WITH MOST OF US INDOORS DURING SUCH TIMES, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RENEWED FOCUS ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY LIFE ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS MAY 2020 • VOL. 15, ISSUE 05www.fm-middleeast.com CONTENTS May 2020 3 UPDATE 6 Farnek installs sanitisa- tion gateway to fi ght coronavirus 8 Dubai Silicon Oasis authority continues comprehensive disin- fection drive against coronavirus 10 Eltizam to implement May 2020 VOLUME 15 / ISSUE 05 next-gen ERP SAP S/4HANA for higher productivity NEWS 12 FSI Middle East partners with Khadamat Facilities Management to combat the spread of COVID-19 COVER STORY 16 Indoor air quality has never been a more pertinent subject during such times, especially now with most of us be- ing indoors. FMME talks to a few experts on the subject DISINFECTION SERIES 32 A series where FMME talks to a few FM fi rms on the frontlines tack- ling COVID-19 through disinfection FIVE MINUTES WITH... 42 Anas Nader, operations director, Al Bonian FM 42 Regulars 15 DOWNLOAD NOW FOR iOS, ANDROID, AND KINDLE 32 6 @fmMidEast@fmMidEast @fmMidEastwww.fm-middleeast.com CONTENTS 4 May 2020 25 SPECIAL REPORT How are waste management fi rms in the Middle East mantaining the same level of operational best practices and adapting to new rules around COVID-19? In-depth May 2020 DOWNLOAD NOW FOR iOS, ANDROID, AND KINDLE 2516 VOLUME 15 / ISSUE 05 @fmMidEast@fmMidEast 16 COVER STORY Can viruses spread through air conditioners? Indoor air quality has never been a more pertinent subject during such times, especially now with most of us being indoors @fmMidEast 38 FM AWARDS 2020 Have a look at our esteemed judges selected from the Middle East’s facilities management community. Judging will be done through a blind ballot 40 SUPPLIER NEWS Find out the top facilities management supplier trends that are currently in the market, including some of the biggest digital trends set to shape the FM industry COMING UP IN FMME JUNE 2020 FMME’s Special Report on Refurbishment and fitout, will be published in the June 2020 issue and will focus on the retrofitting and fitout opportunities in the region, along with low- hanging fruit for energy savings To learn more about upcoming stories and advertising opportunities in future issues of FMME, please contact Vinay Ravindran through vinay.ravindran@itp. com, or +971-55-8101197. FMME ON LINKEDIN With more than 1,000 members from all over the Middle East, the FMME LinkedIn Group is the place to be to find out news, discussions and opportunities in the region’s FM industry. Email the editor at rajiv.pillai@itp.com to join the FMME LinkedIn Group and get in on the industry conversation. UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.com6 May 2020 Farnek installs sanitisation gateway to fight coronavirus fmupdate KEEP UP-TO-DATE For all the latest FM news check out www.fm- middleeast.com Farnek staff entering the sanitisation gateway. ast.cccom SANITISATION Farnek has installed a sanitisation gateway which will disinfect all staff, upon leaving and returning to their accommodation centres. The disinfectant system works via a Fog Gate, or disinfection tunnel, which sprays staff with a highly efficient, non-toxic, pH- neutral and durable disinfectant. The mist is completely harmless and dries in seconds, after employees pass through. The gateway is regularly sterilised and cleaned by a team of The company is set to roll out the sanitation system to all its accommodation centres across the UAEUPDATE www.fm-middleeast.comMay 2020 7 UAE-based mplus launches disinfection service for apartments, villas and offices highly trained specialists from Farnek. Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, said: “These sanitisation gateways are highly effective, extremely efficient and very practical. It literally takes seconds to walk through and the disinfectant dries almost immediately, ensuring that our teams will be protected from the virus and will not inadvertently spread the virus should they become exposed. Farnek will implement a Dubai Municipality-approved environmentally friendly and non-toxic disinfectant solution, which kills over 99.99% of all bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores. If successful, the pilot scheme, the first to be employed in a commercial capacity, will be rolled out across all of DISINFECTION UAE-based property maintenance and cleaning company, mplus, has launched a disinfection service for residential and commercial clients as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The BICSc-accredited service provider launched the disinfection offering in response to the additional precautionary measures being taken across the emirates, as authorities and residents work together to flatten the infection curve. James Smith, mplus’ general manager, said: “We would like to thank the UAE government, authorities and essential workforce who are taking proactive measures to keep the UAE’s residents and visitors safe during these challenging times. To support their efforts, we have provided our teams with training specific to prevent the spread of infection and have sourced the latest equipment for our fight against COVID-19.” mplus will use approved disinfectants, proven to be effective against coronavirus, which are Dubai Municipality and Dubai mplus will use approved disinfectants, proven to be effective against Coronavirus, which are Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority registered and approved Farnek’s staff accommodation centres in the UAE. A similar sanitisation system has already been installed at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station