Johnson Controls, a smart and sustainable building specialist, has announced that it will launch a comprehensive suite of digital solutions, called OpenBlue Healthy Buildings, to make shared spaces safer as people return to their offices
OpenBlue Healthy Building solutions, which are integrated but can also be modularly deployed, include a combination of hardware and software such as smart devices, digital sensors, security systems, cameras, monitors, powerful analytics and dashboards, infection control and other connected devices as well as a mobile app to manage spaces and occupant experiences.
Solutions include:
Contact tracing: Automated contact tracing capabilities are the cornerstone of this suite of solutions and allow for other technologies. Overall, these solutions enable construction management and employers to understand exposure risks for occupants in the building.
In case of an occupanct testing positive, the system can trace person-to-person and person-to-space contacts retroactively to provide almost immediate support to Human Resources, and Facility teams to reach out to at-risk workers, address potentially affected areas, and take preventive measures to minimise spread.
Social distancing monitoring: OpenBlue Healthy Buildings will monitor social distancing in real-time, send violation alerts should occupants be too close together or spaces become over-occupied, allowing extensive reporting of compliance and changes in real-time behaviour to prevent the spread of infection.
Thermal cameras: To ensure a holistic approach to safety, OpenBlue Healthy Buildings includes temperature screening technology that takes measurements while an individual is walking to allow for frictionless entry and exits, and prevent infection spread.
Scenario Planning: Solutions proactively determine people-spaces connections, predict impacts from possible negative events, and allow intervention before disruption, and reduce risk.
Infection control: OpenBlue Healthy Buildings creates a layered approach to connectivity between different systems which are integral to control infections. These include, but are not limited to, systems that reduce indoor and airborne pathogens by increasing the ventilation of outdoor air, disinfecting ultraviolet C (UV-C) lighting, and remote monitoring of room pressure, air change rates, moisture and temperature to create healthier air.
Mapping and monitoring space utilisation: The OpenBlue mobile app provides live map views of sanitation status, occupancy data, and recommendations to safely navigate the building to maximise and monitor the use of spaces.
The system is an agnostic platform and works seamlessly with existing building management systems to support such activities as booking conference rooms or individual workstations with sanitation status indication.
Enhanced communication and experiences: The mobile app helps engaging employees and occupants in real-time by providing updates on shared spaces and new policies, preferred wayfinding to avoid crowded areas, space availability and safety details, telephone as badge access, SOS response, rotational schedule support, health attestation and self-reporting options, and more.
These increase communication points between building management, human resources and employees to provide real-time information and full transparency, while also supporting features of productivity and experience, such as integration of calendars and comfort control.
