JUNE 2020 www.bfmmagazine.co.uk building & facilities facilities management management
HEALTH & SAFETY | HEATING, VENTIALTION, AIR CON | LIGHTING
Adapting your workspaces without the worry see pages 16-17
INSIDE:
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On the cover: Adapting your workplaces without the worry. see pages 16-17 June 2020
BFM Team Business Development Director
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Contents News
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APT Skidata’s tap+go™ Solution Makes Parking Touchless
Lighting
10
MagnatechLED launches new streetlight head with programmable dimming motion sensor
Health & Safety
12 BFM is published digitally 10 times a year b y Abbey Publishing Ltd. To receive a copy free of charge, contact our offices. Tel: 01933 316931 Email: bfm@abbeypublishing.co.uk www.bfmmagazine.co.uk www.abbeypublishing.co.uk www.twitter.com/ BFM_Magazine
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Free-standing COVID-19 Easy Sneeze Guard office desk solution from Glassolutions
Special Feature
20
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HVAC
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The First Food-Safe Non-hazardous Concentrated Cleaners For Refrigeration and AC from Gel-clear
Special Feature
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Smart Social Housing: How IoT is saving the social housing sector
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All contents © Abbey Publishing Ltd 2017 ISSN: 1470-5281
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
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APT Skidata’s tap+go™ Solution Makes Parking Touchless APT Skidata, one of the world’s leading parking equipment manufacturers, launches tap+go™ - a new touchless parking solution that will help minimise the spread of Covid-19 in car parks by eliminating the need for drivers to touch surfaces when they park. The ticketless system makes the parking transaction process fully contactless, so customers no longer have to touch a screen, insert a ticket or key in a number at the payment station. Using tokenisation encryption of credit/debit card data at all touch points, together with Skidata’s proven Parking.Logic e-payment platform, APT Skidata client can create a seamless and convenient experience for their parking customers. When arriving at a car park entrance, the new system will see customers wave a contactless bank card, smartphone or smart watch at the reader. No payment is taken at this point, but a ‘virtual’ ticket is issued. When the driver is ready to leave there is no need to go to a payment machine they just drive to the barrier and, using the same payment (card, smart phone, watch), tap the reader for the barrier to open. Nigel Young, Senior Business Development Manager at APT Skidata says that it was already seeing demand for a touchless parking to enhance the customer experience but now there is a real need for it to help safeguard people: “We can expect this transition to be accelerated in response to increased concerns about hygiene during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as restrictions on movements are eased, there will still be a focus on social distancing and 4
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hand hygiene, and people will continue to be encouraged to avoid touching anything outside as much as possible. “The simplest way to offer visitors touchless parking is to not only go ticketless, but to remove touchpoints. By making the whole transaction process touchless, so drivers won’t need to stand in a queue and they won’t need to touch a screen, insert a ticket or key in a number at the payment station, we are significantly helping our customers to return to normal business. ”In many cases, if a site already has APT Skidata entry and exit columns in place it is a quick and simple upgrade to the hardware to APT Skidata’s tap+go™, so it can be an immediate solution that brings benefits in the long term too. APT Skidata has already completed a retrofit at seven APT Skidata controlled shopping centres for one of the UK’s flagship shopping centre chains. The tap+go solution adds an additional layer of security to the payment process as the card details are tokenised at entry and again at exit, fulfilling all principles and regulations of PCI and governance of deployment under P2Pe. Only when the tokens are ‘matched’, is the parking fee calculated and charged automatically. Car park managers and operators should also be looking at how to protect their staff and themselves, says Nigel: “Traditionally we might have customers interested in our web-based platform, INS.reports, because they want to simplify reporting, or consolidate reports across multiple sites, but now we are talking to them about
how they can improve remote working with INS.reports, which will in turn reduce the need to be on site or reduce the workload for onsite teams to help protect them in the long term.” APT Skidata’s web-based platform, INS.Reports, allows for full car park management remotely, reducing the need to be on site and reducing the workload for onsite teams to help protect them in the long term. As long as you have an internet connection you can connect to the car park, or multiple car parks, and gain insight into revenue and current usage, along with customer and environmental information across the estate.
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
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ASSA ABLOY Project Specification Group provides flexible approach to One New Street Square Project Specification Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, brings high specification security solutions to One New Street Square in London. Using its capabilities in security design and specification, Project Specification Group delivered a bespoke range of complete doorset solutions worth £345,000 to London’s new retail and office building near Farringdon Station. The 16-storey commercial building, One New Street Square, was designed by Robin Partington Architects. The building aimed to achieve BREEAM’s ‘Excellent’ environmental standard through the use of sustainable building methods throughout construction. Working closely with the project’s principal contractor Skanska, as well as maintaining a close relationship with the architects, the Project Specification Group team delivered 204 complete doorset solutions from across the ASSA ABLOY portfolio, including
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high-security steel doors, architectural ironmongery and a range of door closers. David Shields, National Specification Manager at Project Specification Group, said: “Our team worked very closely with the client, architects and contractors to ensure that we could recommend the most suitable solutions for each aspect of the multifaceted building to combine the highest security with premium aesthetics. “As the building aimed to be BREEAM excellent rated, it was important to the client that we had a good understanding of how to integrate our products in the building and still meet the requirements of an energy efficient building. We were able to recommend an appropriate solution to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating through the EPDs and WLC data associated within our products. This meant
we were able to provide a guaranteed performance for the lifecycle of the building.” Tim Halford, the Project Director at Skanska, said: “The BREEAM rating was very important for this project, and the team from ASSA ABLOY were on hand every step of the way to help us achieve the rating and supply fit for purpose solutions. “We found the data ASSA ABLOY provided was extremely useful when calculating the long-term maintenance and overall performance of the building – something that helped us reduce any anticipated risks for the architect and the client. Plus the product specific EPDs formed a vital part in assessing the building’s overall energy performance.” To find out more, please call 0845 071 0882 to speak with an experienced Project Design Consultant, email ukspecification@ assaabloy.com or visit www. assaabloyopeningsolutions. co.uk/specification. News
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Arcus FM and GMS join forces Leading facilities management company Arcus has partnered with national security firm, GMS Group, enabling the two companies to work together with existing clients and explore new business opportunities. With over 10 years’ experience operating in the FM sector, Arcus currently delivers a blend of hard and soft services with technology-led solutions for clients in retail, logistics and public sector. By joining forces with GMS Group, Arcus will now be able to offer a comprehensive security service across the UK. GMS Group has been leading the market in innovation,
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service and delivery since 1998 supporting clients such as Jaguar Land Rover, Cemex, VAX, Aston Martin and Kerry Foods many of which have been customers for more than a decade. Speaking about the partnership, CEO of GMS Group Neil Male, said: “We’ve been approached many times by large FM companies wanting to work with us, but such opportunities have never suited our way of working. Being at the forefront of the customer relationship is what we do best, and this move strongly aligns with Arcus’ ethos, making it a natural collaboration.”
