16 Nov 2017

L2B Blog: Who are the biggest Facilities Management Companies in South Africa?

by | posted in: General | 4

 

Before we establish who the big facilities management companies are, Let’s recap of what facilities management is.

 

What is Facility Management?

• All services required for the management of buildings and real estate to maintain and increase their
value.
• The means of providing maintenance support, project management and user management during the
building life cycle.
• The integration of multi-disciplinary activities within the building environment and the management of
their impact on people and the workplace.

 

What is the role of a Facilities Manager you ask, their number one priority is keeping people alive and safe. They operate on two levels:

Help

 

1. Strategically-tactically: helping clients, customers and end-users understand the potential impact of their

decisions on the provision of space, services, cost and business risk

2. Operationally: ensuring corporate and cost-effective environment for the occupants to function

 

 

Let’s look at the BIG Facilities management companies within South Africa. When I was asked to write this Blog, I could only think of two and I thought they are the biggest and most popular, little did I know.

 

Sanitech

Who is Sanitech and What do they do you ask?

Sanitech was founded in the early 1980’s. They are the first portable toilet hire company in South Africa to supply sanitation facilities to areas where no sanitation infrastructure exists

Sanitech’s Toilet Hire division has over 20 branches nationwide and 2 branches in Africa (Zambia and Botswana) with the largest rental fleet in the country with over 25,000 units and 200 vehicles.

They Specialise in :
◦ Integrated Hygiene: this is a seamless solution catering for large industrial and mining companies up to small corporate offices
◦ Daily Cleaning: this their core business.
◦ Deep Cleaning: heavy duty cleaning utilising specialised chemicals that focus directly on removing built-up body fats, grease and grime.
◦ Specialised Cleaning: Sanitech has expanded their unique offering of Integrated Services with Specialised Cleaning Services.
◦ Washroom Products: supplies a comprehensive range of effective, durable and reliable hygiene products.
◦ Pest Control: removing a wide range of undesirable insects, rodents and other pests on a regular basis necessary to maintain good hygiene levels in the workplace.

Cleaning

 

Broll

Who is broll and what do they do – You probably thinking that Broll is a Property Management Company… well guess again,

Broll Facilities Management is dedicated to the coordination of and functionality of space thus letting you focus on your core business. In addition to Broll being property managers, they are also one of the many few Facilities management companies responsible for day-to-day operation and care of prestigious educational institutions and world-class sports stadia.

Broll offers a wide variety of services for companies in terms of Facilities management below are some examples:

 

Within the corporate environment

• Turnkey outsourced management
• Space planning and asset tracking
• Fleet management and courier services
• Risk management of the business-critical computer centre
• Hard and soft-service provider management

 

Within Schools

• Maintenance of boarding facilities and staff housing- Project management of expansions
• Coordination of all school events in association with the Occupational & Safety Act
• High-volume usage of all facilities
• Maintenance of all sporting facilities
• Conservation programmes for the upkeep of grounds and other key facilities
• Management coordinated around peak times
• Water-treatment plants and swimming pools

 

Within Sport facilities
• Action plans for event operations and emergency procedures
• Management and coordination of corporate hospitality
• Working with international sporting bodies regarding legislative requirements
• Working with the host broadcaster for audio and visual feeds
• Working with various security-service providers, particularly for international teams

 

Bidvest Facilities management

Bidvest Facilities management? Who are they? And Do they really do Facilities management you ask….. they will YES!!!!

 

Bidvest Facilities Management is one of the largest Facilities Management solutions companies in Southern Africa. They have a contact centre which operates 24/7/365. Bidvest offers End-End Services. Bidvest’ Facilities management solutions include Facilities Solutions, Engineering Maintenance, Property Management, and Professional Services.

 

Their Focused solutions include the following :

•Mobile Generators
24-hour servicing, maintenance, and refuelling support, even in remote areas
•Utilities Management
outsourced administration service with end-to-end financial management of large volume utilities billing queries.
•Mobile Maintenance
Basic electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and general building maintenance on a scheduled contract or a planned project basis by multi-skilled staff
•Training Academy
State-of-the-art technical training centre, MERSETA accredited, with various training initiatives offered to clients’ facilities staff as well as the wider public
•Telecommunications Services
Maintenance and servicing of telecommunications facilities including data centres, network buildings, telecommunications, masts and towers, and all network supporting infrastructure.
•Structure Integrity Inspections
Integrity Inspection services of structures that comply to statutory requirements, such as billboards, masts

 

Eris Property group just like Broll Property also offer the service of Facilities management and not just Property management.

