< Previous COMMENT 30 April 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Gone are the days when we wait for an AC to fail before it is fi xed By Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO of Taqeef T he past year has shone a spotlight on HVAC in relation to indoor air quality and energy efficiency. As the world spends more time indoors, consumer demand for cleaner air and greener cooling has increased, and so has the demand for specialist AC preventative maintenance, cleaning and sanitation services. While HVAC maintenance has traditionally been categorised under the catch-all umbrella of building maintenance contracts – it has SMART SYSTEMS, SMART SERVICECOMMENT April 2021 31www.fm-middleeast.com Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO of Taqeef. AS THE WORLD SPENDS MORE TIME INDOORS, CONSUMER DEMAND FOR CLEANER AIR AND GREENER COOLING HAS INCREASED, AND SO HAS THE DEMAND FOR SPECIALIST AC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, CLEANING AND SANITATION SERVICES. now finally earned its place as a maintenance speciality field in its own right. And with good reason. FROM PREVENTATIVE TO PREDICTIVE Cooling technology is becoming more advanced and intuitive every year. With smart sensors, we are seeing cloud stored data and toolkits, which allow us to pre-empt problems, monitor compressor capacities and identify part replacement issues, even before any operational impact. This deluge of data points is good news for building owners, and contractors, as it allows us to learn from and interpret this data to create optimal systems for building management staff and homeowners alike. Gone are the days when we wait for an AC to fail before it is fixed. IoT and IP protocol means predictive maintenance is now a reality, allowing real-time monitoring of equipment to optimise energy efficiency and operating costs. We have seen the benefits of this in Taqeef ’s 4-year maintenance contract period of the Dalma Mall Chiller plant – technology we installed and have maintained since. Plant efficiencies have remained consistent at 10% above the KPI, while plant availability has outperformed its KPI, maintaining a 99.8% 4-year average. This is proof of the exceptional benefits of professional HVAC maintenance. CLEANING AND SANITATION ‘Healthy buildings’ is a buzz phrase for 2020/21 as we all look to the impact of air quality and ventilation. Professional cleaning and sanitation of cooling systems is an essential tool for making our spaces healthier, and yet it is a discipline that, to-date, has been largely overlooked. Coil congestion, mould build-up, dust, dirt, debris and filter contamination all contribute to indoor air pollution, noise and inefficiency. But they are not routinely addressed by AC maintenance contracts. So, we anticipate the demand for regular cleaning and maintenance of HVAC technology is set to increase as people become more reliant on (and aware of ) the impact AC has on quality of life and electricity consumption. A well-serviced unit is a more efficient and a more effective one, so Taqeef has just launched a new Annual AC Service Product (Cool Protect) to capitalise on this demand. Much like a car service, we believe authorised HVAC servicing will become the norm – as consumers, contractors and building owners look to protect their investment by ensuring their technology runs efficiently, while reducing energy bills and promoting a healthy living and working space. For us, this should include deep cleaning of indoor and outdoor units, along with ducting, noise and ventilation checks as a minimum. A CLEANER, GREENER FUTURE Behavioural change and consumer demand is what paves the way for the future, and it is good to see that expectations relating to HVAC are rising. In a region where AC is synonymous with quality of life, the future looks healthier, greener, cleaner and more reliable than ever before. HVAC PRODUCT 32 April 2021www.fm-middleeast.com As decision makers navigate changing environments, upgrading existing technology to meet demands for greater effi ciency and peace-of-mind remains a key focus LG Electronics (LG) showcased its advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at the 6th annual Retrofit Tech MENA Summit. Retrofitting is proving to be a popular choice for decision makers, owing to the method’s ability to utilise aspects of existing infrastructure and build upon it. LG’s Life Cycle Cost Analysis Retrofit solution and inverter technology make it possible to anticipate how much a user can save and estimated payback over a given time period. For those seeking to have reduced impact on the environment and greater affordability, retrofitting enables parts to be recycled and reused within existing frameworks, saving not only initial costs, but also long term operating expenditure. At the Retrofit Tech MENA Summit, LG showcased its Retrofit Products that provide installation flexibility, Indoor Air Quality & Control feasibility, each of which are designed to cater to specific business environments. LG FOCUSES ON RETROFITTING HVAC SYSTEMS TO EMPOWER BUSINESSES ACROSS MENA Product experts will be on hand to talk about LG’s inverter compressor technology, which works to ensure not only consistent temperature and air flow but has also been proven to offer up to 50% electricity consumption savings when compared with conventional air conditioner compressors. Over the past year, investing in comprehensive HVAC solutions has proved to be a necessity in ensuring continuity and promoting peace-of- mind. Policymakers across the region and around the world have focused in particular on the importance of air quality and inherently, the need for greater ventilation. To make this