Chris Green, CEO of Arcus, said: “At Arcus delivering a winning service for our clients is one of our core principles. There is a clear synergy between the way both businesses work, with a strong emphasis on client service which makes for a good fit. “We look forward to working in partnership with GMS Group, a company who are deeply rooted in the security sector, strengthening our offer for current and future clients.” For more information about the services Arcus offer please visit: arcusfm. com. To find out more about GMS Group please visit www.gms-group.co.uk.
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
News
Kärcher helps the nation get back to work While most of the nation’s workforce has been compelled to work from home or pause working altogether, it’s now time for the working world to get back on its feet. Kärcher, renowned German manufacturer of professional cleaning products, is helping organisations to prepare a safe and hygienic workplace through a series of specially prepared online resources and virtual training available to all. It has never been more important to ensure a clean and safe environment for both employees and customers. Expert in effective cleaning, Kärcher recognises that different working environments require different cleaning regimes and equipment and its newly launched online cleaning resource reflects this. Available at https://www.kaercher.com/ uk/professional/protect-yourpeople.html it comprises a useful guide, cleaning tips and checklists pertinent to multiple workplace areas. Many businesses will have purchased new cleaning equipment or increased the head count in cleaning teams to optimise hygiene processes,
both routes necessitating training. Kärcher’s new virtual training resource answers this need from a safe distance through a series of online training videos, as well as live customer consultations for those requiring more tailored instruction https:// www.kaercher.com/uk/ professional/academy-live. html Filmed at the Kärcher Academy, using Kärcher Professional machines, these training assets provide direct access to cleaning experts. In these video tools, Kärcher explains how offices are vulnerable to dirt buildup on everyday touch points such as desks, keyboards and telephones. These are critical areas for contamination and need to be hygienically clean. Cleaning with water & detergent is an effective way to remove impurities, dust and dirt, followed by disinfection to destroy pathogenic microorganisms and leave surfaces hygienically clean. Cleaning teams must also use personal protective equipment (PPE) – disposable gloves and aprons are a minimum standard. It goes on to give specific
advice on shared kitchens for employees as a number one priority, to prevent contamination and transmission of germs and bacteria. Ensure pipes have been thoroughly flushed through so the tap water is safe, as water that’s been left sitting in pipes for a long period of time could have accumulated chemicals and harmful organisms such as Legionnaire’s Disease. Deep cleaning and sanitising all kitchen utensils like forks, knives and spoons at 60oC or above will kill most germs and bacteria. Kärcher has a broad machine, accessory and detergent range to help achieve high hygiene standards. In the last few weeks, Karcher has seen a surge in demand for steam cleaners. In particular for public bathroom facilities, a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, which make exemplary hygiene standards crucial. For hard-toreach, high-risk touchpoints like sinks, taps and soap dispensers a Professional Steam Cleaner is ideal to disinfect without cloths and chemicals. Steamcleaning ensures these areas are germ-free. Steam-cleaning is also well-suited to general public areas if you want to avoid chemicals, and it easily reaches the nooks and crannies that can be difficult to reach with a cloth. High footfall public areas, like reception and the canteen, must be kept hygienic to ensure a safe working environment, combining everyday maintenance cleaning with deep cleaning methods. When cleaning matters most, Kärcher delivers. To request a live customer consultation, visit https:// www.kaercher.com/uk/ make-an-enquiry.html
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Works commence on £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School Construction has started on the £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, with works being led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework. This is the second contract secured by G F Tomlinson through the Staffordshire Construction framework for Staffordshire County Council, led by Entrust Property Services - the first being the £5.2m Poppyfields Primary School in Cannock, which was successfully completed last summer within a major housing development in the area. The project involves the design and build of an extension to an existing building and the construction of a new modular building to provide much needed replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces at King Edward VI School. Building on a winning partnership from the successful delivery of the Poppyfields Primary school, G F Tomlinson again appointed Arc Partnership to provide architectural and engineering services for the scheme. Phase one of works at the Lichfield co-educational comprehensive for pupils aged 11 to 18, involves the construction of a new three-storey extension on the site of a former swimming pool, which had been closed for over ten years and was demolished as part of preliminary site-wide enabling works by ENTRUST prior to commencement. The extension will provide replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces, as well as an administration area on the lower ground floor, which will be the location of the school’s new student services area. Completion for this phase is expected in spring 2021. Phase two involves the demolition of existing accommodation and obsolete prefabricated buildings, to be replaced with the construction of a brand new standalone modular structure, providing modern and enhanced science laboratory teaching facilities at the school. Ideal Modular, part of G F Tomlinson’s existing supply chain, 8
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has been appointed to deliver the modular element of this project. Works for phase two are expected to be completed in winter 2020. During the course of the construction works, G F Tomlinson is looking to engage with both staff and students of the school. The site management team will perform virtual live site tours for the school to report project progress and allow them to raise any queries they have. Once government guidelines allow it, the contractor also plans to carry out regular site tours and school assemblies, as well as communicating the project’s progress through meetings with the school. Regular newsletters will also be distributed to the school and local residents. Chris Flint, director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are pleased to be able to commence construction works for our client Staffordshire County Council, particularly in the current climate. The works will maximise space and upgrade the existing buildings at King Edward VI School. These important renovations will optimise teaching spaces and improve the overall educational experience for students and staff. “It has been rewarding to engage with Entrust Property Services again and we look forward to working for them and Staffordshire County Council to deliver this project, whilst continuing to build strong relationships with Arc Partnership and our other local supply chain partners over the course of both phases.” County Councillor Philip White, cabinet member for learning and skills said: “These works are being