to protect essential workers, using the bus transport system. It too is expected to be rolled out at other transport hubs around the country. Farnek is Dubai Municipality- approved to clean and disinfect hotels, malls, offices, public buildings and residences. The company currently has over 8,000 employees supporting business in all emirates by offering a range of disinfection and sterilisation services using world-class, technologically- advanced cleaning products, which through a physical bond, create durable Health Authority registered and approved. Smith added: “We are offering disinfection services to all our UAE-based clients, working within the recommended guidelines of the World Health Organisation and local authorities. We are also taking additional measures to ensure the safety of our people and the communities they serve. All mplus technicians have been provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves and disposable overalls, which will be worn at all times. They will also take steps between appointments to ensure they and the equipment they are using are thoroughly sanitised to prevent cross-contamination. “Ensuring rigorous hygiene standards is one of our best lines of defence against the spread of disease and pandemics, such as COVID-19, and we take this responsibility seriously. Our number one priority remains the safety of our employees and our customers, and we are proud to be doing our part to support local efforts to contain the virus.” Existing and new customers can book an and self-sanitising surfaces and long- lasting protection. Kelvin Varghese, director, Farnek and Hitches & Glitches, responsible for the implementation of the new sanitisation system and the rollout across Farnek’s entire accommodation portfolio, said: “During these unprecedented times, the safety and well-being of our customers as well as employees, is of paramount importance to us and, as such, all necessary sanitising and precautionary measures are being undertaken to make sure we contain the spread of the coronavirus.” “The fight against viruses and bacteria has never been more critical than it is today.” appointment for disinfection of apartments, villas and offices by telephone or via the mplus website. mplus carrying out disinfection.www.fm-middleeast.com UPDATE 8 May 2020 Innovative solution designed to help meet disinfection and sanitisation needs of people and businesses in UAE CLEANING Imdaad, a Dubai- based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable facilities management services that enhance operational efficiencies of physical assets, today announced the launch of its new disinfection tunnel, ViroSheild by Vision Safety, as part of its efforts to help create cleaner and safer communities. Vision Safety, a subsidiary of Imdaad that takes a sustainable, 360-degree approach to the installation and maintenance of fire detection and protection systems, will offer the new solution to communities, government entities, and companies in the country. The fully automatic tunnel, which is equipped with motion sensors, sprays users with a mist that disinfects clothes as they walk through it. The disinfectants and equipment used in the tunnel are compliant with Dubai Municipality’s guidelines for cleaning and disinfection and are also safe and environment-friendly. Imdaad has developed two variants, with high pressure and low pressure disinfection tunnels to fit the different requirements of customers. The heavy-duty variant is meant for industrial fogging, while the low capacity variant is designed to meet the needs of communities. Commenting on the launch, Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Group CEO, Imdaad, said: “The development of our ViroSheild by Vision Safety disinfection tunnel is a testament to our capabilities and also represents our unremitting commitment to contributing to the UAE government’s efforts to create a clean, healthy and sustainable urban environment in the country. We are confident that the new solution will help address the disinfection and sanitisation requirements of businesses and the people of this nation.” Imdaad is also making available tunnel models for trucks and cars, which can be fixed on passenger routes in airports. ViroSheild by Vision Safety will prove beneficial in malls, hospitals, construction sites, among others. NEWS IN BRIEF Facilities Management Middle East enables free digital magazine editions ITP Media Group, the publisher of Facilities Management Middle East, has confi rmed that all of its B2B titles are now free to view on a choice of digital platforms. In line with the latest government decree reducing the circulation of printed magazines and newspapers within the UAE, ITP Media Group has accordingly lowered the print runs for its consumer magazines. ITP’s titles are available to read on a web based platform, or via the App store or Google Play store, free of charge to anyone. Al Hamra supports its residents in COVID-19 crisis by slashing cooling charges by up to 20% Al Hamra, the real estate developer, services provider and investment company in the Northern Emirates, has announced a reduction in the cooling consumption charges, benefi ting the residents of the Bayti villas, The Royal Breeze Residences, The Marina Apartments, The Golf Apartments and Bab al Bahr Residences. In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and as part of Al Hamra’s continuous eff orts to support the UAE community and provide cost eff ective services to its residents, Al Hamra is reducing the cooling consumption charges from 0.28 AED/kwh to 0.22 AED/ kwh. Residents will see an estimated reduction