possible, building owners and facility managers have looked towards both natural and mechanical ventilation methods, such as using fans and ducts to promote access to improve indoor air quality and comfort. While businesses have shown their resilience and been fast to invest in the right technological infrastructure to keep afloat, budget reductions are impacting particular aspects of each organisation’s focus. With the advent of remote working, e-learning and virtual interactions, investments in HVAC solutions were naturally moved down the change of priority. Yet, as organisations across the Gulf region now experience phased reopening, restoring public confidence to return to physical spaces and remaining compliant with regulations requires greater focus on improving air conditioning units in particular. At the summit, LG also displayed its air purification kits, which can be applied to existing air or new conditioner models. For duct type ACs, the company’s purification kits provide filtration of circulating air, offering a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) rating of 13 and deploying UV- LED technology to sterilise up to 99.9% of particles and bacteria. Visitors learned more about LG’s air purification technology for non-duct type ACs, such as the Dual Vane model, which uses a powerful 5-step air system to remove odor, germs, and PM 1.0 fine dust. For greater visibility and convenience, LG air conditioners are compatible with the LG ThinQ mobile application, empowering users to control their cooling systems at any time, from anywhere. The application enables real- time and trend monitoring, providing an indication of energy consumption and indoor fine dust level. “LG has a longstanding track record of helping businesses adopt more thorough and efficient air solution technology in the region. We have taken onboard valuable insights from the HVAC community and are committed to providing solutions which solve real business challenges, such as reducing operating expenditure and promoting safer physical environments. At the Retrofit Tech MENA Summit, we look forward to meeting local decisionmakers and exploring how we can help elevate their individual business success,” said Suraj Kumar, technical manager – Air Solutions, LG Electronics Gulf. A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Awards Wednesday 16th June 2021 - JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, UAE NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT MIDDLE EAST AWARDS FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES VINAY RAVINDRAN Group Sales Manager T: +971 4 444 3155 GSM: +971 55 810 1197 E: vinay.ravindran@itp.com FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES RAJIV PILLAI Editor T: +971 4 444 3262 E: rajiv.pillai@itp.com FOR EVENT ENQUIRIES EBONIE PLATFOOT Events Manager T: +971 4 444 3689 E: ebonie.platfoot@itp.com FM-MIDDLEEAST.COM/AWARDS #FMMEAwards PLATINUM SPONSOR PLATINUM SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSORSwww.fm-middleeast.com PLATINUMSILVER 34 April 2021 CATEGORY FMME Awards 2021 in association with SEND IN THOSE NOMINATIONS! The 14th edition of the Facili- ties Management Middle East Awards will be held on 16 June, in Dubai, at the JW Marriott Marquis. The nominations for the awards are still open and the details can be found on https://fm-middleeast.com/awards You can enter your nominations by clicking on “Submit Nominations” on the homepage. Follow the on-screen instructions and register for a username and password. Click on ‘Choose Category’ and make the selection. Complete the nomination details, such as name of company or person you are nominating. In your submission be sure to include details, in 500 words or less, showing why your entry deserves to win over others. Any supporting files should be collated into a single PDF file no larger than 10MB and uploaded along with the online nomination. Your username and password allows you to work on your nominations and al- ter them until the nomination deadline. Any queries can be sent to fmawards@ itp.com This year we have introduced one more category ‘Supplier of the Year’, so in all this year there will be a total of 16 categories, namely: YOUNG FACILITIES MANAGER OF THE YEAR: The award for Young Facili- ties Manager of the Year will go to the person that has made an important contribution to the FM industry. Open to facilities managers aged 35 and under who have added value and actively contributed to a successful facilities management operation in any sector over the past 12 months. UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR: This award seeks to honor the unsung heroes of the FM industry—be it the secu- rity personnel who patrol a facility all through the day to keep it safe and se- cure, or the cleaners who ensure that the floors remain spotless all the time, we want to highlight the workers of the FM sector who are responsible for maintain- ing the level of service in this industry at extremely high standards. FACILITIES MANAGER OF THE YEAR: From positively impacting a company’s bottom line, to ensuring a building is ef- fectively run with sustainable practices in place. The winner will be on the com- pany’s payroll (not outsourced), and be able to prove they have shown initiative, innovation, implemented best practice and reduced costs within an organisa- tion to reflect a successful operation. FM EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: The award for FM Executive of the Year will go to the senior executive of a leading FM company who can demonstrate the greatest impact on his/ her FM-related business in the last 12 months. The winning executive could be a CEO, managing director, general