Facilities Management
Plant Management Section is responsible for maintaining and repairing the physical facilities and mechanical systems in a cost-effective manner. Part of this is accomplished through regular inspection of each building for general maintenance issues. This division consists of 44 union and non-union employees who are assigned to service more than 20 buildings totaling 3 million square feet. Each facility has a building manager assigned. Please click here to view contact list.
Maintenance Engineering and Utility Services
- Cooling Systems
- Heating Systems
- Utility Services
- Oversee the 20-year capital plan
The Building Maintenance staffs are highly skilled groups, whose goal is to work toward optimum building environmental performance with an emphasis on occupant and energy efficiency. The team works in co-operation with building occupants, management, and engineering. Our aim is to upgrade building documentation and to survey, diagnose, and address building comfort deficiencies within the facilities budget and existing mechanical design parameters. The result is a proactive rather than a reactive environment, optimizing equipment performance, life, and energy reduction.
Energy Management
Energy management is a very important part of Facilities Management's day-to-day responsibilities. Our Plant Management division monitors energy usage utilizing state-of-the-art energy monitoring programs to assess equipment malfunctions and identify potential energy conservation measures. We are responsible for procuring and providing utilities such as natural gas, electricity, water and sewage to County buildings. Part of this includes identifying and implementing energy conservation projects.
- Utility Procurement, Production, Billing and Management
We are currently participating in the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) natural gas program.
- Energy and Water Conservation
This is accomplished by monitoring energy and water consumption and costs, and promoting energy and water conservation through various programs and projects.
- If it is necessary to schedule a utility outage, the Building Manager of that building will provide the tenants with sufficient notice.
We evaluate and implement improvements to provide more cost-effective and energy-efficient building systems. In addition, we use innovation and technology to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity, chilled water, steam, water, compressed air, emergency power and elevators.
As you can see, HCFD is dedicated to conserving energy and providing more efficient building systems. But we cannot do it alone. Individual awareness and action go a long way toward reducing energy cost in County buildings. For example, you can winterize the doors and windows in your home, but if your teenager forgets to close the door behind him, your efforts to defray heating costs will be defeated.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
The HVAC Shop is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all building heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. This work unit provides estimation, maintenance, installation and repairs to mechanical systems, steam, hot water and gas-fired heating, evaporative, DX, and chilled water cooling; refrigeration systems such as walk-in freezers/coolers, ultra-low temperature freezers, display cases, refrigerators, ice machines, etc.
Heating and Ventilation
We perform routine, emergency repairs and preventive maintenance on all equipment and systems, including the Central Heating Plant's high-pressure steam and high-temperature hot water systems. These include steam, hot water, warm air, and electrical systems for large buildings as well as controls and equipment for offices and rooms.
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
We perform routine, emergency repairs and maintenance on air conditioning systems for computer rooms, PBX equipment and buildings; walk-in coolers and freezers; refrigerated water coolers and air dryers; ice machines; dehumidifiers and humidifiers; heat pumps; chilled water piping and coils; cooling towers; and equipment.
Routine Work
Air balancing, air conditioning, drinking fountains, ice machines, heating & cooling systems, refrigeration equipment, temperature adjustment, walk-in coolers, control temperatures, repair/replace existing temperature control equipment, adjust air flow to particular areas, establish/check for proper fresh air mix, modify scheduled run times for air conditioning, verify flow on building and laboratory exhaust systems, restore control to remodeled or modified spaces, install new controls in remodeled spaces, and rebalance remodeled air supply, control air flows, repair and replace air handlers, exhaust fans, and hoods, insulate pipes and make insulation repairs, repair and maintain building heating and air conditioning systems, repair exhaust fans and fume hoods, fabricate ducts, vents, flashings, and welding from sheet metal, and maintain compressors and vacuum pumps integral to the building system, maintain and repair evaporative coolers and air conditioning equipment, replace air conditioning filters in auxiliary buildings, fabricate special metal work, repair constant temperature rooms, freeze dryers, and centrifuges (if used for research), repair ice machines, refrigerators, and special refrigeration equipment, perform custom welding, control temperatures, repair/replace existing temperature control equipment, adjust air flow to particular areas, establish/check for proper fresh air mix, modify scheduled run times for air conditioning, and verify flow on building exhaust systems.
Integrated Pest Management Program
Integrated Pest Management is a concerted effort to control targeted nuisance pests, or pests that pose a threat to health and safety. I.P.M. includes all control options possible; to create treatments designed to be both effective and environmentally responsible. Long term control options may first include manual and mechanical construction designs, landscaping designs, sanitation practices, habitat removal, moisture control, and environmental changes that may make it difficult or impossible for pests to thrive. These control measures may be followed by treatment methods involving inspections and monitoring, electronic traps, mechanical traps, baits, insect growth regulators, bio-rational insecticides and when necessary, the judicious use of pesticides to control targeted pests within the necessary zone of control.
Both contractor and county employee pesticide applicators are licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Pesticide Regulations, and are required to attend on-going training to maintain their license. These training sessions continue to educate and train technicians to understand the habits and biology of pests in order to approach any pest problem with the best pest management solutions. The goal is to design treatments that control targeted pests while being environmentally considerate.
This program is under the oversight of Anthony Matre, Assistant Director, and is administered by both the Senior Building Managers and Building Managers responsible for the facility under there management. All pest problems are to be reported thru the ARCHIBUS Work Request System for proper follow-up.