completed to ensure the site can accommodate an increased demand for pupil places at the school, as a result of new housing in and around the city. Once finished, the work will enable the school to expand by 150 pupils. “We have been planning for this for a while, and construction is taking place over the course of a year to minimise disruption as much as possible. I’m sure pupils and teachers will enjoy using the brand-new accommodation in September 2021.” John Doherty, CEO of Entrust Support Services, said: “We are proud to see works commence at King Edward VI School following ENTRUST’s master planning of a multifaceted brief across a split campus. This is a complex project which we are proudly project managing with our preferred contractor and we look forward to working with G F Tomlinson, Staffordshire County Council and the school to complete it. Once finished, these new teaching spaces will benefit the school and its pupils well into the future.” Jane Rutherford, headteacher at King Edward School said “With additional students joining us each year, this project will provide all our students and staff with access to improved facilities. We are looking forward to seeing the project completed during the coming academic year”. Staffordshire County Council is leading the project, with project management from ENTRUST, G F Tomlinson acting as main contractors, and Arc partnership acting as architect and structural engineer. Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
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Lighting
MagnatechLED launches new streetlight head with programmable dimming motion sensor The MagnatechLED range of Areolite-26 LED street light heads is now available with a multi-step dimming microwave sensor offering considerable energy saving in areas where full level is only required when movement is detected either by people or vehicles. The sensor can be preprogrammed before delivery and the optional remote controller also allows the luminaire to be programmed and re-programmed in situ. Settings include daylight sensor lux level for automatic turn on/off, full power hold time after trigger, dimming level, and standby time for dimmed level before turning off. The sensitivity level of the sensor can also be set to prevent unwanted triggering. The sensor version of the Areolite-26 is suitable for mounting height of up to 15m. With powers available from 20W to 200W the Areolite-26 is suitable for a wide range of applications including footpaths and pedestrian areas, roadway lighting for residential areas, industrial areas, retail parks, hospitality and public facilities such as hospitals and car parks both large and small. Where movement detection is not required the Areolite-26 can be fitted with a NEMA or Zhaga socket which can be used for industry standard photocells for automatic on/ off or dimming functions. 10
Lighting
Features of the Areolite-26 include a tool-less opening waterproof driver compartment, toughened class cover to IK09, high brightness Lumileds SMD LED chips and changeable PC lens for differing beam patterns. The case is manufactured from die cast aluminium with a powder coated finish. Salt resistant finish is also available. The smooth finish avoids build-up of dust, dirt and bird droppings. The mounting spigot is adjustable for both horizontal and post top mounting with an adjustment angle of ¹15°. Spigots are available for 34mm, 48mm, 60mm and 76mm diameter arms and posts. All Areolite-26 street lights
are fitted with a 10kV surge protection device (SPD), high quality IP67 Sosen driver (other brands available by request), a safety power disconnect switch when the cover is opened and quick connect Wago type connectors for ease of use. MagnatechLED also manufactures a wide range LED floodlights for indoor and outdoor sport lighting as well as linear hibay lighting for industrial applications. All of MagnatechLED products are offered with standard 5 years warranty and full technical back up from the factory in UK. For more information please contact MagnatechLED sales department by email at sales@magnatechled.co.uk Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
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Areolite 26 3/5/7 pins NEMA socket 48mm/60mm/76mm spigot UMSUG code numbered Programmable multi-step motion sensor
Health & Safety
Free-standing COVID-19 Easy Sneeze Guard office desk solution from Glassolutions UK manufacturer Glassolutions has launched a free-standing COVID-19 desk-top glass sneeze guard, ideal for social distancing in offices. The Easy Sneeze Guard is made from strong, hygienic and easy to clean laminated glass. It has been developed as a solution to screen adjacent desks in open-plan offices, to help prevent the spread of germs and infection, and protect staff as they return to work. The easy-to-fit sneeze guards are available in three standard sizes: 1000mm, 1100mm and 1500mm wide, with a height of 800mm, and come with two clamps for safe and sturdy positioning on office and reception desks. There is no
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requirement to screw into the desk so preventing permanent damage. Prices start from £127.77 plus VAT and delivery. Lisa Dunn from Glassolutions, which is part of the international Saint-Gobain Group said: “As the Government starts to relax the lockdown rules, businesses are planning how they can safely return to work. According to the World Health Organisation, Coronavirus mainly spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A sneeze guard serves as a simple yet highly effective physical barrier between staff or customers reducing exposure to potential infection. “Glass sneeze guards are particularly effective and practical
as they are easy to clean and disinfect, scratch resistant, and durable – and look far more stylish than plastic alternatives in today’s modern office spaces. “This is a solution that can play a small part in helping kickstart the economy, providing protection while people get on with their work.” To view an assembly video and for more information about the Easy Sneeze Guard from Glassolutions visit https:// glassolutions.co.uk/en-gb/ glass-sneeze-guards, email salessupport.glassolutions@ saint-gobain.com or call the customer services team on 0333 321 6555.