man- ager, related deputy, or someone from a ‘C’ suite role. Their company may be operating in any part of the FM sector, be it as a waste management specialist or as an integrated FM provider. CLEANING COMPANY OF THE YEAR: It will be a company that has excelled in providing or arranging cleaning services for a significant project and/or contract. The overall solution/service provided will be in response to a specific need/re- quirement, showcasing innovation and a strong sense of bottom-line deliverables. FM CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR: The consultancy will have a good standing in the industry, and be known for its com- mitment to value addition and innova- tion, thereby playing a vital role in the overall development and bench marking of the industry against the highest inter- national professional standards. SANITATION & WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR: The award for Sanitation & Waste Management Com- pany of the Year will go to the company that can demonstrate the best record of progress and delivery for its clients, while maintaining an exemplary HSE record and showing signs of commercial strength and growth. SECURITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR: The award for Security Company of the Year will go to a company that has excelled in providing or arranging security services for a significant project and/or contract. The overall solution/service provided will be in response to a specific need/re- quirement, showcasing innovation and a strong sense of bottom-line deliverable. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR: The award for Sustainabil- ity Initiative of the Year will go to the company, operating in the FM sector, which has delivered the best sustainabil- ity initiative in the GCC. The winning initiative will make a positive contribu- tion to the advance of environmental considerations in FM, while also demon- strating clear practical applications. The sustainability initiative must have been active in the GCC between March 2020 and April 2021. EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT INITIA- THE NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR THE FMME AWARDS 2021 IS ON 15 APRIL 2021www.fm-middleeast.comApril 2021 35 CATEGORY FMME Awards 2021 in association with TIVE OF THE YEAR: The award for Edu- cation & Development Initiative of the Year will go to the project that makes an important contribution to its surrounds, demonstrates FM best practice and can show how FM techniques and technol- ogy have contributed to the project’s success. The majority of the project work should have been brought to completion between March 2020 and April 2021. TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YEAR: The winning entry will be drawn from companies that have utilized technology to streamline and enhance their current service offerings, mitigate costs through sustainability, as well as introducing innovative and ground-breaking solutions to their respective clientèle. The implementation should have been brought to completion between March 2020 and April 2021. HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR: The award for Health and Safety Initiative of the Year will go to the company, operating in the FM sector, which has delivered the best health and safety initiative in the GCC. The winning initiative will make a positive contribu- tion to the advance of health and safety consciousness in FM, while also demon- strating clear practical applications and results. The health and safety initiative must have been active in the GCC be- tween March 2020 and April 2021. OVERALL FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR: The award for overall FM Company of the Year will go to the company that can demonstrate how it has had the great- est impact on the FM-related business. The winning company is well-respected, with a solid reputation among customers and the industry as a whole. Its all-round performance in the FM industry over the past year, as exhibited by in its ongoing involvement in flagship contracts and/or projects, will have built on a track record characterized by service excellence, delivery and innovation. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR: The award for Property Management Company of the Year will go to a PM firm or asset manage- ment firm that’s making rapid strides either through its own FM division, or via its outsourced FM operator. Best demonstrating the value for its clients and stakeholders while keeping service charges competitive. ENGINEERING SERVICE OF THE YEAR: The award for Engineering Service of the Year will go to the company that demonstrates the best record of progress and service delivery by its respective Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) division. THE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR: The award recognises any Middle East- based supplier involved in the FM supply chain that includes and is not limited to CAFM providers, plumbing and sanitaryware, security systems, firefighting and alarm systems, IAQ (indoor air quality) specialists, clean- ing suppliers, and others. Although the range is vast and varied, we want to recognise one supplier firm that over the last 12 months was instrumental in going above and beyond its responsibili- ties in complementing an FM service provider and/or facility, despite the on- going pandemic. Innovation and agility is key here to win! Our sponsors so far include Ejadah as Platinum Sponsor; Farnek as Silver Sponsor; and Adeeb, Al Bonian Facilities Management, BK Gulf Facilities Man- agement, Emrill, Engie Solution, Inspire Integrated, Khansaheb FM and ServeU as Category Sponsors. The