Facility managers are dealing with myriad responsibilities, ensuring everything to do with the physical space of the business is running safely and efficiently. With COVID-19 bringing new health and safety standards to bear, FMs are also on the front lines of ensuring the property is a healthy environment. For example:

  • As offices continue reopening and workers return to the workplace, break rooms and common areas must be reimagined to ensure safety, with touchless technology devices that can be deployed in any building.

  • College campuses can become petri dishes for the spread of coronavirus. Although it is diffi cult to enforce handwashing, mask-wearing and no partying in large groups, equipment can be installed to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

  • Nursing homes and other senior living facilities are under scrutiny for some of the highest disease incidence and death rates. Beyond adequate inventory of personal protective equipment, what else could have been used to help curb risk?

Given the new era, there are several key measures and devices FMs should be aware of and can easily implement at their locations, from office buildings to health care facilities to congregate housing residences.

A year into the COVID times, more is known about the virus and how it is spread and there are technologies readily available to help create safer, healthier facilities.

Nanotechnology solutions

There is no question that the awareness of cleaning has been amplified in the COVID-19 era; cleaning and disinfecting protocols have been pushed to the forefront and the public is more aware of touching surfaces that may be a contamination point for dangerous viruses and bacteria. However, beyond cleaning those surfaces is actual disinfecting, which traditionally takes time, manpower and supplies.

FMs have an easily applied solution to reducing contaminant transmission on high-touch surfaces with nanoseptic technology. Nanoseptic film — available in various sizes and can be cut to size — is a self-cleaning product powered by light that continuously oxidizes organic contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and fungi on a microscopic level, on high-touch surfaces. Nanoseptic technology continuously works on public touchpoints, without harmful chemicals or heavy metals, using mineral nanocrystals (embedded titanium oxide nanoparticles) that are bonded to the material. There is nothing released into the air and the film inactivates  pathogens for up to 90 days (depending on traffic).

While most facilities have installed hand sanitizer stations at building entrances and elevator banks, nanoseptic film can be applied to elevator buttons, door handles, railings, light switch covers and touchscreen surfaces as a supplemental sanitization measure that also puts visitors at ease. The products are clearly labeled to show occupants that the technology is at work; the visible presence of nanoseptic film and mats (designed for counters, reception desks, trays and tabletops) creates trust and confidence among staff, residents, tenants and visitors that the surfaces are contaminant free. This may also reduce the use (and expense) of paper towels and tissues that many people reach for to protect their hands from directly touching the surface.

Cleaning teams have only to wipe the surface with a microfiber cloth and warm water to remove dirt; no other maintenance is required to enable the oxidation process to do its job. Time spent sanitizing surfaces is reduced and there are no special (or harsh) cleaning supplies needed. Because there are no toxins or chemicals involved, nanoseptic film also satisfies mandates for green alternatives to traditional disinfectant products.

Air purification with surface sanitization technology

The increased energy-efficient construction of buildings is creating a pollutant trap when sufficient mechanical ventilation for adequate air exchange is not present. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor concentrations of some pollutants are two to five times higher than outdoor levels. This is  exacerbated by the increased use of synthetic building materials as well as certain cleaning products.

Add concerns over viruses such as influenza, MSRA and SARS-CoV-2, and it is clear that air purification is needed in many environments to reduce transmission of harmful pathogens and allergens such as viruses, bacteria, dust, mold and fungi.

There are several effective products available to purify indoor air, such as HVAC induct air purifiers that work on ionization or UV light technology. For FMs seeking a simpler, highly effective solution there are portable plug-in devices that require no installation, with some able to deliver medical-grade air purification down to .1 micron. The equipment is an important element in a facility’s sanitation plan as a supplement to increased HVAC system ventilation, especially in the COVID-19 era; it also supports best practices outlined by the CDC and other entities by boosting filtration and reducing the spread of infectious droplets.