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
Health & Safety
‘If it sounds too good to be true, it is” – advice from the CHSA on false claims As the lockdown in the UK begins to lift, organisations need to clean and keep clean offices, shops, and all other public spaces. The advice from the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is to be cautious of extraordinary claims for products – “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Demand for certain cleaning and hygiene products – hand and hard surface sanitisers, gloves, disposable polythene aprons, non-woven wipes – continues to far outstrip supply. Unscrupulous profiteers are capitalising on the opportunity, some making extraordinary, false claims for products. Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the CHSA said: “We have seen some remarkable claims for products. They have included statements that cleaning once with a hard surface sanitiser will keep a surface sterile for days. It sounds exactly what businesses need, but it’s only true in laboratory conditions. In a real-life environment, as soon as someone or something touches the surface there’ll be a residue on which the coronavirus can survive. “As we’re previously reported, there is also a marked increase in imported Personal Protective
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Equipment (PPE) with fake or no CE marking. The CE certification mark indicates conformance with European Union directives regarding health and safety or environmental protection. “Turning to products with extraordinary claims is tempting, particularly when your regular suppliers may be rationing product due to shortages. Buying product from new, unknown suppliers claiming to have good stocks of ‘compliant product’ may sound good but it’s a waste of money if they don’t have the right certification mark. “Our advice is to be cautious – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
The CHSA is advising buyers of cleaning and hygiene products to: Be sceptical about product clams. It if sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Ask for evidence to back up the claims, obtain CE declaration and or any test reports to show conformance to specification Buy from a reputable supplier. Members of the CHSA have all signed the Association’s rigorous Code of Practice, which requires members to be “’well established’ in the cleaning and hygiene industry and to maintain a high standard in the conduct of its business.” Look for the CHSA logo and CHSA Accreditation Scheme stamp. The CHSA Accreditation Scheme stamp guarantees members of the Schemes for Distributors and Manufacturers of Soft Tissue, Plastic Refuse Sacks and Industrial Cotton Mops make sure ‘what’s in the box is what’s on the box.’ Compliance to the CHSA’s Accreditation Schemes and Code of Practice is guaranteed by a rigorous auditing process conducted by an independent inspector. @CHSACleaning www.CHSA.co.uk
Health & Safety
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GX Glass launches flexible hygiene screen system Premium glass producer Gx Glass is helping workplaces safeguard against coronavirus with its new range of safety glass hygiene screens and sneeze guards, suitable for a wide variety of office, retail, education and hospitality environments. Toughened to BS EN 12150, Gx Glass’ range of float glass screen products will not scratch or discolour over time, providing a more durable and long-lasting investment when compared with plastic or acrylic alternatives. The glass can also be covered in a specialist coating which offers effective protection against staining and discolouration as well as the adhesion and growth of micro-organisms. The innovative systems allow for multiple configurations with both freestanding and mechanically fixed options available in a variety of sizes
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for both desk and floor level. A wheeled option is also available. The screens are fully customisable and bespoke cut outs can be added for till points where necessary. Finally the range is easy to self-install, however survey and installation services are also available. Joanna Lush, Business Development Manager at Gx Glass, commented, “Glass is an ideal material to use in the fight against infection as it is non-porous, meaning it will not absorb particles and is easily disinfected. This contrasts with plastic or acrylic screens, which over time can scratch and degrade, becoming more porous and susceptible to the transmission of germs. “Our range of hygiene screen and sneeze guards are flexible and adaptable to a given environment with a variety of fixings available. We can also provide further options beyond
just hygiene purposes, such as company branding, coloured panels, and even magnetic notice board options.” For more information on Gx Glass and its range of products, please visit: www.gxglass.com.
