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Writer's pictureIgor Sarov

Making COVID-ready office space. Physical and Technology distancing measures

  • UK government made employers responsible for safety

  • 6.5 ft (2m) has become the de facto safety standard

  • Physical distancing measures, like plexiglass barriers helps Cushman & Wakefield

  • Technology distancing solutions from startups like Skyfii, Spaceti

  • People counting measures from AXIS and B&H


Responsible for Safety

Recently UK government announced that during current epidemics the responsibility for employees' health and safety - lies on the employer.

While every company scrambles to understand how they going to work in the new reality - there lies a bigger issue. The property management companies become responsible to uphold the safety standards across the whole office building. Common areas, elevators and cafeterias must have distancing measures implemented.

The number of people entering and leaving the premises must be controlled, as well number of visitors. Any excessive people congregation is local coffee shop, canteen and etc must be prevented.


6.5ft (2m) is the safety standard


Office snack containers, gyms, showers - all axed till virus goes away.

Implementing the standard is just half of the story. The "more complex" half - is monitoring it and making sure safety protocols are functioning.



Physical distancing measures. "Six feet office" concept

Cushman & Wakefield is introducing their "Six feet office" concept. With plexiglass dividers and circles on the floor to maintain the distance between people.

Some companies want to go back to cubicles, while most abandon "hot desk" concept.

Elevators

Physical barriers that would limit the space inside the elevator, so that people could maintain the distance.

Corridors

Companies are going to tape out the floor to direct the traffic and maintain the safe distance between people.

Property managers are experimenting with staggered office arrival and departure times.

Although the idea sounding nice - would be hard to maintain.



Technology distancing measures


  • Counting People entering and leaving the building. Solutions that have been on the market for a while from AXIS or B&H - could count shop visitors. And could be repurposed for Office needs.


  • Occupancy sensors from companies like Spaceti and Skyfii - could show you hot spots of people "traffic".


  • Book-your-visit systems - allowing employees to book their day to work from office. And book any visitors. Thus allowing property managers to control overall number of people during the day on each floor.



  • Infrared cameras to measure people's temperature

Some of the solutions are quite simple others - more complex. We do technology briefings where we discuss how IT helps Real Estate companies


Author: Igor Sarov

16 years in IT industry and over 7 years in Commercial Real Estate

100+ IT projects delivered 1500+ brokers use our solutions daily

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