Yes. When smoke or fire-related contamination reaches a commercial HVAC system, components or ductwork may require professional evaluation and cleaning before the system returns to normal service. Because HVAC systems connect multiple areas of a facility, the concern can extend beyond the room where the fire occurred. For an engineering or facilities team, the key issue is not simply whether smoke is … [Read more...]
Can Smoke Damage a Commercial HVAC System?
What to Do After a Fire in a Commercial Building: A Facility Manager’s Guide
After a commercial building fire, the facility team's first responsibility is to follow emergency authorities' direction and keep people away from areas that have not been cleared for access. Once appropriate access is established, the focus shifts to securing the property, understanding the extent of damage, protecting critical assets, establishing operational priorities and developing a coordinated recovery … [Read more...]
Fire Sprinkler Water Damage: What Facility Managers Should Know
Fire sprinklers and firefighting operations play a critical life-safety role during a fire. After the incident, however, the water used to control the fire can become a second property-recovery challenge. Facility managers may need to address water affecting ceilings, walls, floors, contents and building systems, even in areas with little or no direct flame damage. That means commercial fire recovery often … [Read more...]
Fire Damage Goes Beyond the Burn Area: What Facility Managers Need to Know
The area visibly burned during a commercial fire does not necessarily define the full scope of the loss. Smoke and soot can reach adjoining spaces, firefighting and sprinkler water can affect building materials and contents, and interconnected building systems may require evaluation before normal operations resume. For facility managers, the important question is therefore not simply “What … [Read more...]
Commercial Fire Recovery Plan: What Facility Managers Should Have in Place Before a Fire
Most commercial facilities have procedures designed to protect people during a fire. Far fewer have a detailed plan for what happens to the building and the operation once the immediate emergency is under control. A commercial fire recovery plan establishes the contacts, authority, property information, operational priorities and recovery procedures your organization will need after a fire. It complements, not … [Read more...]
How to Prepare a Commercial Facility for Freezing Temperatures
Commercial building winter preparedness works best when it starts well before freezing temperatures show up in the forecast. Most winter-related property losses do not begin with the freeze itself. They begin with conditions that were already there: an uninsulated line above a loading dock, a roof drain packed with debris, a vacant suite with the heat turned down, or an after-hours call tree no one has … [Read more...]
California El Niño State of Emergency 2026: How to Prepare Your Property | BMS CAT
California El Niño State of Emergency 2026: How to Prepare Your Property Quick Answer On September 21, 2026, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency ahead of what forecasters expect to be a historic El Niño season, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event and a 75% chance it becomes the strongest on record. The declaration mobilizes state resources like flood-fighting supplies, … [Read more...]
Hurricane Preparedness for Facility Teams | BMS CAT
Fort Worth, Texas — August 05, 2026 How Facility Teams Can Prepare Before the Next Hurricane Hurricanes do not just test buildings. They also test the plans, people and processes responsible for protecting them. For facility teams, effective hurricane preparedness begins well before a storm forms or appears in the forecast. Waiting until watches and warnings are issued can leave teams with limited time to … [Read more...]
Hurricane Communication: The Importance of Staying Informed and Connected
From 1990 to 2018, 9,426 recorded natural disasters affected over 5.89 billion people, killing an additional 1.65 million.[1] When facing inclement weather, the necessity of staying informed and connected comes to the forefront. To stay safe during a hurricane people should be able to quickly and consistently answer these questions: How to stay safe during a hurricane? Where do you go during a hurricane? … [Read more...]
A Guide to Natural Disaster Aftermath: Cleanup to Restoration
A Comprehensive Guide to Natural Disaster Cleanup and Recovery Natural disasters can strike anywhere, anytime, leaving devastation in their wake. The aftermath of such events can be overwhelming, with communities facing the monumental task of cleaning up and rebuilding. This disaster recovery guide aims to provide an exhaustive overview of natural disaster cleanup and recovery, stressing the importance of … [Read more...]
Strengthening Communities: Collaborative Disaster Cleanup
Collaborative Efforts In Disaster Cleanup: How Communities Can Work Together In the face of disaster, the unity of communities proves crucial for prompt and efficient recovery. This article explores key aspects of disaster cleanup, focusing on the collaboration between trained emergency response teams, community involvement, the use of technology for aid coordination, and the implementation of local resilience … [Read more...]
Commercial Fire Damage Restoration: Essential Solutions
Commercial Fire Damage Restoration: Essential Solutions In the wake of a commercial fire, businesses face immense challenges in restoring their operations and assets. As a trusted fire restoration company, BMS CAT understands the urgency and complexity of commercial fire damage recovery. Our comprehensive commercial fire damage restoration services are designed to provide tailored solutions and expedite the … [Read more...]