Smart building specialist Johnson Controls says that indoor air quality should be a priority for building owners and operators as cities begin to reopen.
Though guidance around the transmission of COVID-19 continues to evolve, experts agree that indoor air quality should be a top priority, the company said.
Johnson Controls said that it can help building owners and operators identify strategies to increase outdoor air circulation, filtration options to provide better air quality, optimal temperature settings to slow the flow of airborne pathogens and the use of ultraviolet C (UV-C) lighting solutions to kill viral organisms.
“Keeping people safe and secure in buildings has always been at the heart of our mission for 135 years, and as we look at a fundamental transformation how buildings operate, even the simplest of upgrades to full building retrofits will be important to reduce the transmission of disease,” said Mike Ellis, executive vice president and chief digital & customer officer, Johnson Controls. “The new normal means being prepared for the unexpected.”
Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson Controls noted that its annual Energy Efficiency Indicator found a desire by owners and operators to maintain healthy buildings. Although the current economic environment has changed dramatically, as the economy rebounds, owners and operators are expected to make further investments on behalf of the people who live and work in their buildings.
Johnson Controls said it has a range of products and solutions to create healthier air in buildings:
-York Air Handling Units: To reduce airborne pathogens within a building, mixed-air HVAC systems should focus on increasing outdoor air ventilation. York air handling units allow customers to maximize outside air to displace contaminated air and increase ventilation and air change rates.
-Koch Filters: Koch’s clean air solutions include high efficiency air filters, HEPA filters, and portable HEPA solutions for increased building flexibility.
-Critical Environment Controls: Room pressurization, air change rates, humidity, and temperature are vital components in reducing airborne contaminants and preventing cross contamination within healthcare and laboratory facilities.
-UV-C Lighting: Disinfectant lighting solutions are necessary to reduce pathogens both on surfaces and in the air.
The firm said that building owners can integrate HVAC, lighting and security systems into a single digital platform like Johnson Controls Metasys building automation system.
The firm recorded revenues of $2.17 billion in its North America building solutions segment in fiscal Q1 2020, slightly up compared to revenues of $2.11 billion in the same period the previous year , according to the company’s earnings release.
The company highlighted that growth in this segment in North America was driven by strong growth in fire and security and, to a lesser extent, growth in HVAC and controls. “This was partially offset by a decline in Performance Solutions,” the company said.
Johnson Controls produces Fire, HVAC, and Security equipment for buildings. As of mid-2019, it employed 105,000 people in around 2,000 locations across six continents.