of up to 20% in their cooling consumption charges and it will refl ect on all utility bills from April 2020 onwards. Imdaad launches disinfection tunnel UPDATE WHAT’S THE STORY Awqaf and Minors Aff airs Foundation continues comprehensive sterilisation plan What’s the story? Awqaf and Minors Aff airs Foundation (AMAF) announced that it will continue the comprehensive sterilisation and disinfection drive in the Foundation’s buildings across Dubai. What are the details? In line with the World Health Organization (WHO) and complying with best international practices, the sterilisation process at the Foundation’s buildings, will continue periodically as part of nation-wide eff orts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). What did the experts say? HE Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary General of AMAF, said: “Well-aligned with its social responsibility and keenness in prioritizing public health and well-being and as part of its sustained mandate to care for its minors and safeguard its endowments, AMAF is taking all necessary measures to ensure a comprehensive cleansing and sterilization process at its buildings across the emirate.”UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.comMay 2020 9 DISINFECTION In line with the National Sterilisation Programme imple- mented across the UAE, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), has announced an ongoing disinfection drive at the integrated technology park with a population exceeding 77,000 people. In the first two weeks of the initiative, DSOA covered 15 kilometers of roads and infrastructure, two villa communities made up of 1,767 units, as well as public spaces and community centers, and 20 bus shelters at the hi-tech park. In addi- tion, it disinfected hundreds of offices, shopping centers, mosques, prayer halls, public parks, jogging tracks, and common areas, as well as other residential and commercial buildings across DSO. DSO’s SANITISATION In line with the gov- ernment’s efforts to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, Union Properties is initiating the disinfection, cleaning and sterilisation of the MotorCity community, spearheaded by Khalifa Alhammadi, vice chairman and group CEO of Union Properties. As part of the process, ServeU, a facili- ties management company and EDACOM Owners Association Management, col- laborated to sanitise the streets and com- mon areas, including parks, from Monday, 6 April, to Saturday, 11 April, from 8am to 2pm. “Union Properties is committed to supporting the government in its efforts to fight COVID-19 and to protecting its communities,” commented Alhammadi. The health and well-being of those in our communities is of utmost importance to us, and we are proud to be deploying our Measure ensures safety of more than 77,000 people living in DSO A 150-200 member crew carry out the sanitisation program, in different phases, using the latest equipment and methods ServeU and Edacom carry out sanitisation in Motorcity DSO’s rapid response team has spent more than 2,500 manhours. coronavirus restrictions that support the nation’s measures to maintain the safety and well-being of all residents. The united response to the common goal of defeating the pandemic by individuals and organiza- tions across the public and private sectors reinforces the UAE’s culture of social soli- darity in these exceptional circumstances.” DSO’s residents praised the precaution- ary measures taken by DSOA to protect the community. teams to not only protect them but also further the government’s efforts.” A 150-200 member crew will carry out the sanitisation program, in different phases, using the latest equipment and methods. Abdulla Al Rustomani, general manager, Edacom commented: “We are committed to ensuring that all residents can enjoy be- ing part of a safe, happy, well-maintained and well-run community, and this partner- ship with ServeU to sanitise the whole community, will enable us to do just that. As our teams begin the sanitisation pro- cess this week, we request full cooperation from everyone, and encourage them to stay home and stay safe.” Gary Reader, general manager, ServeU, added: “This disinfection activity fully complies with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations and en- sures the ongoing safety and wellbeing of our community. We are doing everything we can to tackle the situation head on and appreciate the support and understanding of our residents while we undertake this process.” On April 4, the UAE government an- nounced the extension of the sterilisation programme to 24 hours a day across all ar- eas and communities in Dubai, to protect the health and safety of the community and to curb the spread of coronavirus, encouraging all residents to stay home and stay safe. rapid response team has spent more than 2,500 manhours and used 25,000 liters of disinfectants, in line with the Authority’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Speaking on the drive, Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri, Executive Vice President of Engineering management & Smart City and Chairman of the Crisis Management Team at DSOA, said: “Our comprehensive disinfection initiative seeks to maintain the well-being of our community and the society at large, in keeping with the UAE leadership’s National Sterilisation Pro- gramme that is currently underway, as the country’s response to the pandemic the world is facing today.” He added: “I also thank and commend the DSO community for its strict compli- ance with the directives in relation to Dubai Silicon Oasis authority continues comprehensive disinfection drive against coronavirusNext >