Facilities Services

Facilities Services Weekly

August 17, 2026

A man in a yellow safety vest holds papers and talks to a woman in a gray 'Facilities Services' t-shirt and clear glasses.

Announcements

Building Services

Operations

Maintenance

Comm & Info

Utilities

Construction

Safety Stand Down

Announcements

Football Training Dates Announced

Go ahead and mark your calendars to attend one session of football training if you work to support game days. Please note the location change from the FSC to the SU for the first shift sessions. Email [email protected] to sign up for the session of your choosing. 

Wednesday, August 26 Times/Locations 
0830 – SU 362A/B 
1000 – SU 362A/B 
1400 – SU 362A/B 
1700 – FSC 101/102 
2200 – FSC 101/102 

Thursday, August 27 Times/Locations 
1030 – SU 362A/B 
1400 – SU 362A/B 

FS Wellness Fair

Mark your calendars for our 2026 Facilities Services Wellness Fair on Thursday, August 20th from 11a to 2p in FSC 101/102. Vendors will be on site for personal training, spiritual wellness, information on MedSpa services and nutrition, and more! Come and go as your schedule allows. Questions? Reach out to [email protected].

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Building Services

  • No report received
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Operations

Moving & Event Services

  • No report received

Sustainability

What improved last week?

  • Grow Lab: Fall volunteer shifts were scheduled in GivePulse, and Federal Work-Study schedules were confirmed. 
  • Compost: Reorganized and cleaned the break room, prepared desk space for the new Compost Logistics Coordinator arriving August 18, and continued bin cleaning and maintenance ahead of the first week of classes. Delivered 12 cubic yards of garden compost to the Organic Crops Unit. Increased compost education and outreach at the Hort, Hops, & Crops field day reached 15 people. 
  • Recycling: Recovered and marketed approximately 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material, including a full tractor-trailer load of cardboard, along with significant paper and plastic diversion. Increased collection capacity and frequency are helping manage move-in volumes. 

What declined last week? 

  • Grow Lab: Weed control in the wood-chipped area and Pollinator Meadow declined. 
  • Compost: Rain required additional site maintenance to keep operations running smoothly. 
  • Recycling: Increased move-in cardboard volumes are creating additional pressure on collection capacity and contamination control. 

Where is attention needed this week? 

  • Grow Lab: Weed-eat the wood-chipped area and remove invasive species in the Pollinator Meadow. 
  • Compost: Onboard and train new team members, adjust routes for the return to campus, and continue cleaning/replacing bins and standardizing bin labels. 
  • Recycling: Prioritize move-in cardboard recovery, monitor temporary 30- and 40-yard containers, maintain clean cardboard separation, and prepare infrastructure for football season. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Finalizing Grow Lab student schedules and hiring/onboarding Federal Work-Study students. 
  • Welcoming the new Compost Logistics Coordinator and Academic Engagement Coordinator. 
  • Adjusting compost routes and operations for the academic-year schedule. 
  • Continuing preparation of recycling and waste containers and collection logistics for football season. 

Key metrics: 

  • 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material recovered and marketed. 
  • 20.01 tons of organic material diverted through composting: 
    • Food waste: 11.4 tons 
    • Animal waste: 5.03 tons 
    • Landscaping waste: 3.58 tons 
  • 12 cubic yards of garden compost delivered to the Organic Crops Unit. 
  • 15 people engaged through compost education at Hort, Hops, & Crops. 
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Maintenance & Repair

Housing

What was accomplished? 

  • We had a smooth move-in last week. We had some problems with the chiller at Rocky Top Dining this weekend.  

Athletics

What’s Improved?

  • PMs on DASH are getting cleared up as well as work orders.  
  • A new chiller is being installed at Allan Jones.  
  • New LED’S are being installed at Regal Soccer. 

What’s Declined?  

  • Nothing declined.

This Week’s Attention? 

  • Preparing the stadium for the Big Orange Flush! 
  • Preparing premium areas for events at Neyland. 
  • Daktronics and Volleyball are set up for exhibition games. 
  • Regal soccer season starts, preparing for games. 

What Changes Are Happening This Week? 

  •  No changes happening.

Dining

What’s Improved?

  • Disconnected multiple pieces of old equipment and hooked up new equipment in multiple locations as well as providing all necessary items for it to work properly like electrical and plumbing (natural gas, water supply, drainage).

What’s Declined?  

  • No noticeable decline observed.

This Week’s Attention? 

  •  More equipment is to come. Getting connections ready for that. Maintaining proper and efficient operation of the existing equipment hot and cold side. 

What Changes Are Happening This Week? 

  • No changes at this point.

Zone 4

  • No report received

Zone 5

  • No report received

Zone 6

What was accomplished? 

  • Last week we assisted with outages at the Student Union, worked with Volunteer Mechanical to address heat and condensation issues at UTPD, dealt with chiller issues at Mossman and tried to get common areas ready for students. 

What’s getting attention this week?

