COMPANIES can protect the health of their employees by curtailing the spread of bacteria, germs and viruses like COVID-19 by automating their doors and installing touchless switches.
That’s according to Maxiflex Managing Director Bram Janssen, who said that by using the company’s range of door automation systems and touchless activators, doors can be opened and closed without requiring any physical contact on door or door handle surfaces.
In addition to highly effective hygiene control, these touchless systems, which are suitable for both standard pedestrian, industrial and high speed doors, also facilitate seamless traffic flow.
“The implementation of level 2 lockdown in an effort to resuscitate the economy can accelerate the rate of COVID-19 infections as more businesses open up and more people return to work. Companies are responsible for the health and safety of their employees within the workplace and must strictly adhere to a host of mandatory government health regulations,” Janssen said.
In addition to protective measures such as screening everyone who enters the premises including employees, customers, suppliers, contractors, etc., wearing of face masks, regular hand sanitising and maintaining social distancing, another very important hygiene protocol is regular cleaning and sanitising of work areas.
“According to the World Health Organisation, 80% of common infections are spread by hands so doors and door handles are therefore particularly high risk areas for the spread of germs. These surfaces are constantly touched by hands, especially in heavy pedestrian traffic areas and restroom entrances and even regular cleaning and sanitising are not sufficient.”
Janssen said eliminating the need to touch these surfaces by automating manual door or installing activators is an extremely efficient way of preventing cross contamination. “Activators offer excellent options to tailor door control according to different applications and operational procedures.”
Maxiflex’s range of door touchless activators from ASSA ABLOY include induction loops, photoelectric barriers, radar motion detectors, infrared detectors, laser scanners and magic switches. Induction loops, laid in the floor, only react to metal objects and are ideal for detecting moving and stationary vehicles.
Photoelectric barriers and radar motion detectors are able to detect the movement of people and objects. With their high resistance to rain and other interferences, Radar motion detectors are flexible, high performance activators.
Janssen said the magic switch, also known as the touchless switch, offers an innovative clean and hygienic alternative to push buttons, pull switches and other manual actuators. This switch does not require any contact, reacting simply on hand movement to activate the automatic door with a touchless wave. The detection field can be set from 10 cm to 50 cm. Due to the radar technology, these switches can be installed behind any non-metallic surface.
Another control solution from Maxiflex is the company’s in-house manufactured automatic PVC sliding doors. “Featuring a sleek design and smooth, quiet operation, these touchless, clear barriers ensure safe and efficient traffic flow and environmental control in a wide range of facilities, from industrial warehouses, distribution centres, factories and food processing plants to commercial buildings, laboratories and supermarkets.”
Janssen advised customers to service and maintain their automatic doors regularly to ensure that they remain in good functioning order for optimal performance.