Look for units that report particle removal capability by efficiency (such as “removes 99.99 percent of particles down to X microns”), which is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) rating system for performance, or units that use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters — alone or in conjunction with other technologies such as ionization, light waves, carbon filters and catalytic processes. Depending on manufacturer and model, portable air purification units can handle a wide range of indoor spaces from 2,000 to 20,000 square feet, with variable rates of air changes per hour (ACH).

Touchless technologies

Beyond the larger-scale domain of touchless/smart lighting, HVAC controls and other building automation, FMs can bring touchless technology to spaces and people with: 

Temperature scans: The public has grown accustomed to having temperatures taken at doctor’s offices, hospitals, even restaurants and salons. Contactless temperature scanning with handheld thermometers may not provide enough physical distance and require another person to use it. However, for FMs who manage buildings with heavy foot traffic, cost-effective, touchless temperature scanners can be installed on walls at entry points; visitors simply place a hand beneath the scanner for an instant readout via thermography. This enables a facility to vet many people quickly. 

There are also automated, hands-free temperature scanning kiosks that deliver real-time infrared thermal imaging and scan for elevated temperatures, all at a social distance from personnel. They detect accurate body temperature in seconds and provide instant notifications if a high temperature is assessed, making them well suited for schools, congregate housing and senior communities, hospitals, retailers and other businesses. Some are also equipped with optional facial recognition features and fully integrated security solutions.

Break room and cafeteria upgrades — contactless beverage dispensing: The new company break room or common area can be made safer and reduce surface contamination with touchless technology; in these spaces, it is showing up in a few ways, such as app-driven contactless coffee brewers and beverage dispensers. There are systems available that produce a variety of coffee drinks (including espresso favorites), and others for chilled fresh juice and water, that sit beneath a counter, with only the dispensing faucet visible. These low-profile units are controlled by a mobile app. Users can select and customize a coffee drink or request juice or water (including sparkling options) and send the order to the unit, using the system’s touchscreen or with their own mobile device. 

Installing the coffee, juice and water systems provides a suite of touchless solutions that are ideal for hotel breakfast service, conference center break areas, airport clubs, hospital cafeterias, waiting rooms, lobbies and office building cafes. The touchless water dispenser also enhances environmental conservation by reducing the need for bottled water and reducing recycling costs of plasticbottles.

For operators who keep office water coolers in place, foot pedals can be installed for hands-free dispensing. As an extra layer of protection, installing point-of-use water coolers with built-in, high-quality filtration may alleviate users’ concerns about transmission of pathogens through the water supply; side benefits of these units are, like the touchless solution noted above, that they reduce cost and waste associated with bottled water and meet an organization’s focus on sustainability.

In many buildings, water fountains have been turned off to avoid manual usage and the spread of COVID-19. Sensor-operated water fountains mitigate risk by circumventing the need for touch.

If the FM budget allows for a more extensive upgrade, expand the idea of no-touch faucets beyond restrooms to enhance hygiene anywhere multiple people use sinks, such as office building cafes, commercial kitchens, medical exam rooms or research labs. The same goes for touchless paper towel and soap dispensing and trash receptacles. Installing them in the breakroom or other areas will cut down on that surface contamination and in the case of paper towels, reduce waste.

Vending: Touchless, cashless vending machines put safety and hygiene in any space. Some machines are operated through an app, with consumers selecting and paying automatically on their mobile devices; others use the phone’s camera to direct users to a website where they make selections, view product details and check out.

A reminder about the basics: PPE 

The term unknown to the public a year ago is now common vocabulary. While there may not be enough in the budget to implement some of the technologies related to disinfecting, having adequate supplies of masks on hand for maintenance crews, security guards and other building personnel is key; depending on the environment, gloves and shields may also be part of the FM team’s standing PPE inventory. 

Technology is becoming a great problem solver for FMs, who are tasked with implementing additional layers of security in their buildings — including those who protect occupants against invisible, infectious intruders. Knowing about easy-to-implement solutions that do not require undertaking disruptive renovations will help FMs create a healthier indoor environment, often with budget-friendly products.