< PreviousCOVER STORY www.fm-middleeast.com20 September 2021 efficient route to take. The other key to Farnek’s digitalisation and connected workforce strategy is the Farnek smart watch, which was launched in 2017. In 2021, the firm updated to Farnek smart watch 2.0, which is an Android watch. This Android watch is connected to all other platforms at the command centre. Giving an example, Aijaz says: “If a cleaner, security guard or technician wears the smart watch, and any operational technology which is connected is producing a vocoder and sending it through the smart watch. This smartwatch is not only for communication, but also used for our service delivery. There's a high definition camera in the watch, and they can take a picture, and that picture goes back into the platform automatically creating a service order report. An auto email is also shot to the customer and project manager. “The smart watch also monitors employee’s health. It is monitoring the heart rate, blood pressure and temperature. We have defined the threshold as per the municipality regulations. If an employee crosses a health-related threshold, the watch sends live alerts to our command room where our HSEQ and HR department take the required action.” Farnek has also introduced Smart Cleaning which meant installing IoT sensors that measure footfall, wetness, and air quality, among others. The sensors are retrofitted to the design element. “All our solutions combined, improve customer experience, providing immediate notification and timely response,” says Aijaz. COMPATIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY When it comes to building management systems (BMS) several big names such as Siemens and Honeywell dominate the market; however, due to high costs, Aijaz says that customers only opt for the monitoring functionality, as controlling comes with additional costs. Also integrating it into CAFM systems incur huge costs. She adds: “Wherever we go to manage a facility, we notice that there is a gap. We looked at developing our own BMS solution, which is not only a traditional BMS solution, but also one that is based on Energy Centered Maintenance (ECRM) strategy. Oberlin explains ECRM by saying, “There is a clear correlation between the energy consumption of an asset and how efficiently the asset is working. That means the more energy it uses, the less efficient the asset is. It could mean, for example, that the filter in the ventilator is very dirty, and that’s why there is more power consumption.” Farnek’s BMS system which is based on IoT, has the capability of integrating with any branded BMS system in the market. “Our BMS system can integrate with Honeywell, Siemens or any existing BMS consoles,” Aijaz says. Oberlin adds that “if you can remotely access multiple customer sites, you don't need to have a BMS operating in each building”. Implementing HITEK solution 4.0 also brings in a lot of transparency to Farnek’s customers. Aijaz explains: “Every day an automated report goes to the customer from the system which tells that how many people are on the site today along with pictures because it’s facial recognition.” HITEK 4.0 dashboards showing various asset portfolios.COVER STORY www.fm-middleeast.comSeptember 2021 21 WE APPLIED DIGITALISATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN EACH OF OUR BUSINESS STREAMS. JAVERIA AIJAZ, SENIOR DIRECTOR – TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS AT FARNEK Farnek will be rolling out live dashboards for its customers in the near future. DIGITALISATION ADVANTAGES Most FM companies are providing classic FM services which is more like traditional cleaning, security, MEP, energy and waste management across various sites; however, Farnek is looking at digitalising the entire service lifecycle from the beginning to end. Aijaz says: “We applied digitalisation and technology in each of our business streams.” HITEK solution 4.0 is reducing the asset downtime, but the value it is bringing to customers is by enhancing the asset lifecycle for them. She adds: “We are saving overhead costs for our customer. We are saving the cost for chillers and BMS operations as we are centralising things. It is providing more benefit to the customer as we are able monitor 24/7, which a human cannot. We are saving on duplicated staff which brings a lot of savings, not only on manpower but also on the energy cost to the customer and the lifecycle of their assets.” Aijaz concludes by extending an invitation to Farnek Village: “Our message to everyone across the market is to visit and see what we do at Farnek Village. We don’t only preach, but we practice it at Farnek Village. We showcase how technology works and how efficiency is achieved across all the initiatives.” Farnek Village is an AED200m accommodation in Dubai South, which is home to around 5,000 Farnek employees. Farnek's customer care centre. OPINION 22 September 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Imdaad’s group CEO Jamal Abdullah Lootah examines how disruptive forces including the pandemic and climate change will shape the waste management industry’s future A s the global fight against Covid-19 continues, it has emerged that many industries have critical roles that we might not have considered for once. The waste management sector is certainly one that holds a special place among the frontline forces whose vital importance has been highlighted by the biggest worldwide health crisis in modern times. The pandemic has also induced far-reaching and impactful changes in the