Problems We Solve in Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings today are under increasing pressure to perform. Tenant expectations are higher, energy costs continue to rise, ESG reporting is becoming more important, and NABERS ratings are now directly influencing building value and leasing outcomes.
At the same time, many buildings are operating with ageing infrastructure, evolving tenancy layouts, and control strategies that no longer suit how the building is used.
The result is often a building that technically operates — but does not perform.
At Performance Facility Management, we specialise in identifying and resolving these operational and performance issues. Our focus is not just on fixing faults, but improving overall building performance, reducing operating costs, supporting NABERS improvements, and strengthening ESG outcomes.
Below are the most common problems we help commercial buildings solve.
Tenant Comfort Complaints
Tenant comfort is one of the most visible indicators of building performance. When tenants are uncomfortable, complaints increase, facility managers become reactive, and operational time is consumed managing issues instead of improving performance.
Common symptoms include:
• Some areas too hot, others too cold
• Temperature swings throughout the day
• Meeting rooms overheating
• Perimeter zones struggling in summer or winter
• Tenants installing supplementary air conditioning
• Ongoing comfort complaints without clear resolution
These issues are rarely caused by a single fault. More commonly, they result from a combination of factors such as:
• Poorly tuned control strategies
• Failed or inaccurate sensors
• Air balancing issues
• VAV box control issues
• Tenant changes over time
• Equipment operating outside design conditions
• Ageing plant performance degradation
Rather than simply adjusting setpoints or increasing plant run times, we investigate the underlying causes and optimise system performance.
The outcome is:
• Improved tenant comfort
• Reduced complaints
• More stable building operation
• Reduced reactive maintenance
• Improved tenant retention
Comfort improvements also support stronger NABERS performance, as well‑controlled buildings typically operate more efficiently.
Rising Energy Costs and Poor NABERS Performance
Many commercial buildings experience gradual increases in energy consumption over time. These increases often occur slowly, making them difficult to detect until energy costs become significant.
In many cases, the building is simply no longer operating efficiently.
Common causes include:
• Simultaneous heating and cooling
• Plant running outside occupancy hours
• Poor plant sequencing
• Control loops operating inefficiently
• Sensors drifting out of calibration
• Systems left in manual mode
• Tenant usage changes not reflected in control strategy
These issues not only increase operating costs, but also negatively impact NABERS ratings and ESG performance.
Improving building efficiency can deliver:
• Reduced energy costs
• Improved NABERS ratings
• Stronger ESG reporting outcomes
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Improved building value
• Greater tenant appeal
Even modest operational improvements can significantly improve NABERS outcomes, particularly when control strategies are optimised and unnecessary run hours are reduced.
Ageing Building Management Systems
Many commercial buildings continue to operate with BMS platforms that are 10–20 years old. While these systems may still function, they often lack the visibility, reliability, and flexibility required for modern building performance.
Common challenges include:
• Obsolete controllers
• Limited graphics and visibility
• Poor or no trending capability
• Difficult integration with newer plant
• Limited remote access
• Increasing maintenance effort
• Spare parts becoming difficult to source
Ageing systems also make it harder to improve NABERS ratings and ESG reporting, as accurate data and reliable control become more difficult.
We assist building owners with:
• Staged upgrade strategies
• Integration of new controllers
• Improved graphics and visibility
• Enhanced trend logging
• Energy monitoring integration
• Modernisation without full replacement where possible
Our approach focuses on improving performance while managing cost and minimising disruption.
Poor Visibility of Building Performance
Many buildings operate without clear insight into how systems are performing. Without trending, alarms, and analytics, problems often remain hidden until tenants complain or energy costs increase.
Limited visibility can lead to:
• Undetected faults
• Inefficient plant operation
• Increased reactive maintenance
• Difficulty improving NABERS ratings
• Limited ESG reporting capability
We improve building visibility through:
• Trend logging and analytics
• Alarm optimisation
• Energy monitoring
• Equipment run hour tracking
• Performance dashboards
• Fault detection strategies
Better visibility enables proactive maintenance, improved performance, and stronger data for NABERS and ESG reporting.
Equipment Running Excessively
It is common to find plant running longer than required. This increases energy consumption, accelerates wear, and shortens equipment life.
We frequently identify:
• Fans running 24/7 unnecessarily
• Chillers starting too early
• Boilers operating during mild weather
• Pumps running at constant speed
• Systems not responding to occupancy
Reducing unnecessary run hours delivers:
• Reduced energy consumption
• Lower operating costs
• Improved NABERS performance
• Extended equipment life
• Reduced maintenance costs
Often, these improvements can be achieved through control optimisation rather than capital expenditure.
Compliance, Risk, and ESG Expectations
Commercial buildings must comply with increasing regulatory and reporting requirements. In addition to traditional compliance obligations, ESG performance is becoming increasingly important to owners, tenants, and investors.
Areas of concern include:
• Mechanical services safety measures
• Annual Fire Safety Statements
• Car park ventilation systems
• Smoke control systems
• Pressurisation systems
• Energy and emissions reporting
If systems are not operating correctly, compliance and ESG risk increases.
We assist with:
• System performance verification
• Control strategy review
• Monitoring improvements
• Operational optimisation
• Documentation and reporting support
Strong operational performance supports both compliance and ESG objectives.
Multiple Contractors, No Clear Ownership
Many buildings have multiple contractors working independently. Mechanical contractors, electricians, controls providers, and facility managers may all be involved.
When issues arise, responsibility can become unclear, resulting in:
• Repeated call‑outs
• Ongoing unresolved issues
• Increased operational costs
• Reduced building performance
Performance Facility Management provides independent technical oversight and coordination to ensure problems are properly diagnosed and resolved.
This often leads to:
• Faster resolution
• Reduced contractor costs
• Improved performance
• Better long‑term outcomes
Buildings That Never Quite Perform
Some buildings operate, but never quite perform well. Complaints are ongoing, energy is high, and operational staff spend time constantly adjusting systems.
These buildings often benefit from a structured performance review where we:
• Assess control strategies
• Review plant operation
• Analyse trends
• Identify inefficiencies
• Recommend improvements
These improvements often deliver:
• Better comfort
• Lower energy costs
• Improved NABERS ratings
• Stronger ESG performance
• Reduced operational effort
Our Approach
Our focus is always on practical, measurable outcomes:
• Identify root causes
• Improve control strategies
• Optimise plant operation
• Reduce energy consumption
• Improve tenant comfort
• Extend asset life
• Support NABERS improvements
• Strengthen ESG outcomes
Our goal is simple — to make commercial buildings perform better.
When to Engage Performance Facility Management
You may benefit from our involvement if:
• Tenant complaints are increasing
• Energy costs are rising
• NABERS rating needs improvement
• ESG reporting is becoming important
• Systems are ageing
• Building performance is unclear
• Multiple contractors are involved
• The building never quite feels right
If any of these sound familiar, we can help.
Speak With Us
Performance Facility Management works with building owners, asset managers, and facility managers to improve commercial building performance.
Whether you are dealing with comfort issues, rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure, or improving NABERS and ESG outcomes, we provide practical, experienced support.
Contact Performance Facility Management to discuss how we can help improve your building performance.