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
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On The Cover
Adapting your workspaces without the worry As employees start to return to the workplace, they need to feel confident that their work environment will be safe. With hygiene a higher priority than ever before, cleanability of surface materials is coming under close scrutiny in workplaces across all sectors. Dave Ford, Specifications Manager with Altro, considers the pitfalls of some common materials and how simple, smart swaps can meet safety, aesthetic and comfort criteria. In these rapidly changing times, employers are looking for guidance as they seek to ensure a safe environment for staff, customers and visitors. The British Council for Offices is one of the first to issue recommendations, saying “Materials and finishes should be selected to be easily cleaned; they should be hard, smooth and resistant to appropriate cleaning chemicals. Surfaces should be free from irregular features (nooks and crannies) that may harbour contamination.” You may have carpet or carpet tiles installed, paint on the walls and tiles on the walls or floors - all
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of which can fall short against the British Council recommendations. Carpet vs vinyl floors Looking first at carpet, the issues here centre around cleanability. Carpet tiles or carpets are designed to be vacuumed and not cleaned daily with the detergent required to clean viruses - you cannot vacuum up bacteria and viruses. Having vacuumed, you would need to wet clean the carpet or carpet tiles with detergent daily at 56ºC in order to kill any virus. This daily process is required because the virus remains active for 24 hours on this surface. Cleaning therefore becomes more costly in terms of time and money, while requiring a long time, possibly several hours, to dry; this means your surface can remain damp for hours each day after cleaning, providing the potential for yet more ideal conditions for the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. Detergents can easily stain carpet, whilst overwetting carpet tiles can cause them
to curl, be prone to fast resoiling, the growth of mildew and the occurrence of odours. Steam cleaning is another option, but carpet tiles can take 12 to 24 hours to dry fully when steam cleaned and shouldn’t be walked on during that time. Modern vinyl floors offer an ideal alternative to carpet and carpet tiles. There are many options now available with similar sound reduction properties to carpet tiles – 17 to 18dB, so there’s no need to compromise on in-room sound and transmission of noise. There is also the option to use an impact sound reduction underlay. Comfort underfoot is also a key performance benefit of many vinyl floors, especially those which also offer sound reduction properties, so a switch from carpet to vinyl need not lead to a compromise on comfort. And the biggest benefit of vinyl over carpet is on cleanability. High quality vinyl floors can be cleaned at up to 60ºC; viruses are killed at 56ºC (US National Library of Medicine). No different detergent
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
On The Cover or process is needed when you already have the ability to spray, steam or power clean the flooring. Dirt sits on the surface of vinyl flooring rather than penetrating the pile of carpet. So vinyl floors are cleaned faster, with products less likely to cause damage to the floor and also dry faster for a speedy return to service. With budgets under scrutiny too, you need to have confidence that what you invest in will maintain its appearance and performance for years to come. Quality vinyl flooring is a proven, robust solution, not affected by indentation from office furniture movement or rolling loads, and with guarantees of up to 20 years. Paint and tiles vs wall cladding The World Health Organisation has proved that the Covid 19 virus will live for 72 hours on hard surfaces such as walls, therefore necessitating regular detergent cleaning. However, only certain surfaces are suitable for cleaning in this way. PVC wall cladding can be cleaned with detergent, up to 60ºC. Many other surfaces are not robust enough to cope with such cleaning. For example, paint is only microns thick and is easily damaged. Plasterboard under paint tends to be weak and absorbent and easily dented or damaged, particularly below waist height where walls can be prone to knocks and scrapes. Damaged surfaces can harbour microorganisms more readily than undamaged, smooth surfaces. Emulsion paint is not designed to be wet cleaned and can come away when cleaned with water – a process which is exacerbated when cleaned with the detergents required to keep the area hygienic. This results in patchiness, reducing the overall aesthetic appeal and requiring extra maintenance. Tiles are another popular wall or floor finish, and although easier to clean than paint they too create hygiene headaches. Grout is often the weak spot for hygiene – it often becomes porous with age which means it will harbour microorganisms, providing breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Grout is difficult to www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
clean and can shrink and cause gaps between the tiles, again providing the perfect environment for microorganisms to multiply. Cracked or shattered tiles also lead to ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, and as individual damaged tiles can be difficult to remove, the problem perpetuates. Wall cladding systems remove many of these risks. Altro’s systems are 2.5mm thick, with colour throughout the thickness of the product. They are durable and robust, with life expectancy of up to 25 years and come in a wide range of colours and bespoke options. Altro Whiterock hygienic wall cladding has a smooth, non-porous surface and comes in sheets to provide coverage from floor to ceiling with no grout required. It is easy to clean, with detergent, up to 60ºC. As a fully bonded and watertight system, there is nowhere for microorganisms or bacteria to hide. Altro Fortis wall protection protects the wall and substrate from bumps and scrapes, again giving nowhere for microorganisms to hide and breed. For a total hygienic system, install vinyl flooring combined with wall cladding and doors. We want to play our part in helping the country get through this difficult time. We have extensive experience working across all sectors providing specification and technical support, whatever the challenge. Please get in touch if you have any questions. Because it’s vital to clean floors, walls and doors effectively, we’ve produced a range of cleaning guides to help you get it right first time. Visit our website to find out more: www.altro.com
Key questions to ask - are your surfaces up to the task? • Are floors, walls and doors easy to clean? • Does dirt sit on the surface or penetrate into the pile of a carpet, the grout or cracks on tiles or the substrate on a damaged painted wall? • Are surfaces cleanable at more than 56ºC? • Do surfaces have a high chemical resistance to allow for regular disinfection? • Are surfaces impervious, hard and nonporous so microorganisms have no place to hide?