Listed below are some of the services Eris Facilities Management Division offers:
• Technical services (Building structure interior and exterior)
• Business support services
• Soft services
They commit to excellence and allow them great control over the quality of service delivery, flexibility and the ability to maximize efficiencies to reduce costs

 

FFM

Ok, Ok before you ask who, what, where and how…is FFM??

FFM stands for Full Facilities Management. They are a self-funded Black-Owned & Managed Facilities Management Company. They provide Turnkey Facilities Management Solutions. They’re founded in a rural KwaZulu-Natal. They also provide a full and comprehensive Asset, Facilities and Property Management Services, ranging from Planning to Implementation.

Their services are aimed at the Government departments, Quasi-Government Institutions, Regulatory Bodies, Corporate and Private clients.

Their services include:

1. Building Management (Design, Adjacencies, Tenant Installations, Office Designs, Drywall partitioning, Glazing and Frosting, Painting)
3. Furniture Design, Supply and Rental
4. Security and Access Control Equipment specification, Configuration, Supply and Support
5. Project Management
6. Building Fabric Maintenance
7. Space Management
8. Office Automation Rental Services specification, Configuration, Supply & Support
9. Managing Building Services
The below diagram shows how FFM is different from all other Facility management companies, or as they would say, this makes FFM unique

 

Servest
Servest seems to be one of the well-known facilities management companies that I know of.. think about it, the hand dryer, the sanitary bin in ladies bathroom is all Servest.
Servest is one of South Africa’s Leading Integrated Facilities Management
Company. They are a multidisciplinary business positioned to coordinate all of your facilities-related services.

Servest offers a variety of different services:
Pest control
They provide effective solutions in the commercial and industrial markets.

Pest Control  ACME Pest Control

 

Servest treat and control all forms of structural pests including:
• Cockroaches
• Rodents
• Flies
• Ants
• Fleas
• Bedbugs
• Silverfish
• Mosquitoes
• Wasps
• Midges/fruit flies
• Termites

Other specialised services for pest control include:
• Rodent monitoring and control (avoiding infestation, damage and health risks)
• Insect monitoring and control
• Bed bug control (using unique, innovative and proven techniques)
• Insect identification services
• Independent pest control technical audits
• Compliance with South African legislation and international quality standards

 

Hygiene
Hygiene by Servest is found mainly in the Washroom – at malls, office parks.
The services provided include hospitals, some schools.

 

Chemical Deep Clean
The Ablutions are a big hot spot for bacteria build up and viruses. This is and probably will be the most unhygienic environment. They put us, our colleagues, and visitors at risk with this.
This explains why this is one of servest’s main focus.
Below are some of the services they offer under Hygeine:
• Urinal traps
• Long urinal drains and gulleys
• Underneath toilet rims
• Showers walls and drains
• Basin overflows, drains and piping
All equipment is used according to HACCP standards, this is to ensure that there is no cross between high-risk units (such as Toilets & urinals) and low risk unite (such as basins and showers)

 

Kitchen Solutions

Servest also offer specialised deep cleaning services for your kitchen, to simplify the process for effective results. Specialised deep cleaning services for your kitchen, to simplify the process for effective results.
These services include:
• The cleaning of extractor fans (this is what attracts a grease build-up on the canopies, filters and extractors that can become a serious fire hazard)
• Cleaning of stove areas (this is especially important as grease on floors means slippery conditions that can result in injuries)
• Cleaning of deep fryers and surrounding work surfaces (this is where grease and dirt build up. This is an ideal breeding ground for carrying diseases.
• Cleaning of wall plugs (areas, where dirt build-up, promotes increased cockroach activity)

 

Office Plants

Office plants also form part of the servest Facilities Management.
Not only will your office be clean, but it will also look beautiful.