  • Catching up on older requests 
  • Still have multiple roof leaks waiting on approval for repair 
  • Hopefully getting a new building tech assigned to the team this week 

Zone 7

  • No report received

Zone 8

What improved last week? 

  • Preparations for the beginning of the fall semester and the return of our students.

What declined last week? 

  • Chill water loop for the AG campus has not been at the appropriate temperature, affecting all of our buildings on the loop. 

Where is attention needed this week? 

  • We continue to fight high temperatures and high humidity in many of our buildings.  We can only hope that Fall and the cooling that it will provide can come quickly! 

What changes are happening this week?

  • Organized chaos as we welcome thousands of students back to campus and many of them needing our assistance in many different areas!

Building HVAC

What improved last week? 

  • SERF AHU-4.  

What declined last week?

  • nothing

Where is attention needed this week?

  • SERF, Student Aquatics, Brenda Lawson, Arena, Stadium. 

What changes are happening this week?

  • Coil replacements, CHW coil repairs, split system installs, VRF system repairs, water leak repairs, and refrigerant system repairs.

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • SERF AHU-4, Claxton AHU-104, Arena AHU-3.

Building Electrical

What improved last week?

  • Serf new power feeds for labs and implementing a plan for Nielsen Physics Temp AC power. 

What declined last week?

  • Working on campus with standard pole lights that are out. 

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Completing Serf power drops and power for the new furnace. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Dividing teams so we can have extra tech working on newer work orders. 

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • Planning the power feeds for the Temp AC for Neilsen Physics. 

Building Plumbing

What improved last week?

  • Great teamwork and completion of jobs.  

What declined last week?

  • The team is actively working to fill open positions by prioritizing experienced candidates and critical senior-level roles. 

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Scheduling interviews with potential candidates.  

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Continued efforts to strengthen staffing levels. 

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • Repaired water outage at Dabney Buehler. 

Lock & Key Services 

What improved last week?

  • Completion of summer projects in Neyland, Key audits and rekeys in housing.  

What declined last week?

  • Nothing to report. 

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Continued support of housing with campus move in. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • No major changes happening this week.   
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Comm & Info

WOM & IT

What was implemented or improved last week? 

  • FSShare has successfully been archived and retired 

Calls for service last week: 

  • WOM processed 252 requests for service last week. 
  • FS IT processed 109 requests for service last week. 

What changes are happening or on-going this week? 

  • WOM and M&R have new elevator signs going out for all campus elevators over the next several weeks 
  • FS IT – Applications is working with Design, Space Management, and Capital Construction for Autodesk 

Training

What challenge can training help us solve? 

  • Are you planning your goals for the 4th quarter? What about for 2027? If you need help strategizing how to achieve the goals you’re establishing for your teams, please reach out to training so we can identify how we can assist in this process. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals!

What do employees need to know this week? 

  • Football training is in two weeks! Get your sign ups in if you are or might be working football this year.
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Utilities & Energy

A/C Utilities

  • What improved last week?
    • Replaced gear reducer in ANRB cooling tower.  
    • Repaired Magnolia/Dogwood cooling towers.  
    • SMC rebuilt a heating water pump. Plant Bio – repaired multiple leaks on chiller no. 3.  
    • KPB – cleaned condenser coils on both chillers.  
    • Mossman – replaced I/O board on chiller no. 1.  
    • Allan Jones – Installing rental chiller 
  • What declined last week?
    • South Student Union – IGBT board failure on no.1 chiller.  
    • TBA – heating water pump seal failure 
  • Where is attention needed this week?
    • Allan Jones – chiller installation.  
    • Campus chiller plants and cooling towers.  
    • TBA – heating water pumps 

Electrical – High Voltage Utilities

  • No report received

Plumbing Utilities

  • What improved last week? 
    • Improved team coordination and collaboration.  
  • What declined last week?
    • Nothing has declined. The team continues to work diligently to stay on top of work orders. Overall, teamwork remains strong, and collaboration has been excellent.
  • Where is attention needed this week?
    • Focus attention on upcoming repairs. 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Staying on top of work orders and completing jobs efficiently and promptly. 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • No.

Steam Plant

  • What improved last week?
    •  Continued work with contractors on new boiler installation. Addressed packing issue on DA tank drain valve. Cleaned / replace air filters on air compressor. Replaced regulator on DA overflow. Monthly inspection on fuel containments. Went through spill prevention with EHS  
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Will work on cleanup and improvement projects around the plant. Working on leak on HDPE piping. Working in vent line for fuel oil header. 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Working on any issues that arise and working with contractors on the new boiler.  
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • Repair on HDPE piping

