The pandemic has changed the way we work. For a time, our workforce needed to work from home and connect using video conferencing software and other digital solutions. Such was the convenience of this working model; many people choose to continue working this way and avoid any potential risk of infection in the office.
While there are benefits to home-based working for many organisations, there is a need to entice employees back to the office for effectiveness and efficiency. Promoting a hybrid model is the ideal solution for most businesses, but encouraging people back into your commercial buildings may take some work. With the right choice of building management system, businesses can offer confidence that the workplace is safe.
Smart buildings to the rescue
During COVID lockdown, when most commercial buildings were forced to close, a building management system offered site managers the opportunity to control systems on site remotely. Without these controls, physical site visits would have been necessary.
Now, in a world where we are starting to live with COVID, building management systems can come to the rescue once more. Before, building management systems were largely used for security and energy management, but now new IoT technologies can make buildings safe for people returning to work. Such technologies include thermal imaging cameras to check people for a high temperature, occupancy monitoring systems to maintain safe distancing
and control over HVAC systems to manage the airflow through the building.
From nice-to-have to a must-have
Many of these technologies, which are brought together in a building management system, were thought to be luxuries. They were something that companies chose because they wanted to attract the best workforce using the best facilities. With the threat of a pandemic, there is every chance that some of these systems will be written into legislation. Governments around the world are looking for a suite of solutions for managing the threat of COVID-19, and determining the environment people work within is going to be one such measure.
Good building management has gone from being one of comfort and design to one of safety. The HVAC system, in particular, has become critically important when creating a healthy environment. The UK Government, through the HSE, have stated in the law that employers must make sure there’s an adequate supply of fresh air in enclosed areas in the workplace. In a recent white paper entitled Ventilation for Industrial Settings During COVID-19 Pandemic, the US government laid out the first sign of legislation, insisting there should be between 6 and 12 air changes per hour.
Building Management Systems – technology convergence
The future of building management system development is likely to see a greater convergence in technologies. The traditional security and energy management systems merged with the devices focused on managing the consequences of COVID-19. As our Cube Control designers scan the literature on the latest innovations, it is clear that future buildings will require a full suite of technologies to ensure workplace safety.
If you want to learn how a building management system can give confidence to your workers, contact us today. Cube Controls offers advice in BMS design, ensuring your employees feel safe to return to the office and drive your success through collaboration.
