DATES FOR THE
FM DIARY
08-10 SEPTEMBER 2020
www.facilitiesshow.com
18-22 MAY 2020
Facilities Show Digital Week
https://bit.ly/2zanNsw
16 JUNE 2020
RICS Strategic Facility Management
Conference
etc venues St Paul’s, London
www.rics.org/strategicfm/
06-07 JULY 2020
Facilities Management Forum
Hilton Deansgate, Manchester
www.facilitiesmanagementforum.co.uk
14-16 JULY 2020
Clerkenwell Design Week
EC1 London - various locations
www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com
08-09 SEPTEMBER 2020
Hotel Facilities Management Expo
ExCeL, London
www.hfmexpo.co.uk
15-16 SEPTEMBER 2020
The Manchester Cleaning Show
Event City, Manchester
https://cleaningshow.co.uk/manchester/
16-17 SEPTEMBER 2020
RWM Exhibition
NEC Birmingham
www.rwmexhibition.com
06-08 OCTOBER 2020
UK Construction Week
NEC Birmingham
www.ukconstructionweek.com
09-10 NOVEMBER 2020
Smart Home Expo
NEC Birmingham
www.smarthometechlive.co.uk
PLEASE VISIT THE EVENTS PAGE ON
FMJ.CO.UK FOR THE LATEST INFO ON EVENTS
MAY 2020 7
MICROBIOLOGIST REPORT
CONFIRMS HAND DRYERS
UNLIKELY TO SPREAD COVID-19
Following research into COVID-19 transmission,
independent microbiologist, Dr. David L Webber, has
confirmed that the use of hand dryers in the washroom
does not contribute to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The report, commissioned by Airdri Ltd, seeks to confirm
how the virus is transmitted in the washroom environment,
and whether warm air hand dryers are safe to use during the
pandemic.
Citing various articles and reports into the spread of
microbial contaminants, Dr.Webber confirmed that COVID-19 is
spread by droplet transmission and contact with contaminated
surfaces, but that the risk of contracting the disease should
be no greater in the washroom than in any other communal
space.
The report states: “Droplet transmission of coronavirus in the
washroom is unlikely as the air is constantly changed, typically
8 to 12 times per hour, which will remove droplets, as will
natural ventilation due to the opening and closing of doors.
Many smaller washrooms are also fitted with ‘air purifiers’ to
control odours and remove microbial contaminants. The risk
of infection is probably greater in the general workspace where
coughing and sneezing can release airborne bacteria which
can survive up to 15 minutes in droplets and aerosols in the
air.”
The report also referenced the ongoing debate around the
most hygienic hand drying process. The findings showed that
despite claims made by paper towel manufacturers to suggest
that hand dryers contribute to the spread of viruses in the
washroom, the reality is that both paper towels and warm air
hand dryers o er a hygienic way to dry hands.
Dr.Webber added: “In a small washroom, a single operation
of a typical hand dryer would only disturb two to three per
cent of the volume in the air and is unlikely to contribute to the
spread of microbes.”
The report concludes that the most e ective way to reduce
the risk of infection in the washroom is to wash and dry hands
e ectively, using soap and hot water and either paper towels
or a hand dryer, backing up the advice issued by the World
Health Organisation to tackle COVID-19.
If you have any knowledge of FM news from
across the world, please feel free to get in
touch with our assistant editor Sarah O’Beirne
email sarah.obeirne@kpmmedia.co.uk
Knight Frank
launches roadmap
for re-entering
the workplace
post lockdown
Knight Frank has launched a
roadmap to ensure that businesses
are able to safely re-enter the
workplace once lockdown sanctions
have lifted, whilst ensuring the
safety and wellness of employees and
continuing to decrease the spread of
COVID-19.
The global property adviser’s,
Strategic Workplace Consultancy
team developed the roadmap based
on current accepted re-occupancy
procedure being trialled in Asia and
supported by the US government.
This includes social distancing with
the offi ce, and extended working
from home on a part time basis
to allow reintegration into the
workplace.
The roadmap is designed to
support occupiers in fi ve clear areas:
understanding their employee base,
reviewing the employee/ customer
journey within the workplace,
evaluating social distancing options,
determining occupancy impact and
developing protocols.
The step-by-step strategy will
help businesses determine best
practice for re-occupying offi ces, and
identifi es two categories of change
that will need to occur in order to
safely re-enter the workplace.
The fi rst is behavioural changes,
ensuring that strict protocols such
as clear desk policies are applied,
and that social distancing is possible
within the workplace.
The second is environmental
changes including increased air fl ow,
changing HVAC fi lters or enhancing
cleaning regimes.
In order to encourage
environmental and behavioural
change in the workplace Knight
Frank has created clear ‘overlays’ –
clear steps and fl oorplan guidance
– to aid businesses in assessing the
risk and capacity issues.
The roadmap has been created in
a way that can be easily adapted.
Every offi ce and offi ce culture
are unique, therefore businesses
must individually create their
own strategies to implement
environmental and behavioural
chance that will reinforce safety
measures ahead of workforces reoccupying
buildings.
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