Announcements
Important Project Request Info
Our In-House Construction and Project Administration teams can no longer guarantee that any additional projects requested for campus can be completed before the start of fall semester. Please keep this in mind when communicating with customers.
Training has a new number!
Our Training Team now has a dedicated RingCentral phone number to make it easier to get the help you need, when you need it. If you have a question or need support, just call 865-974-9666.
We’re available 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. When you call, whichever Training Team member is available will answer, so you can get a quicker response without tracking down a specific person.
SAVE THE DATE: FS Summer Picnic July 15th at ANRB
Mark your calendars for the Facilities Services Summer Picnic on July 15th at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Building (ANRB) on the ag campus. This is the same location as last year with a very similar structure. We’ll have a BBQ lunch with games on the plaza. An official announcement with more details will go out this week.
REMINDER: Central Supply Warehouse Closed for Inventory 6/29-6/30
The Central Supply Warehouse will be closed for year-end inventory on Monday, June 29, and Tuesday, June 30, 2026. This will make it necessary for you to estimate as closely as possible the items you will need from the warehouse during this period. These items will need to be ordered early enough to be picked up by 4:00 PM on Friday, June 26, 2026.
During these two days, any needs for warehouse stock items that cannot wait until Wednesday, July 1, 2026 will have to be handled via purchase orders (POs). If any POs need to be placed prior to the conclusion of our physical inventory please let me know, and I will see to it that they get handled promptly.
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
Building Services
What improved last week?
- Deep cleaning efforts were completed across multiple academic and administrative buildings, including detail cleaning of labs, classrooms, offices, and restrooms.
- Several carpet cleaning projects addressed stains, water damage, and high-traffic areas, improving the appearance and condition of building interiors.
- Floor maintenance was a major focus, with sealing, scrubbing, sweeping, and ride-on scrubber operations completed in multiple facilities to preserve flooring and improve cleanliness.
- Response to unexpected needs remained strong, including flood cleanup support and water extraction.
What declined last week?
- No significant declines or service issues were noted in the reported work. The presence of flood cleanup and water extraction indicates reactive work occurred, but crews responded and completed the necessary tasks.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Continue monitoring buildings affected by recent water intrusion to ensure floors and carpets are fully dry and no additional remediation is needed.
- Maintain focus on high-traffic flooring and carpeted areas that require periodic deep cleaning to extend the life of building finishes.
- Follow up on areas that received protective floor coatings to ensure proper curing and continued performance.
What changes are happening this week?
- Preventive and restorative floor care continues to be a priority across campus, with crews emphasizing carpet extraction, floor scrubbing, and surface protection.
- Custodial resources remain flexible to support both scheduled deep-cleaning projects and unplanned facility needs, such as flood response and specialty cleaning requests.
Operations
Moving & Event Services
- No report received
Sustainability
- No report received.
Maintenance & Repair
Housing
What was accomplished?
- Identified and addressed widespread issues with rooftop air handling units during routine inspections.
Why did it matter?
- Helped ensure HVAC systems continued operating reliably, reducing the risk of comfort issues and equipment failures across campus.
Who benefited?
- Building occupants, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors who rely on properly functioning climate control systems.
How did it happen?
- Inspection staff proactively identified malfunctioning rooftop air handlers and coordinated with the A/C team to complete the necessary repairs.
Athletics
What’s Improved?
- At Volleyball the hvac worked well despite having camps.
- At Neyland most filters got changed and units were PM’ed.
- At Boathouse all the units were serviced and pm’ed.
- At Football facility all units had filter change and pm’ed
What’s Declined?
- Issues with hot water for Neyland Thompson but quickly resolved.
- Issues with A/C in arena dining but it was quickly resolved
This Week’s Attention?
- Tring to finish filters and pm’s in the rest of the zone.
- Work on work orders throughout the zone, along with pm’s
What Changes Are Happening This Week?
- No changes happening.
Dining
What’s Improved?
- At RTD – repaired oven, hot well, exhaust hood lights, waffle station cooler, gas stove in True Balance, ice machine, hot box, LXE dish machine, 2-nd floor bakery oven, tray return in dish room 3, 3-bay sink, and ice cream machine.
- At Stokely – PM on steamers, treated floor drains, replaced wall outlets, hood lights, installed new compressor on pizza cooler.
- At Arena – replaced hood lights, replaced closure on freezer door.
- At Student Union – Replaced walk-in freezer drain, heat tape and insulation, repaired water leak, repaired ice maker in Big Orange Grill.
- At Hodges – repaired open-air cooler, treated drains.
- At Vol. Hall – installed new water heater.
What’s Declined?
- No noticeable decline observed.
This Week’s Attention?
- Making sure all equipment is up and running, addressing customers’ requests and needs.
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?
Completed
- Sealed leaking walls at Hoskins Library.
- Eliminated steam leaks at Hoskins Library.
- Mitigated water intrusion from active roof leaks through water extraction and temporary containment measures.