On The Cover
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Health & Safety
Smartway2 launches a social distancing and contact tracing solution to enable a safe return to work amidst COVID-19 By automating resource booking procedures, Smartway2 ensures that people can only access desks, rooms, equipment and other facilities that are sanitised and at a safe distance apart, solving the logistical challenge of protecting people in the workplace. Smartway2, a next-generation technology company specialising in workplace scheduling solutions, today announced the release of its COVID-Safe Workplace functionality that enables organisations to implement social
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Health & Safety
distancing, contact tracing and improved sanitation procedures, to enable a safe return to work. Smartway2 takes an innovative data-driven approach to optimising workspace utilisation, which in turn drives productivity and collaboration. The platform’s uniquely flexible ‘rules engine’ allows it to be rapidly configured to almost any workflow. As the pandemic unfolds and organisations face an unprecedented pace of change, the ability for technology to adapt to newly emerging needs on the fly is becoming increasingly vital. Smartway2 protects people in the workplace by automating social distancing, contact tracing and sanitation checks. When someone books a desk in Smartway2, all surrounding desks within a specified radius are automatically taken out of service. When the desk is vacated, a countdown
timer in the system will prevent anyone else booking it until it has been sanitised, to prevent touch contamination; and sign-off and release procedures for desks and rooms are fully automated. To stop people sitting in a desk that is not safe, Smartway2’s digital desk displays indicate whether the workstation is available, awaiting cleaning or out of service. In the event that someone falls ill, Smartway2 can produce contact tracing reports that identify at-risk colleagues, categorising their risk level depending on their likely proximity to that person. “We’re incredibly fortunate to be in such a strong position to help organisations who are struggling to come to terms with the scope of change that’s necessary to keep their people safe,” said Smartway2’s CEO, John T. Anderson. “One of the key
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
Health & Safety
design principles we obsessed over when coding the product was flexibility. We wanted to be the first – and for some time to come, perhaps – the only solution that can easily be configured to cope with an immense variety of scenarios. As a result we built a flexible rules engine. At the time we had no idea that it would be so well suited to helping organisations safety return to work amidst a global pandemic. That is a scenario I fully admit we did not plan for, but we are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference during these challenging times.” Founded in 2014, Smartway2 has expanded aggressively opening corporate headquarters in the U.S. and growing its footprint in APAC and Europe,
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as well as increasing its reseller base worldwide. Since 2018, Smartway2’s headcount has tripled, with new leadership and key hires that bring extensive industry experience to marketing, sales and engineering. “It’s so flexible and customisable that we can make it do whatever we want it to do,” said Smartway2 customer Joel Olson, Programmer & Analyst at Amarillo ISD. “With other tools on the market, there’s no way to achieve that. Smartway2 won’t just serve our current needs – it’s flexible enough to adjust to whatever we decide we need in future. It’s built in such a way that we can innovate.” Smartway2 is a robust, cloud-
based, enterprise solution that not only provides COVID-Safe Workplace functionality, but also uses advanced workspace analytics and data visualisation to help companies understand precisely how meeting rooms, desks and other resources are being utilised. These capabilities have become increasingly important to organisations impacted by Coronavirus, as remote working becomes the new normal and the role of the workplace undergoes a fundamental shift. Smartway2’s ability to help organisations reduce real estate costs while improving employee experience, collaboration and productivity will benefit organisations far beyond these challenging times.
Health & Safety
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Join the PSSA - Launching the Public Sector Sustainability Association The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future. Never has there been a more pressing need and indeed, requirement for individuals and organisations to turn their attention to sustainability and take stock of their environmental impact on our world. An increasing number of UK local authorities have declared a climate emergency. But having made this important step, what happens next? Well for many sustainability professionals working within these authorities, they simply do not know. Logically, the first step that can be taken is to develop a strategy to address
the challenge of the emergency they have declared. However there are a number of pitfalls and issues which can arise when doing so and there is a need for the individuals tasked with creating such a plan to be given the knowledge and support they need to do so. Similar issues are faced by professionals working in the NHS (the health and care system in England is responsible for an estimated 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint), Universities, Schools and of course central Government. Through the PSSA we hope to
provide these individuals with the support, guidance and knowledge that will assist them and by extension, the entire country in tackling the climate emergency and recuding their organisations carbon footprint. The assocation will provide the latest news and developments, best practice, case studies, white papers, reports and guides to this aim. There is no charge for membership to those working within the Public Sector and we are now open to new members. If you are interested in joining, please visit our website where you will find more detailed information about the association and also a membership form to join. www.pssa.info
PSSAWARDS Public Sector Sustainability Awards Highlight your commitment to sustainability - become an environmental leader.
The purpose of the Public Sector Sustainability Awards is simple - to promote environmental leadership, to innovate and to inspire all those working in the Public Sector committed to reducing the carbon footprint of their organisation.
HOW TO ENTER: There is no qualifying criteria that needs to be satisfied in order to enter the awards. All we ask is that entrants send us up to 2000 words detailing the activities undertaken by them to reduce, by any means, the impact of their organisation on our environment. Please feel free to attach any images, graphs, charts etc to support your entry. You can focus your entry on just one project or multiple schemes. You can enter as an individual or on behalf of your organisation, or both, as there are awards for both categories. There is no charge for entry. If you wish to enter, please complete the registration form at www.pssa.info/pssawards or download the form from the website, complete it and email it back to us. Your completed entry needs to be submitted by the 31st January 2020 and should include images and/or logos. Please send your entries through to submissions@pssa.info. If that is not possible, you can mail them to: PSS Awards, 42 Wymington Park, Rushden NN10 9JP
WILL YOU BE AMONG THE WINNERS IN 2020?
