04/15/2020
30,000 foot view for Facility and Property Mangers in a post COVID-19 world.
Many employers are radically rethinking their facilities needs, As the world has embraced remote working, teleconferencing, and other technologies many organizations are evaluating what their physical space requirements actually are. Many in the commercial real estate world expect to see a radical decline in demand for office space in particular. Some building owners looking to attract and retain lessees are focused on creating "Best in Class" environments to give their property the advantage. Other businesses faced with economic uncertainty are delaying or eliminating all Capex and Opex to horde cash and provide for other expenses. Those of us charged with protecting and maintaining buildings need to make stakeholders aware that current budgets will need to modified when "normalcy" resumes. For instance if delaying a project results in water intrusion, there will be cosmetic, structural, or even catastrophic damage beyond the scope of work needed now. Management must weigh those potential additional costs against speculation of more competitive future pricing from vendors.
Manufacturers face a different set of challenges. The nature of manufacturing typically meant big open areas where large groups of workers come together and make goods. Concerns about health and safety may require larger facilities to allow for greater social distance or replacement of workers with robotics and automation. Major shifts in process are capital intensive and if facility projects such as roof replacement need to be delayed to accommodate the investment in technology, facilities personnel need to make sure, at minimum due diligence and PM is performed to protect the new investment.
All Business will need to provide for the safety and protection of employees and customers by enhanced protocols to both clean and disinfect surfaces. OSHA guidance includes the following:
Employers operating workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic should continue routine cleaning and other housekeeping practices in any facilities that remain open to workers or others. Employers who need to clean and disinfect environments potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 should use EPA-registered disinfectants with label claims to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures (e.g., using cleaners and water to pre-clean surfaces before applying an EPA-registered disinfectant to frequently touched surfaces or objects for appropriate contact times as indicated on the product's label) are appropriate for SARS-CoV-2, including in patient care areas in healthcare settings in which aerosol-generating procedures are performed.
Now, employees and customers are more conscious then ever about the risks of infection..They will place more importance on proper cleaning and disinfection and also for businesses the perception in the marketplace as leaders and a firm that takes it seriously is vital.
Expect great interest and demand for UV-C systems to sanitize cooling towers, and ventilation systems in all environments. The price of this technology is very modest but it was frequently eliminated during value engineering because indoor air quality was not in the forefront of decision makers minds. Now it is.
In the residential sector, Property Managers and condo boards have a new pressure to deal with. More people spending more time at home have more time to notice the things needing attention and more have more time to place work orders, and place angry follow up phone calls. Property Mangers still the same budget constraints as before the pandemic and also in many cases owners who are either focused on preserving capital or deploying it elsewhere as the economic shock ripples through the real estate market.To be sure this is a challenging time.
How we navigate these choices will have a big impact on the health of our society, the economy, and the built environment for years perhaps decades to come. What are your thoughts? What feedback and direction are you seeing from clients? What can we do better as professionals to weather this storm? Please reach out in this forum, phone, text, or e-mail. We want to hear from you!
