Key Operational Challenges for FM
Extreme heat creates multidimensional operational risks for FM, spanning IAQ, materials selection, occupant well-being and business continuity.
Maintaining safe indoor conditions and air quality
Heat waves and urban heat islands can raise indoor operative temperatures by 3–6°C (37–43°F), tripling cooling energy demand in many buildings.17,18
Higher temperatures and humidity increase emissions from materials and indoor sources, and alter infiltration of outdoor ozone, particles and VOCs, complicating ventilation strategies.19 Wildfires, sand/dust storms and pollution episodes can make indoor pollutant levels equal to or higher than outdoors when windows are closed or HVAC is undersized.20–22
This presents several operational challenges for FMs, including balancing cooling needs, filtration, airtightness and window use under changing outdoor conditions and power/grid constraints.20,22,23
Material and system performance under heat
Elevated temperatures and extreme events strain HVAC systems sized for historical climates, reducing cooling capacity and resilience during peaks or outages.20,22,23
Climate adaptation measures (e.g., phase change materials [PCMs], tighter envelopes, new materials) can improve thermal resilience but may interact with IAQ (e.g., reduced ventilation, new emission profiles) if not managed.19,22,24
Occupant well-being, productivity and equity
Indoor overheating increases heat stress, may exacerbate acute and chronic disease, and is associated with heat-related all-cause mortality, especially among elderly, low-income and socially isolated populations.25–28
Each degree rise above comfortable levels can reduce cognitive performance and work output; office and remote work productivity drops of 2–3 percent per 1°C have been reported.25,29
Schools and universities in hot climates frequently exceed comfort and noise limits, with natural ventilation used to combat overheating contributing to elevated noise levels, impairing learning and student satisfaction.30–32
Business continuity and risk management
Extreme heat combined with stresses on electricity grids and power outages undermine a building’s ability to maintain “hours of safety,” threatening continuity of operations in critical facilities.22,23
Increased peak cooling loads, equipment derating and indoor heat-related health incidents all translate into financial losses, absenteeism and liability.25,27–29