nomination deadline is on 15 April 2021. For awards sponsorship and table sales get in touch with vinay.ravindran@itp. com and anthony.chandran@itp.com, respectively.www.fm-middleeast.com36 April 2021 SUPPLIER FOCUS Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, there has been much discussion about the need to implement improved safety protocols within the workplace. These have in large part centred around the importance of hand hygiene and the vital role regular handwashing can play in preventing the spread of Covid-19. It has become a commonly repeated phrase that good hand hygiene is a critical first line of defence in recent times. In fact, the World Health Organization’s Hand Hygiene for All Global initiative went a step further by urging governments, employers, as well as private industries and commercial buildings and public institutions to adopt more proactive hand hygiene protocols. And as increasing numbers of people returned to offices and other workplaces, Dyson’s global hygiene study1 found that 42% of respondents were more concerned about visiting a public restroom when compared to the previous year. As such, it has become a key priority for facility management professionals to ensure the equipment installed in public areas as well as other elements of the work environment are hygienic and safe for employees and visitors. That means the public must be provided with adequate handwashing facilities and equipment such as washbasins, soap, running water and a means for hand drying. This last element has perhaps been neglected more than any other which is particularly alarming as THE TOP BUSINESS AGENDA FOR TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE WORKPLACE IS SAFETY, INCLUDING HAND HYGIENE, SAYS KAREN HOLEYMAN, RESEARCH MANAGER IN MICROBIOLOGY AT DYSON SAFELY TRANSITIONING BACK TO WORK Dyson Airblade 9kJ.www.fm-middleeast.comApril 2021 37 SUPPLIER FOCUS for real-world use. As far as we know, we are one of the few companies that own an in-house microbiology lab, which means we are able to test and develop our products based on scientific findings. This entails conducting extensive research to discover how particles behave in washrooms. We know that by using a fleece-lined glass fibre HEPA filter the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer captures 99.95% of particles3, including bacteria and viruses so that the air blown on to your hands from the Dyson Airblade 9kJ are hygienically clean. Additionally, the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer produces up to 85% less CO 2 4 than paper towels and costs up to 99% less to run5. That means it creates a far better environment within a THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT UPON ALMOST EVERYONE IN SOME FORM AND HAND HYGIENE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF BACTERIA AND DISEASE. poorly dried hands can transfer up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands2. As part of this renewed vigour around hygiene, Dyson commissioned a research with an independent laboratory into different drying methods after rinsing hands or properly washing hands and examined the question of aerosolisation, which became a topic of discussion at the beginning of the pandemic. In this independent study hands rinsed with water (no soap) or washed with soap for 20 seconds were then dried using Dyson Airblade hand dryers or paper towels. The objective was to determine the effect of the different hand drying methods on the concentration of aerosols and bacteria in air. The study results showed that aerosols can be generated in a washroom due to different activities, such as walking, and using a tap. It also revealed that in general drying your hands with a Dyson Airblade hand dryer showed no statistical difference to these common washroom activities. It also showed the increase of aerosols and bacteria numbers in the air after drying with any of the Dyson Airblade hand dryer models is comparable to the numbers obtained when hands are dried with paper towels. With hygiene at the forefront of people’s minds, Dyson Airblade technology has become a popular choice for facilities management in washrooms as one of the best ways to ensure a user’s hands are dried quickly and hygienically. Not only are they touch-free but HEPA filters are also fitted as standard. This technology has been built upon more than 15 years of work conducted by Dyson microbiologists across a range of fields such as the food industry, the public health sector, academia and chemical microbiology, ensuring that Dyson Airblade technology is hygienic About the author Karen Holeyman is a microbiologist working in the microbiology laboratory at the Dyson headquarters, Malmesbury, England. She works within the New Technology Research group in RDD and currently leads on research and project conception from fi rst principles through to development teams. washroom, as well as the wider world, as it does not create an overflowing waste bin filled with paper towels. The pandemic has had a profound impact upon almost everyone in some form and hand hygiene will continue to have an important role to play in preventing the spread of bacteria and disease. With Dyson Airblade technology, users will enjoy the benefits of hygienically dried hands while, facility managers will have an environmentally friendly solution, that unlike paper towels, does not produce paper waste. Karen Holeyman, research manager in microbiology at Dyson. References: 1• Global survey conducted in July 2020 across 14 countries worldwide (UK, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, US, CA, MX, CN, JP, MY, SG, AU) with 8758 respondents in total, aged 18 years-old or above. Individual percentages vary per country. 