Building Automation Systems

  • What improved last week?  
    • TBA Air Handlers lower Discharge Air Temps. 
    • A&A pneumatic leaks. 
  • What declined last week?  
    • Old Invensys systems. 
    • Mossman Labs Strobic SP low 
    • AMB AHU 11 high discharge temperature. 
    • Student Union P1’s AHUs 
  • Where is attention needed this week?  
    • Prep for students returning 
    • Prep for upcoming football season. 
    • Parking and Transportation’s office HVAC control repairs. 
  • What changes are happening this week?  
    • HPER pool temps. 
    • Repairing lighting control issues across campus 
    • Triage issues found during first week of classes 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • Chiller Plant troubleshooting across campus 
    • Stokely Residence Hall issues on 7th floor. 
    • Andy Holt Tower’s cooling issues 

Electrical Control and Fire Alarms

  • What improved last week?
    • Finishing up Fire alarm and sprinkler testing before classes start back
  • What declined last week? 
    • Batteries and smoke detector issues 
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Assisting contractors with fire alarm and sprinkler testing 
    • Continue working on leak detection at IAMM 
    • Traffic signal install at Volunteer and Pedestrian walkway 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • New Traffic signal cabinet 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed? 
    • Correcting Deficiencies at multiple buildings. 

Chemical Treatment

  • What improved last week?
    • Housing Closed Loop system health, equipment installs for TBA, SERF 
  • What declined last week? 
    • Not declined more than it already is, but Nursing loop is being opened to Claxton chilled loop 
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Chill water closed loops for TBA, Claxton, and SERF 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Ability to feed chemicals into buildings that need it. As well as extra makeup water capacity in Claxton loop to prevent “drying” out the system. JARTU cooling tower monitoring/feeding install 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed? 
    •  Claxton 
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In-house Construction

  • New projects received: 5
  • New estimate requests received:  3
  • Construction Projects of Note:
    • Tickle Engineering Building room 503 
      • Removing a wall, replacing lights, adding furniture for student study area 
    • Tickle Engineering Building room 526 
      • Renovating room to make 2 offices-add wall, door, replace lighting and add office furnishings  
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Safety

Safety at a Glance – July Review 

July’s Injury and Accident report 

Below is a summary of the on-the-job injuries and vehicle accidents reported during the month of July compared to the same period last year. As the data shows, the number of reported incidents has increased, with vehicle accidents seeing a significant rise. 

Type of Action July 2026 July 2025
Reported Injuries 9 6 
Reported Auto Accidents 6 2 
Reported General Liability 0 0 
Reported Near Misses 9 0 
Reported Safety Concerns 2 0 
Reported Safety Suggestions 1 0 

As we continue preparing campus for the return of students and the start of the fall semester, it is important that we do not let the increased workload compromise safety. Please take a few extra moments before driving to walk around your vehicle, check your surroundings, and ensure your intended path is clear of people, equipment, or other obstacles that may not have been there when you parked. 

Every injury and accident is preventable. By staying alert, avoiding distractions, and taking the time to perform a quick safety check before starting work or operating a vehicle, we can help protect ourselves, our coworkers, and the campus community. Let’s make safety our priority as we finish the busy summer season strong. 

What Improved last Week? 

  • A new ladder was installed on the pressure washing truck, providing safer and more secure access to the truck bed and reducing the risk of slips and falls. 
  • Hazardous waste collection at Steam Plant Hill has been successfully completed, improving housekeeping and reducing potential environmental and safety hazards. 
  • Utilities personnel enhanced their knowledge and skills in excavation and trench safety by attending specialized training, strengthening safe work practices and regulatory compliance in the field. 

What Declined last week? 

  • Driving Safety: The number of vehicle accidents increased this month, highlighting the need to refocus on safe driving practices. Before moving your vehicle, take a moment to walk around it, check your mirrors, and be aware of pedestrians, equipment, and other obstacles. Eliminating distractions and remaining attentive while driving can help prevent unnecessary accidents. 
  • Timely Incident Reporting: Please remember that all on-the-job injuries and vehicle accidents must be reported within 24 hours. Reporting requirements include notifying CorVel or the State, as applicable, and completing the Risk Management report in Origami. Prompt reporting ensures employees receive the appropriate care, allows investigations to begin while details are fresh, and helps us identify opportunities to prevent similar incidents in the future. 

Where is attention needed this week? 

  • Hazardous Materials Management: Ensure all hazardous waste, universal waste, chemicals, and compressed gas cylinders are properly stored, labeled, handled, and disposed of in accordance with university policies and regulatory requirements. 
  • Equipment Training: Employees who operate or may be required to operate an aerial lift or forklift must receive the appropriate training before use. If you or a member of your staff needs training, please contact Troy Soumeillan to schedule a session. 

What Changes are happening this week? 

Introducing the Facilities Services Near Miss Reporting System 

Have a near miss, safety concern, or safety suggestions? Let FS Safety know by scanning the QR code. 

A near miss is an unplanned event that could have resulted in an injury, illness, or property damage but did not. 

All reports are anonymous. Please provide a clear description of the issue and include the location (building and room number) so we can investigate and address it promptly. 

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. We know you’re busy, so we’ve made this reporting process quick and easy. Taking just a minute to help prevent the next incident.

FS Safety [email protected] 

865-974-9833 

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