HVAC
The First Food-Safe Non-hazardous Concentrated Cleaners For Refrigeration and AC from Gel-clear Gel-clear, the refrigeration cleaning specialist, will be introducing concentrated versions of its popular non-hazardous food-safe cleaners: Eco-clear refrigeration sanitising cleaner and Air-clear HVAC coil sanitising cleaner. At the same time, Gel-clear will unveil Ice Clean, its first specialist cleaner for ice machines. Created with performance in mind the new range are 10 times more concentrated than any other concentrate on the market and are built on the Gel- clear ethos of solution lead, quality products. These high performance products are the first non-hazardous concentrates on the market, with no COSHH requirements, and are NSF-accredited for safe use in food preparation areas. Tested to BSEN 1276 and BSEN1650 certifying standards both GOV.UK and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) offer EN1276 as a
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standard for cleaning to kill COVID19. The new range of concentrates are more than just cleaners - utilising Gel-clear’s unique, award winning antibacterial coating method which a leaves long-lasting antibacterial shield on the coil and condensate pan improving performance and air quality in the process. The new cleaners come in easyto-use 250ml bottles and 100ml pouches with each handy 250 ml dispensing bottle containing enough to dilute to 20 litres, which is enough to clean coil & pans on 40 cabinets. Ice-clean, Gel-clear’s first ice machine cleaner and sanitiser incorporates the same longlasting coating and like the rest of the range is non-hazardous. It comes in a 250ml litre bottle and has been independently tested to surgical- grade sanitising standards to be effective against Human Coronavirus (ATCC VR-740), Avian
Influenza, Hepatitis, Hong Kong flu, HIV type 1, & 2, E-coli, Listeria, Salmonella, MRSA and many others. Keeping the components in ice machines free from bacterial biofilms is essential – biofilm ‘slimes’ are a big problem and the long lasting Gel-clear coating will keep the unit cleaner for longer. Managing director Paurick Gaughan says “Our new concentrates prove that you don’t need to suffer harsh chemicals to provide efficient cleaning. With these new concentrates, contractors can really get more protection and less chemicals.” The company will still be selling the non-concentrate versions of the cleaners providing contractors and their clients the widest possible choice. Available to buy online and through wholesalers from 29th June 2020, visit our website for more details : www.gel-clear.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
HVAC
COVID-19 Update: Star Refrigeration Urges Customers to Maintain Legal Compliance Star Refrigeration is urging customers to ensure plant and equipment remains legally compliant during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Star is advising customers that it is crucial to consider ongoing legislation relating to the safe operation of refrigeration and HVAC equipment. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recently stipulated the need for duty holders to remain compliant with regulations during the COVID-19 lockdown. In line with government guidance, Star is carrying out vital service work for existing customers, to ensure continuity and compliance with refrigeration industry regulations. Star is also providing critical repair and maintenance www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
services to essential industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Star Refrigeration Operations Director James Ward says: “We are continuing to undertake all essential maintenance work to ensure the smooth running of equipment and compliance with HSE regulations. Despite the current circumstances, it is important that plant operators continue to meet ongoing legal requirements.” James Ward adds: “Star is committed to carrying out the necessary inspections and taking corrective actions to support our customers and provide continuity throughout this challenging time.” Star’s nationwide refrigeration engineering team is continuing
to operate in order to provide an essential support service for food production, processing, storage and distribution. Throughout the lockdown, Star has also provided critical repair and maintenance for cooling systems in key industries, including healthcare and IT/communication. Star is UK’s largest refrigeration engineering company, with over 100 field engineering staff currently in operation across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Star is working carefully within government guidelines to provide on-site maintenance support, whilst ensuring the safety of staff, customers and the wider community. HVAC
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HVAC
Weiss Technik develops new, hygienic aircooling system with unique four-stage safety concept and innovative thermal disinfection Vindur® Top helps to prevent the spread of bacteria, mould and viruses The current Coronavirus outbreak has increased awareness of hygienic room climate issues, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in public buildings, be it hospitals, universities, schools or nurseries. If planned poorly or not serviced properly, air conditioning units can quickly turn into transmitters of disease-causing germs. Weiss Technik, a manufacturer of environmental simulation, heat and pharmaceutical technology and air solutions, has developed an innovative recirculating aircoolingsystem that helps to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, mould and viruses. The hygienic air cooling system Vindur® Top was developed specially for use in hospitals, on wards and in examination rooms, for public and industrial buildings, as well as for hotels and the private sector. It is often used as a supplementary or retrofit solution if the existing primary building climate equipment is no longer sufficient and additional cooling is required. Vindur® Top is equipped with a new, unique four-stage safety concept for these special requirements: • HEPA filters: A twostage filter concept filters 99.99% of all microorganisms, bacteria and viruses from the air. • UV lamps reliably kill viruses, germs and bacteria that have been accumulated on the particulate air filter. • Antimicrobial Interior Coating: The inner plates of the cooler are coated with silver ions which destroy viruses, bacteria, germs and mould. • Thermal disinfection: After the unit is switched 24
HVAC
off, heat exchangers and condensate drip tray are heated sequentially for about 10 minutes to approx. 70 °C. This dries out the biofilm resulting from the cooling process, reliably killing microorganisms and viruses. Improving hygiene with hygienic air-cooling units Hygienic air-cooling units are recirculating air systems which are often used as supplementary or retrofit solutions if the primary building climate equipment is not dimensioned sufficiently for all rooms, or if additional cooling is required. As air cools, condensate can form, providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. These develop in particular while the unit is not running, and can be spread to all rooms when the equipment is put back into operation. To prevent this, Vindur® Top is equipped with a two-level filter (intake side PM1/≥ 50%, pressure side PM1/≥ 80% or H14 as an option to prevent viruses). Thermal disinfection kills micro-organisms To improve hygiene further, Vindur® Top units can be equipped with optional thermal disinfection. This newly developed method effectively prevents the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria and mould in the airconditioning unit. Here, the heat exchanger and condensate drip tray are heated and dried
completely in turn, controlled by a humidity sensor, so that all microorganisms are safely destroyed. Simple handling, two model variants Vindur® Top hygienic air-cooling units can either be mounted on the ceiling or, equipped with intake and pressure side duct connections, integrated into a suspended ceiling. They have an energy-efficient EC fan and a cooler with condensate lifting pump. Air quantity and temperature can be controlled easily and comfortably via the DDC control with web visualisation using the room control panel or touch display. In addition, their smooth surfaces make them easy to clean and disinfect. All the relevant unit parts can be accessed easily through the downward-opening housing flap. This guarantees the straightforward replacement of spare parts. Malcolm Youll, Managing Director of Weiss Technik UK Ltd, said: “Viruses and bacteria can spread very easily, which is particularly dangerous in rooms with sick patients. That’s why it is so important to ensure these areas have optimal air hygiene. Our new hygienic air-cooling unit Vindur® Top helps to provide hygienic cooling and prevent the growth and spread of mould, bacteria and viruses. Once installed, all maintenance and service work can be carried out quickly and easily, and thanks to the web visualisation all installed parts and operating states can be checked and monitored at all times.” Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
READY FOR EVERYDAY WEAR & TEAR
SURFACE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY
Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard. Ready for everyday wear and tear. Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard is our most durable Water Based Satin paint for interior wood and metal. With brand new Surface Protection technology, it provides the ultimate defence against scratches, wear and tear and greasy finger marks. Whilst extending maintenance cycles, Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard also has a premium satin finish and long-lasting whiteness. Visit www.johnstonestrade.com to find out more.