 Office Plants  

 

 

 

 

Services offered:
• Beautifully designed natural and artificial plants
• Eye-catching designs and impressive indoor displays
• Scheduling service plans for all plants
• Specialised designs, installation and maintenance of atrium and special events

 

WateWater

Servest also offers water purification services. There are two types of systems they offer:

Manually Filled Systems:
The filtration of on-site tap water.

Inline Systems:
The filtration connected directly to a water supply where tap water is automatically filtered and available for use.

 

 

 

Below are different types of water purification they offer.

• Desktop water dispensers and purifiers
• Free standing water dispensers and purifiers
• Water fountains and industrial water fountains
• Mineral pots (portable desktop water purifiers)
• Reverse osmosis systems and under counter filtration systems
• Water treatment systems
• Replacement water filters
• They install it and you enjoy it
Servest also offer bottled water – (500ml) in cases of 24 bottles per case, or 18.9lt PC bottles.

A Quote on their website: “Quality water you can trust” – Servest

 

Compass Group

This is a first for me ..I have never heard of Compass Group – Probably been living under a rock…. EEEEK… So who is Compass and what do they do…

Compass group is owned 75% by Compass Group PLC and 25% by Thebe Investment Corporation.
Compass Group PLC is one of the largest food services and facilities company in the world, They operate in over 50 countries and providing their services to over 30 000 clients locations.
Thebe Investment Corporation is the oldest most established BEE organisation in South Africa.

Supercare is part of Compass group and deals with the facilities management.

 

HYGIENE SERVICES
They provide a range of specialised services, including maintenance and regular refilling of products so that hygiene facilities and operations are hassle-free and effective.

• Wall Mounted Soap Dispensers
• Toilet Hygiene Services
• Air Freshener Dispensers
• Hand Dryers
• Dust and Industrial Floor Mats

 

SPECIALISED CLEANING
This is a complicated and difficult cleaning processes such as deep cleaning or floor cleaning. There is nothing they cannot clean – from upholstery to ceilings to from escalators and high windows. There are no impossible jobs or hard to reach spaces.

 

Something to think about:

Does a clean office impact productivity?

 

 

Sources:

http://www.safma.co.za/About/About

http://www.safma.co.za/Business

http://www.fastmoving.co.za/retail-services/business-intelligence-115/bidvest-facilities-management-316

www.broll.co.za

http://compass-group.co.za/3-reasons-why-a-clean-office-is-important/

www.eris.co.za

www.fullfacilitiesmanagement.co.za

https://www.servest.co.za/services/water/ 

 

Image sources:

Cat

Cleaner

Question Mark

Water

Office Plant Tree

Pest spray

Acme

Helping Hand

 

About Audene Harris

I started working at Leads 2 Business in August 2014 in the Telesales Department as an Accounts Co-coordinator. I am extremely privileged to be apart of a dynamic Sales team and an empowering Company. I am a very out-going person with many characteristics, and love to help when a client needs any assistance.

17 Jul 2017

Did you Know #DYK: Types of Air Conditioning systems: Window, split, packaged and central

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Types of Air Conditioning systems: Window, split, packaged and central

Types of Air Conditioning systems: Window, split, packaged and central
Before we get into the different types of air-conditioning, let’s establish what Air-conditioning is.

An air-conditioning system or also known as a standalone air conditioner provides cooling and humidity control for all parts of a building. Air conditioned buildings often have sealed windows, if windows are left open this would work against the systems which are intended to maintain constant indoor air conditions. The fresh air from outside generally draws into the system by a vent into the indoor heat exchanger section, creating positive air pressure.

 

Different types of Air- conditioning systems

1. Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners

A Ductless, mini split-system air-conditioner has numerous potential applications in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The most common one of all the applications is the multifamily housing, or as a retrofit add-on to house “non-ducted” heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water), radiant panels and space heaters. They are also a good choice for room additions and small apartments, where extending or installing distribution ductwork (central air-conditioner or heating system) is not feasible.