- Used clerical support to assist with DASH-related administrative tasks, allowing maintenance staff to focus on field work.
Why did it matter?
Impact
- Stopped ongoing steam-related issues at a major campus facility.
- Reduced the risk of additional water damage while permanent roof repairs await approval.
- Improved operational efficiency by keeping skilled maintenance staff focused on maintenance work rather than computer-based tasks.
Who benefited?
Campus Impact
- Students, faculty, staff, and visitors using Hoskins Library.
- Occupants of buildings affected by roof leaks.
- Maintenance teams, who gained more time for hands-on repair work.
How did it happen?
Execution
- Maintenance staff sealed leaking walls and coordinated efforts to resolve steam leaks at Hoskins Library.
- Teams continued monitoring roof leaks and performing temporary mitigation measures, including placing additional buckets and extracting water.
- Clerical staff provided DASH support so maintenance personnel could remain focused on completing maintenance tasks in the field.
Zone 7
- No report received
Zone 8
What improved last week?
- Our chilled water loop from Plant Biotech got cooler with our heavy equipment AC guys keeping our chillers running at a cooler temperature.
What declined last week?
- The JRTU HVAC project suffered another setback with the new chillers failing to the point where a temporary chiller was brought in for the next couple of months while the new chillers are repaired.
Where is attention needed this week?
- We will be fighting higher temperatures this week along with our energy conservation schedule to keep much of our occupied space comfortable.
What changes are happening this week?
- We will begin working with some new temporary employees to better keep track of our DASH workorders and make sure that all routing and billing is taken care of properly.
Building HVAC
What improved last week?
- SERF AHU-4.
What declined last week?
- A broad range of areas experienced declines.
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?
- Started Serf new power feeds for labs and implementing a plan for Neilsen Physics Temp AC power.
What declined last week?
- 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 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?
- We were able to complete many critical outages.
What declined last week?
- Limited staffing.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Completing and verifying work orders by June 30th.
What changes are happening this week?
- Completing work orders over summer break.
Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Completed water leak outage at Student Union.
Lock & Key Services
What improved last week?
- Increased focus on preventative maintenance with the integration of second shift, allowing us to focus on two buildings Haslam and SERF.
What declined last week?
- Decline in work orders to 46 from 58 the previous week. This is due to the nature of the type of work that we are doing with some of our work orders being more labor intensive.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Follow up with housing on Torch Bearer building, ensure that contractors have retained tail pieces to install new cores. Check in with Dorma Kaba to ensure key blank orders are still on time with ETA of 7/17 to support move in for fall.
What changes are happening this week?
- Manufacturer pinned cores to support new buildings. This will allow us to fix the labor cost when bringing on new buildings and limit the need for Over Time on these projects. Additionally, this will allow the project to pay for the labor to pin the lock cores as it is quoted into the cost of the product.
Comm & Info
WOM & IT
What was implemented or improved last week?
- WOM is working with Building Services and UTPD to update biohazard documentation, locations for spill kits, and contact lists.
- WOM is working with UTPD and Construction are coordinate bi-annual security camera cleaning across campus.
- FS IT & Communications are training and implementing new capabilities for data sharing, collating, reporting, and distributing across all of Facilities Services. (iPaas)
Calls for service last week:
- WOM processed 210 requests for service last week.
- FS IT processed 148 requests for service last week.
What changes are happening or on-going this week?
- T-Storage migration to OneDrive continues for individual shops and teams. If you have questions about your files in T-Storage or would like to know more about the pending move of your data call FS IT or submit a ticket.
- FS IT is updating and consolidating software licensing and contracts for IT equipment and software for FS. If you have unique software/hardware licensing or contract that requires regular renewal or updates and believe that FS IT has not been made aware, please send an email to [email protected] or submit a ticket.
- FS IT is completing our annual inventory for IT equipment that is warehoused in FSC 122.
Training
What did we learn last week?
- AI Training was conducted for the department and participants have really great questions. They will have the opportunity to revisit this specific curriculum and other AI and technology-related during our upcoming Tech Week held in FSC 101 the week of July 20!
What challenge can training help us solve?
- You can work with us to provide training for you and your teams on strategic planning, CliftonStrengths, unit-specific onboarding criteria, customer service training tailored to your area, and more. We can also coordinate the logistics for bringing in technical, job-specific training if you need assistance.
What do employees need to know this week?
- We are offering Narcan Training on July 15 and 16. Sessions are filling up quickly. 7/15 @ 8:30 (2 seats remaining); 7/15 @ 10:00, and 7/16 @ 1:30.
- Training also now has a RingCentral number. If you would prefer to call us in training instead of sending an email, you can reach us at 4-9666. We will answer the phone from 7a – 7p.
What best practice should we share across teams?
- When you’re working with teams in other units on work orders, don’t forget to communicate with them when you make updates to existing work orders or create new work orders. Clear communication can prevent confusion about who is doing what and whether a specific task has been accomplished. If you need help with this, we can develop a coaching curriculum for you!
