects, placing it firmly among the world's fastest-growing economies. With this scale and speed of growth, comes a heightened need for robust fire and life safety measures to ensure that progress is not compromised by preventable risks. Through our partnership with SFMA, we are proud to support this national momentum by bringing NFPA's nearly 130 years of expertise and a portfolio of more than 300 globally recognized codes and standards to assist in preventing loss,' said Olga Caledonia, director of International Business Development at NFPA. ' At SFMA, our mission is to elevate the professional capabilities of facilities managers throughout Saudi Arabia, in alignment with Vision 2030's goals of building safer, healthier, and more dynamic communities. This collaboration with NFPA will amplify our efforts by providing access to international best practices in fire and life safety, enriching training programs, and promoting knowledge exchange that will positively impact communities across the Kingdom, ' said, Aiyd A. Alqahtani, Board Chairman of SFMA. Additionally, SFMA members will benefit from access to a wide range of NFPA resources, including the NFPA Fire & Life Safety EcosystemTM, a framework that features extensive research and data on fires, including their economic impact. SFMA members will also have opportunities to participate in NFPA conferences and contribute to the development and review of relevant fire safety codes and standards. About the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) Founded in 1896, NFPA® is a global, self-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at About The Saudi Facilities Management Association (SFMA) The Saudi Facilities Management Association was established on June 30, 2020 as a non-profit organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The association aims to promote the concept of facilities management in Saudi Arabia as a key component in achieving Saudi Vision 2030. Through a comprehensive and integrated strategic plan, the association strives to achieve its objectives by building effective and sustainable partnerships across government, private, and non-profit sectors. The association focuses on developing national expertise in all aspects of facilities management while providing high-quality services to support and advance this vital sector. Contact: Ronak Thakkar – Associate Director - FleishmanHillard Mail:
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Smart Facility Management Is The Sustainability Strategy Leaders Overlook
Most corporate sustainability initiatives focus on product innovation or marketing campaigns. Yet some of the most impactful environmental gains come from an overlooked source: the very buildings where business happens. As climate concerns intensify and ESG reporting becomes mandatory in more jurisdictions, forward-thinking leaders are turning their attention to the foundations—quite literally—of their operations. 'Big data and environmental sustainability go hand in hand,' explains Michael Nichols, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Products and Solutions at R&K Solutions. 'With climate change and resource depletion becoming critical global issues, there's an urgent need for practical tools to monitor and manage our environmental impact.' Has sustainability always factored into facility management? Certainly, but primarily through the narrow lens of cost reduction. Today's approach leverages big data to transform buildings from passive assets into dynamic contributors to corporate environmental goals. Companies implementing data-driven facility management also see benefits ranging from enhanced operational resilience to strengthened stakeholder trust. Here's how leaders can leverage their physical infrastructure to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes. 1. Treat buildings as strategic assets, not cost centers. Before investing in flashy sustainability campaigns, examine the environmental impact of your current infrastructure. Buildings generate vast amounts of performance data that, when properly analyzed, reveal opportunities for significant efficiency improvements. Start by conducting a comprehensive energy audit and facility condition assessment to establish your baseline environmental footprint. Organizations often overlook the cumulative impact of seemingly minor infrastructure decisions. A report from the U.S. Department of Energy found that commercial buildings waste up to 30% of the energy they consume through inefficient operations. The first step toward improvement is understanding exactly how your facilities perform against industry benchmarks and identifying priority areas for intervention. 2. Use predictive analytics to prioritize high-impact improvements. Big data can track current performance and predict future outcomes. Sophisticated facility management systems now incorporate machine learning algorithms that can forecast equipment failures, simulate energy conservation scenarios, and quantify the potential environmental impact of different improvement strategies. The ability to model outcomes before implementation allows organizations to prioritize projects with the highest sustainability return on investment. For example, an analytics platform might reveal that upgrading the HVAC system in one location would reduce carbon emissions more significantly than installing solar panels at another, despite the latter being more visible as a sustainability initiative. 3. Align facility management with broader ESG reporting. As ESG reporting frameworks become more standardized and scrutinized, leaders need to ensure their sustainability initiatives produce measurable, verifiable results. Infrastructure improvements offer precisely this kind of concrete data point, particularly in the environmental dimension of ESG. Consider establishing a formal connection between your facility management team and sustainability officers. This collaboration ensures that infrastructure decisions support broader ESG goals and that the environmental benefits of facility improvements are properly captured in corporate sustainability reports. The reporting benefits extend beyond regulatory compliance. When infrastructure sustainability initiatives are properly documented, they provide compelling narratives for potential investors evaluating ESG performance and consumers increasingly making purchasing decisions based on corporate environmental responsibility. For multinational organizations, facility management data can help standardize sustainability practices across diverse regulatory environments. While sustainability requirements vary globally, a data-driven approach to infrastructure management creates consistent internal benchmarks that often exceed minimum compliance thresholds in any jurisdiction. 4. Embrace the Infrastructure-as-a-Service revolution. The emergence of 'smart building' technologies and Infrastructure-as-a-Service models is democratizing access to sophisticated facility management capabilities. These solutions enable organizations to implement advanced sustainability features without massive capital investments in proprietary systems. Cloud-based facility management platforms allow for continuous improvement rather than point-in-time upgrades. As sustainability standards evolve and technologies advance, these systems can adapt through regular software updates rather than unsustainable wholesale replacements. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors throughout facilities creates unprecedented visibility into resource consumption and environmental conditions. From water usage monitoring to occupancy-based lighting and climate control, these technologies automate efficiency in ways that were impossible even five years ago. These advancements particularly benefit organizations with aging infrastructure. Rather than replacing entire buildings, targeted technological upgrades can dramatically improve the sustainability profile of existing facilities. The key is identifying which improvements deliver the greatest environmental benefit relative to investment. It's easy to think that sustainability requires massive infrastructural overhauls or cutting-edge technologies. The reality is more nuanced: meaningful environmental improvements often come from better management of existing assets, informed by better data. By embracing this perspective, business leaders can transform their facilities from environmental liabilities into powerful drivers of their sustainability strategy and discover that what's good for the planet is also good for long-term business value.