 

What are the Advantages

The main advantages of the mini splits are that they are small in size and have flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Most models can have up to four indoor air handling units (four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. This number depends on how much heating and cooling is required for the building or each zone (this depends on how well the building is insulated). Each zone then has its own thermostat, so that means that you would only need to condition that particular space when it is conditioned. Which therefore means – SAVING ENERGY = SAVING MONEY
These units are easy to install, they hook up to the outdoor and indoor units, this generally requires a three inch (± 8cm) hole through a wall of the conduit. Most manufacturers of this type of system can provide a variety of lengths of connecting conduits. Therefore you can locate the outdoor unit as far away as 50 feet (± 15meters) from the indoor evaporator. This makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of a building or house with the compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous place on the outside of the building.

 

What are the Disadvantages:

The primary disadvantage of a mini split is their cost – some systems cost between R19,500 – R 20,000. This is about 30% more than central systems (excluding ductwork) and may cost twice as much as window units of similar capacity.
The installer then needs to also correctly size each indoor unit and judge the best location for its installation. Over-sized or incorrectly located air-handlers often result in short-cycling, which wastes energy and does not provide proper temperature or humidity control. Too large a system is also expensive to buy or operate.

 

2. The split air-conditioner

The split air conditioning has at least one unit that sits inside your room. The compressor sits outside of the room – sometimes on the ground or on a bracket that hangs on the wall. Most models come with multiple indoor units, where you use one single compressor, this is known as the multi-split air conditioning system.

A split air conditioner consists of two main parts: The outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

The outdoor unit is installed on or near a wall outside of the room or space you wish to cool. The unit houses the compressor, condenser coil and the expansion coil or the capillary tube. This sleek-looking indoor unit contains the cooling coil, a long blower and an air filter.

 

 

3. Central air-conditioner

The central air-conditioner is a method of structural cooling in which a centralised unit cools and dehumidifies air before circulating it throughout the building. This is known as a direct contrast with systems that rely on individual units in rooms or suites of rooms. Central air is also bundled with a heating system. They both rely on similar amounts of electrical power and ductwork to distribute cooled or heated air. This type of air-conditioning is usually found in large structures or in homes that are in extremely hot or humid climates.
In the central air, the main unit is often located outdoors or in an isolated area of the building because a great deal of noise is generated during the refrigeration cycles that cool the air and help to extract humidity. Each unit connects to the ductwork that runs throughout the building with blowers pushing cold air out of the ducts to cool down rooms. This air conditioner also vents to the outdoors to get rid of excess heat and moisture.

 

 

4. Window AC

Unlike the Central Air, the Window AC units cool specific spaces or rooms at a time. They are more energy efficient as they don’t run throughout the house constantly, and you can focus on the areas that need to be cooled instead of cooling your whole home.
The window air unit is installed in an open window. Interior air is cooled as a fan blows it over the evaporator. On the exterior, the heat drawn from the interior is dissipated into the environment as a second fan blows outside air over the condenser. Large house or buildings could have several such units, requiring each room to be cooled separately.
A window air conditioner is also referred to as a room air conditioner. This is the simplest form of an air conditioning system that is mounted on the windows or walls.

 

Difference between a Split and Window AC

Window AC and Split AC,both work on the same principal, but they have different capacities. Both are used for different places.
A split AC, divided into two parts, thus has a large capacity, therefore making it ideal for large offices and big rooms. When looking at the window AC this is one unit, this is suitable for a small room only. Window AC creates noise and the split unit is calmer. The Window AC is smaller that the Split AC.
The Window AC is easy to install whereas the Split AC needs to be connected to the exterior and interior unit through rubber tubes and this also may cause trouble.
If you are wanting to install a window AC, a window is required, but should you want to install a split AC, the interior would need to be connected to a small hole in the wall.
When relocating the Window AC is a good choice as it does not need to be installed by a professional.

 

In conclusion, both units work on the same principles, the split AC is ideal for large space, as they have more capacity and Window AC is an ideal choice for a small room. Additionally, a split AC would need to be installed by a professional and a window AC can be installed by you and me.

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About Audene Harris

I started working at Leads 2 Business in August 2014 in the Telesales Department as an Accounts Co-coordinator. I am extremely privileged to be apart of a dynamic Sales team and an empowering Company. I am a very out-going person with many characteristics, and love to help when a client needs any assistance.