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January 2026
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Inside the January Issue |
The Maintenance Spectrum
Rethinking HVAC Maintenance Strategies
BY DAYTON PALEN
In the HVAC industry, maintenance is no longer just about
fixing what’s broken — it's about predicting what will break
before it does. As buildings become smarter and more reliant
on digital systems, maintenance strategies are evolving
too.
We’re seeing a major shift from traditional reactive maintenance
toward predictive and condition-based maintenance
models that leverage data and analytics to increase reliability and
reduce costs.
Let’s explore how these strategies differ, why the shift matters,
and what it really takes to implement predictive/proactive maintenance in today’s buildings.
HVAC maintenance strategies can be visualized along a
spectrum, ranging from purely reactive to highly prescriptive.
Reactive maintenance is the most traditional form — systems
are left to run until failure occurs, at which point emergency
service is required.
Preventive maintenance takes a slightly more proactive approach
by servicing equipment at regular intervals, such as every
six months, regardless of actual wear or performance.
Condition-based maintenance (CBM) introduces real-time
monitoring into the equation. By using sensors to assess equipment condition, maintenance is only performed when
data indicates it’s necessary.
Predictive maintenance builds on this by using historical data
and analytics to forecast potential failures, allowing action before
a problem even manifests. The most advanced strategy, prescriptive
maintenance, not only predicts issues but also recommends
specific actions based on the likely outcomes.
These approaches reflect an evolution in maintenance thinking
— one that shifts from reacting to problems to preventing
them in the most efficient, data-informed possible way. Full story »
today's news
Carder to Replace Murch as 4M CEO
ST. LOUIS, MO -- 4M Building Solutions, a commercial cleaning and janitorial services business, has appointed Leonard Carder as its new chief executive officer.
Armstrong Makes Parallel its 14th Acquisition
LANCASTER, PA -- Armstrong World Industries, a manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications, including ceilings, specialty walls, and exterior metal solutions, has acquired Parallel Architectural Products.
JLL Sees Need for $3T Investment in Data Centers
CHICAGO -- The global data center sector is poised for continued, unprecedented expansion, with capacity expected to nearly double from 103 GW to 200 GW by 2030, according to JLL’s newly released 2026 Global Data Center Outlook.
JLG Advances Job Site of Future with Canvas Buy
McCONNELLSBURG, PA -- JLG Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers, has acquired the core technology developed by Canvas, a San Francisco-based construction robotics technology company known for pioneering robotic solutions for interior construction applications.
Nilfisk Board Votes to Accept Cash Takeover
COPENHAGEN -- The Board of Directors of Nilfisk is recommending that shareholders accept a voluntary all-cash takeover offer from Freudenberg for all shares in Nilfisk.