Special Feature
Smart Social Housing: How IoT is saving the social housing sector As the demand for more affordable social housing increases across the UK, the pressure is on for social housing associations to adapt to a dynamic, challenging landscape. Accessibility, rising maintenance costs and tenant safety are just some of the everyday challenges facing both housing associations and their tenants. And with the rollout of smart technology taking place in allied industries, the opportunity for IoT technology in social housing can be transformative, with the potential to make developments safer, more energy-efficient, and therefore cheaper to run. Organisations are already implementing smart technology into their offices and consumers are doing the same in their homes – and social housing associations (HA) aren’t far behind. There are several pilot projects and proof of concept trials being rolled out by HAs, and the initial results are encouraging. However, despite common operational challenges
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Special Feature
across the sector, not one technology solution fits all scenarios. This means that stakeholder education and a number of considerations need to be addressed in the planning phase before the work can begin. Head of IoT and Products at Comms365, Nick Sacke, looks at the ways in which IoT can be used to create smarter, safer social housing. Maintenance and resource allocation According to Gartner, by 2020 utilities will be the largest use case of IoT endpoints, totalling 1.17 billion in 2019, and increasing 17% in 2020 to reach 1.73 billion endpoints. And the integration of smart sensors within residential properties will inevitably boost this adoption. Smart sensors can be used to measure and gather data from a number of property management
parameters including temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, noise and people movement. This data can then be shared with providers who can feed it into the network, benefiting not only tenants who can control their bills through increased controls and smartphones access, but also HAs, who can use the data insights for predictive maintenance, allowing for better and more effective resource allocation. For example, sensors can identify whether humidity levels are creating an environment for damp and mould, which if left, would not
Building & Facilities Management – June 2020
Special Feature
only incur repair costs but also potentially cause health issues, leading to more expenses over time, such as insurance claims. But this insight isn’t just limited to tenant spaces; in common areas, IoT devices can alert to incorrect parking across emergency exits and fire lanes, bin fill levels, as well as lighting loss. In turn, this implementation enables HAs to become responsible landlords, providing overall improvements to tenants’ homes as well as to the quality of their day-to-day life. Implementation The greater the volume of data harvested from individual properties, the more trending and predictive analysis can be undertaken, leading to enhanced accuracy and forecasting, combined with new data visualisation techniques. And deploying the IoT programme in phases will ensure that audit trails are in place to determine areas that may require adjustment. A key consideration in the deployment of multiple IoT devices is that they are able to utilise a common communications network infrastructure to connect and deliver data to applications in the cloud. Standards in Low www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
Power Wide Area Networks such as LoRaWAN and Narrowband IoT have now emerged globally, and are helping diverse device manufacturers to produce products that conform to these communications protocols, making large deployments easier to deploy and manage in large geographic areas. This enables large scale coverage and a holistic view across estates of devices and dwellings, some of which are in the tens of thousands per HA. If these standards and methods are followed, overheads for device management and reporting can indeed be minimised. Another important consideration, which can become a significant barrier to adoption within the social housing market, is cultural acceptance of ‘smart’ technology in the home environment. Despite the operational and cost efficiencies of IoT, for tenants, privacy is a prime concern. The idea of 24/7 monitoring can make tenants nervous, especially when it comes to the issue of data protection; which may affect their willingness to embrace, or even approve the use of these devices in their homes. This, therefore, is an area that HAs need to be mindful of and
ensure they are addressing and exploring in the planning phase in order to pre-empt any tenantrequested adjustments to design, deployment, and use of data. Conclusion With the demand for more energy-efficient housing on the rise and the latest government green standard for new build homes already in place, the expectation for more intelligent homes is certainly increasing. In light of this, we predict that in the years to follow, IoT-based property services will be much more agile, responsive and offer a dynamic set of services that are more tailored to tenants’ needs. Properties that are better managed and highly costefficient to run result in happier, safer tenants. Providers are actively developing more sensors with wider-ranging capability, connectivity and deployment at scale The vision and objective for this type of technology intervention is to allow housing stock to connect seamlessly to facilities management and operations, exchange relevant data for insight and action, and deliver safer, smarter, economical and environmentally conscious social housing. special feature
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PSSA
Public Sector Sustainability Association
BECOME A CORPORATE MEMBER The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.
Corporate membership of the Public Sector Sustainability Association is available to any private sector organisation wishing to reach committed and influencial sustainability professionals in Government, Local Authorities, NHS, Education and Housing Associations. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS • • • • • • • •
Comprehensive listing in Suppliers Directory Unlimited opportunity to supply press releases, articles & news to feature on PSSA website One release for inclusion in monthly Newsletter. Logo on PSSA homepage Introductory email sent to our members as the latest Corporate Member to join the PSSA Logo - ‘Member of the PSSA’ to use on your own websites/materials 25% off Website/Newsletter banner advertising 25% off Newsletter sponsorship
WHAT DOES IT COST The annual membership fee is £495+VAT.
Interested in becoming a Corporate Member of the PSSA? Get in touch today - call us on 01933 316931 or email us at info@pssa.info
www.ps s a.in fo