2• Patrick D, Findon G, and Miller T (1997). Residual moisture determines the level of touch- contact-associated bacterial transfer following hand washing. Epidemiol. Infect. 119: 319-325 3• HEPA fi lter tested to EN1822-5, by an independent testing laboratory, under prescribed test conditions 4• The environmental impact of electrical appliances and paper towels was measured by Carbon Trust. The calculations were produced using the software Footprint Expert Pro, based on product use over 5 years and using weighted averages of individual countries of use. Dry times for product were evaluated using DTM 769. 5• Average electricity price $0.1/kWh as of December 2018. For calculations visit www. dyson.ae/calcs SUPPLIER NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com38 April 2021 RECYCLING Mai Dubai announced it has partnered with DGrade, manufacturer of eco-friendly clothing, to support its ‘Simply Bottles’ recycling initiative for schools. The initiative has been designed to educate, engage and empower children to contribute to sustainability by increasing recovery and recycling rates of plastic bottles in the UAE. The campaign, which runs until June 2021, will see Mai Dubai engage teachers, students and parents at Dubai schools to raise awareness on the importance of recycling plastic water bottles, so that they can be turned into uniforms, PE kits and accessories. The production of clothing items from recycled plastic bottles diverts plastic from landfill and provides a sustainable alternative to conventional clothing production. Mai Dubai and DGrade will jointly organize BMS Honeywell has been awarded a contract for the installation of integrated building management systems across all Mouwasat Medical Services (MMS) hospitals. The contract, which supports the Kingdom’s focus on advancing the country’s healthcare sector, will enable MMS to optimise its energy usage and building maintenance across its six hospital locations in Saudi Arabia. Honeywell’s contract is part of MMS’ ‘digital-first’ approach and involves the deployment of the company’s Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management solution to enable better management of assets. This includes: • Honeywell Forge Energy Optimisation, which autonomously and continually Initiative aimed at increasing recycling rates of plastic bottles in Dubai Mai Dubai partners with DGrade’s school bott les recycling drive Advanced integrated solutions support transformation of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector Honeywell awarded contract for installation of integrated building management systems across all Mouwasat Medical Services hospitals activities to create awareness for sustainability, including a competition to help incentivize schools to increase collection rates of plastic bottles for recycling. Alexander van‘t Riet, CEO of Mai Dubai, said: “We are aware of the importance Dubai government attaches to environmental sustainability in line with the UAE Vision 2021. Raising awareness among the youth is essential to bring about a fundamental change in this regard. Therefore, we are extremely pleased to partner with DGrade to support their ‘Simply Bottles’ initiative which strives to drive the recovery and recycling rates of plastic bottles in the UAE.” DGrade’s founder, Kris Barber added: “Over the past year and a half we have partnered with Mai Dubai on a number of projects. Their support for the Simply Bottles school recycling initiative is another important way they are demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. Sustainability impacts all of us, but none more so than future generations, Mai Dubai understands that which is why they are so keen to engage schools and work with us on this programme.” optimises a building’s internal set points across hundreds of integrated assets – constantly evaluating weather, occupancy levels, tariffs, time of day and other data – and makes adjustments every 15 minutes to improve a building’s HVAC system for peak efficiency, without compromising occupant comfort. The solution also provides intuitive dashboards as well as full visibility of energy performance across all six MMS buildings and facilities in the Kingdom. • Honeywell Forge Digitised Maintenance, which changes the way buildings and assets are maintained through a proactive maintenance process of curated recommendations. • In addition to the Honeywell Forge solutions, Honeywell will also integrate proprietary and third-party systems across the six MMS locations, including its Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI) building management system to improve building system control, and a portfolio of security and fire alarm systems to maximise occupant safety. MMS is a leading healthcare provider in Saudi Arabia. Plastic bottles. Mouwasat Medical Services hospital.Register to attend the Middle East’s dedicated trade event for commercial interiors, from the 31st May to 2nd June 2021. WORKSPACE is an essential event for serious buyers in the office interiors community. Commercial interior designers, facilities managers, architects, end-users and retail buyers attend to source office furniture and products, grasp insights from expert leading design professionals, and network with office interiors brands. Get back to business by rejoining and reconnecting with the workplace design industry at WORKSPACE! THAT’S WHY WORKSPACE EXISTS. Middle East’s No.1 Workplace Event 31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2021 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE Part of Middle East Design and Hospitality Week WWW.WORKSPACE-INDEX.COM #WORKSPACESHOW @WORKSPACESHOW OFFICE DESIGNNext >