FEATURE
Protecting building occupants in a post-COVID-19 world
Words Robert Kravitz
32 INCLEAN July / August 2020
A
s property managers worldwide begin to reopen their facilities, we can expect some to have bright and bold signs, welcoming back tenants and building users. However, if we look a little closer, we might find some fine print added to those signs, indicating that “we’ve made a few changes while you were gone.” Building users should expect this as should the cleaning contractors maintaining these facilities. Among the changes to expect, which are being developed or installed in buildings all over the world, are the following: • Thermal cameras may be installed at key building entries. These monitor – and score – how closely building users are adhering to
social distancing regulations. A poor score could have serious repercussions. • Some major banks around the world are installing phone apps that can trace worker interactions within a building and with customers. This way, if worker “A” should become infected, and they have recently had interactions with workers “B” and “C,” in the facility, those other workers will be sent home for up to 14 days until it is verified if they are not infected. • Systems are being installed that can take the temperature of several individuals at one time as they walk into a facility. Those with a high temperature will be stopped at the door. While this won’t indicate if they have COVID, a hightemperature reading is viewed as a red flag.
