Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration major, Blue Star Limited has forayed into Engineering Facility Management (EFM), which covers a wide repertoire of operation and maintenance services for efficient functioning of electro-mechanical utilities.

Facility Management involves multiple disciplines to ensure smooth and efficient functioning of the built environment through comprehensive integration of human resources, systems, technology and domain knowledge of the service provider for delivery of ‘non-core’ engineering support services to the customer. The hidden costs of maintenance include safety, downtime costs, avoidable high energy outlay, preventable overtime, restricted throughputs, equipment life, and quality costs, besides others. Effective maintenance, in turn, helps deliver improvements based on domain knowledge, experience, skills, attitude, established processes, professional capabilities and a strategic approach. EFM results in optimal output from the facilities, with lowered asset life-cycle costs, maximised profits and longer equipment life. These can be measured scientifically to provide demonstrable value. A site-based engineering team provides rapid onsite response to system requirements and issues, reducing the client’s operational costs and minimising downtime or disruption to the site’s operation.

External management of such operations vital to the success of the business facilitates clients to free their time to focus on their core business.

The EFM services offered by Blue Star principally address the mechanical maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, chillers and cooling towers, boilers, pumps, air compressors and other equipment; electrical aspects of high tension/low tension distribution, transformers, generators, UPS system, lifts and related electrical equipment; utilities such as water, air, fuel and gas systems; and other facilities such as plumbing systems, fire-fighting equipment, building management system, CCTV and access control, besides others. Blue Star’s expertise encompasses in-house design, construction and service capabilities for MEP requirements; cost optimisation for the multiple service utilities; energy-efficient operations; assured uptime for critical applications; condition assessment and energy audits; remote monitoring services; high-end tools and tackles; health, safety and environmental management; and retrofitting capabilities, besides others.

Blue Star’s EFM services hold key benefits for customers such as a single point of responsibility, 100% compliance to risk management, reduced administration, effective cost management, access to best industry practices, continuous enhancement in service quality, and Pan India presence, besides value-added services from certified experts such as testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) with National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) certification, duct cleaning with National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) certification, green building consultation as well as energy saving and retrofit solutions, amongst others. Blue Star is also a member of the Indoor Air

Quality Association (IAQA), USA.

Blue Star is currently managing engineering facilities for several customers across automobile, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, commercial and IT segments such as GIFT City 66 kV Substation; Cummins India, Pune; ISRO, Ahmedabad; Cipla; Bosch; and Naya Raipur Development Authority; amongst others.

B Thiagarajan, Joint Managing Director, Blue Star Limited adds, “Blue Star's engineering services are built on its extensive experience in Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) project management capabilities and comprehensive cooling solutions. HVAC and electro-mechanical services comprise 90% of engineering services, which is expected to gain significant momentum with increasing outsourcing of services, proving to be a strong revenue stream to complement Blue Star’s electro-mechanical projects and annual maintenance contracts (AMC) businesses. The Company’s end-to-end engineering expertise, a proven long standing track record, and commitment to excellence and innovation have been resulting in customers being deeply satisfied with its Engineering Facility Management offerings.”