Utilities Services
A/C Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Music – chiller installation progressing. Conf. Center – chiller installation progressing. Hesler –SERF – Replace 1400 - amp breaker in chiller no. 2. Completed chiller repairs at Haslam Building
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Baseball – installing AC system for weight room. Arena – Magnetic strainers installation. Student Health – repairing chillers. Police – repairing chillers.
Electrical – High Voltage Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Repaired outages on pole lights.
- What declined last week?
- Pole light outages.
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Call in 1-800 for McCord & Middle Drive.
- What changes are happening this week?
- Repairing campus standards at Fraternity Park.
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Middle Drive pole outages.
Plumbing Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Everyone worked well together toward the common goal of completing steam maintenance on the vaults. Overall, a great week for everyone.
- What declined last week?
- Nothing has declined. Everyone worked hard and worked as a team, and we got it done.
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Continuing focus on steam maintenance. 6″ valve at the steam plant and get the steam back on campus.
- What changes are happening this week?
- Continue working on Steam tasks, staying hydrated, and preparing for the upcoming week.
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Replacement of one of the restroom trailer toilets that was broken during its recent deployment. Investigated potential leaks at the auxiliary building several times throughout the week. Finished cleaning up at Hess Hall. Investigated high water usage at Min Kao. Checked on the 4th floor restroom at Hodges Library.
Steam Plant
- What improved last week?
- Continued work with contractors on new boiler installation. Worked on steam outage list. Brought plant back online after outage.
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Will work on cleanup and improvement projects around the plant.
- 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?
- Pressure tested Boiler #5 to find tube leak.
- Isolated DA tank #2 for door repair.
Building Automation Systems
- What improved last week?
- TBA Discharge air temps lowered.
- Graphics alterations and programming issues at Carousel Theater.
- New Programming for Facilities Services BAS.
- What declined last week?
- Old Invensys systems.
- Pheonix control valves at Plant Bio.
- Heating water systems across campus
- Mossman Labs
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Monitor heating water systems across campus
- Closing work orders from previous FY
- What changes are happening this week?
- Hesler Phoenix valve issues are being addressed
- Mossman Lab heating issues
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Adjusted Outside air dampers to reduce Co2 during events at TBA.
- Heating water systems
- Vivarium heating post steam outage
Electrical Control and Fire Alarms
- What improved last week?
- Completing Deficiencies to get fire panels up to code
- What declined last week?
- Several batteries in fire panels
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Assisting contractors with fire alarms and sprinkler testing
- Continue working on leak detection at IAMM
- What changes are happening this week?
- Normal repairs and disables
- 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
In-house Construction
- New projects received: 5
- New estimate requests received: 4
- Construction Projects of Note:
- College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies
- Finish new offices and room assignments on the first floor of the Claxton Education Building
- Lab renovations for Anthropology
- Strong Hall rooms 421H and L includes lab tables, enclosed shelving/cabinets, electric for muffle furnace and DI water faucets
- College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies
Safety Stand Down
Where is attention needed this week?
The Heat!!! The National Weather services has issued an excessive heat advisory from June 29- July 3. Highs are expected to rise well into the 90s beginning June 29, according to the NWS Morristown office. Some area temperatures might approach 100 degrees by mid-week.
Today’s forecast for June 29:
High: 95 degrees (will feel like 108 degrees)
Excessive Heat Advisory: Stay Alert, Stay Safe
With high temperatures and excessive heat advisories in effect, heat-related illnesses can develop quickly. Taking a few extra precautions can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safe on the job.
Acclimatize to the Heat
Workers need time to adjust to working in high temperatures, especially new employees or anyone returning after a week or more away.
- Limit work to 20% of normal heat exposure on Day 1.
- Increase exposure by no more than 20% each day until fully acclimated.
- Closely monitor new or returning employees and pair them with experienced workers whenever possible.
Hydrate Early and Often
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty—by then, dehydration may have already started.
- Drink 4–6 ounces of water every 15–20 minutes.
- Keep cool drinking water readily available near work areas.
- Avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages.
- After long shifts, replenish with electrolyte drinks and nutritious meals.
Plan the Workday Around the Heat
Reduce heat exposure by making smart scheduling decisions.
- Schedule strenuous work during the cooler morning or evening hours when possible.
- Rotate physically demanding tasks among team members.
- Take breaks in air-conditioned or shaded cooling areas.
- Improve airflow with fans or ventilation wherever feasible.
Know the Signs—Look Out for Each Other
Heat illness can escalate rapidly, making early recognition critical.
- Use the buddy system to watch for signs of heat stress.
- Know the symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
- Call 911 immediately if someone becomes confused, has slurred speech, loses consciousness, or shows other signs of heat stroke. Begin cooling the person right away while waiting for emergency responders.
Safety Reminder: Working safely in extreme heat requires planning, hydration, and teamwork. Stay aware of changing conditions, take frequent water breaks, and don’t ignore the early signs of heat-related illness. A few preventive steps can make all the difference.
FS Safety [email protected]
865-974-9833