industry, especially in the UAE. New trends and shifts including in customer behaviors, regulations, technology and sustainability will be in focus as waste management firms in the country look to the future. Safety, cleanliness and sanitation have remained key pillars of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus. Working on the frontline of the pandemic, waste management firms ensured the safe and FUTURE OF WASTE timely disposal of tons of biomedical waste that poses serious health risks. This is in addition to heaps of municipal, commercial, and industrial wastes that are effectively managed on a regular basis through solid collection and disposal so as to ensure human well- being, smooth community living and economic growth and prosperity. One of the most significant effects of the pandemic on the waste management industry is accelerated digital transformation. Their high rates of technology adoption helped waste management companies to switch to remote working and digitise their operations to ensure business continuity and resilience. In an encouraging development, the industry witnessed an uptick in the adoption of paperless transactions. At Imdaad, we had set our targets in 2019, but the pandemic sped up our move to fully digital transactions, starting from service acknowledgments to service reports and invoice management. Occupational safety and health has been spotlighted once again by the pandemic – more evidently than ever. The unusual spurt in the growth of potentially infectious biomedical waste has raised questions over existing measures and practices designed to safeguard the safety of workers who manually handle waste collection and disposal. Such refuse being disposed of in undesignated places by people endangers the lives of workers when they are not equipped enough with protective equipment. Governments and industry bodies world over have issued guidelines to manage medical waste that requires careful handling and treatment processes. In the UAE, waste management firms are required to adopt new safety standards and practices to protect employee health and mitigate transmission risks.OPINION September 2021 23www.fm-middleeast.com The worsening environmental degradation and climate change have led to a renewed focus on sustainable living. We are increasingly seeing positive changes in customer behaviours and an improvement in community awareness of sustainable practices. These also positively reflect on waste management. In a remarkably positive development, people are now treating waste and its management as per the guidelines provided by communities and thus, we have noticed a surge in the quality of recyclables we collect. Initially, we had faced challenges in segregating recyclables as wastes are mixed with contaminated waste like face masks and gloves. However, this changed as a result of special collection programs and awareness initiatives by authorities, communities, and service providers. This promising approach to sustainability is also evident in customer needs as well. Waste management companies looking for long-term growth and success must adopt a sustainable business model. This should cover all aspects of business, including digitisation, resource recovery and recycling, customer awareness, efficient route planning, and the use of alternative fuels among others. It will also be important for service providers to improve the traceability of materials they collect for recycling or resource recovery. In the UAE, there is a growing emphasis on recycling. It is in part thanks to the target of diverting 75% of all municipal solid waste away from landfills by this year as outlined in the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda. Dubai Municipality’s recent circular regarding the implementation of a waste tipping fee from 1 January 2022 is a major decision in the right direction. The implementation of the tipping fee will encourage waste generators to look for all possible waste reduction and resource recovery options. With our subsidiary FARZ, one of the largest fully automated materials recovery facilities in the region with a capacity to process 1,200 tons of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste per day, Imdaad has already been at the forefront of recycling. Another recent major development that will have a significant impact on the waste management sector is the new UAE Circular Economy Policy, which envisages responsible consumption and mitigating environmental pressures as part of its aims to achieve sustainable governance and the ideal use of natural resources. According to the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative, the global circularity gap is widening despite the desperate calls by informed research to swap the traditional linear economy for a circular one that encourages minimising waste and maximising the recovery of natural resources. Unfortunately, only 8.6% of the world was circular in 2020, down from 9.1% two years ago1. The World Economic Forum estimates that the circular economy can generate up to $4.5tr in economic benefits until 2030.2 I passionately believe that the UAE Circular Economy Policy will help create an ecosystem that enables and promotes the uptake of recyclable materials within the country. It will also motivate organisations to look beyond their current policies and procedures and innovate the way their business is conducted at present. Notably, waste management companies will play a crucial role in this transition, leading the way in better resource management and recovery. The future is promising for the waste management industry in the UAE. It has always strived to set an example for other markets in the region in terms of product development, service excellence, customer satisfaction as well as in adopting new technologies in waste collection and treatment. As the public sector is increasingly open to the privatisation of core services, the waste management industry gears up for tremendous growth opportunities. Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad. References: 1 https://www.circularity-gap.world/2020 2. https://www.weforum.org/projects/circular- economy THE WORSENING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE LED TO A RENEWED FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING. SURVEY 24 September 2021www.fm-middleeast.com UAE survey reveals that 4 in 5 people took measures to protect the air quality of their homes this year D yson has revealed the recent results of their indoor air quality (IAQ) awareness survey, conducted in collaboration with YouGov in the UAE, which investigates attitudes towards IAQ and our understanding of common indoor pollutants. The study looked at the precautionary measures taken to maintain a healthy indoor environment at a time when wellbeing and home hygiene is more important than ever. Surveying 1000 respondents in the UAE, results showed that an overwhelming majority of residents are concerned about air quality in their homes and have taken preliminary measures to optimise it in the last year. However, an alarmingly few are aware of potentially dangerous airborne pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde - an invisible and common indoor pollutant that can be released daily into our homes by furniture and cleaning products. While 84% have taken proactive measures to protect the air quality of their homes since the outbreak of Covid-19, only 33% of respondents are aware of the harmful pollutants introduced into their homes through decorating items and refurbishing materials, which is particularly crucial to highlight with many people having used the past year to remodel their homes and home retailers reporting an increase in sales of paint and wallpaper during the lockdown. AIR QUOTESSURVEY September 2021 25www.fm-middleeast.com References: [1] Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 40, FORMALDEHYDE, World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/ipcs/ publications/cicad/en/cicad40.pdf [2] Improvement of Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings in Dubai, UAE. Buildings 2021, 11, 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/ buildings11060250 Furthermore, the Dyson/YouGov survey showed that only a third of respondents are aware of formaldehyde and of the long-term adverse health effects of continuous exposure to it[1]. Dr. Iyad Al-Attar, a regional air filtration expert, speaking at a Dyson event said: “In the Middle East and particularly in the Arabian Peninsula, we are exposed to wide array of indoor pollutants at various concentrations. Clearly, spending up to 90% of our time indoors puts us at a greater health risk. Frequent exposure to a high concentration of pollutants can weaken the immune system and compromise its ability to respond to infections. It is, therefore, crucial to monitor our indoor air quality and identify the internal sources of contaminants ailing indoor air quality.” A recent field survey[2] of indoor air quality in residential buildings in Dubai, UAE, revealed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (CH2O) were mainly detected in showhouses and new houses, and the concentration distribution was about 10 times higher than that of outdoors. Being 500 times smaller than particles the size of 0.1 microns, formaldehyde is particularly difficult to capture and, if left undetected, can lead to prolonged exposure due to the continuous release of airborne chemicals, known as off- gassing. Alex Knox, vice president of Environmental Care at Dyson said: “The off-gassing tendency of indoor pollutants like formaldehyde means that it can go undetected in a home for years. Every day, humans breathe up to 9,000 litres of air, and even prior to 2020 spent as much as 90% of their time indoors. As our homes increasingly become spaces where we work and exercise as well as sleep and play, the quality of the air we breathe in all aspects of our routine is non-negotiable. Increased awareness of what these pollutants are and the range of activities that causes air quality indoors to deteriorate, could lead to a habitual change focused on maintaining and enhancing the air they breathe regularly.” While results of the Dyson/YouGov survey show a need for greater IAQ understanding, it also showcases a positive shift in consumer behaviour towards IAQ. In fact, 3 in 4 respondents indicated that they would “feel safer” having real time monitoring of IAQ in their homes, workplaces, and in commercial spaces such as hotels and salons, showing an interest in the air we breathe each day. It’s the reason why Dyson spent more than 25 years filtering air. Our engineers ensure filtration is a principle that extends to all Dyson technologies – and haircare is not to be excluded. Across its UK, Singapore and Malaysia technology campuses, its experts conduct robust in-house testing on Dyson filtration technologies. Its separation systems laboratories are home to filtration testing and development – measuring filtration metrics as diverse as cyclone efficiency and particle reduction at both component and whole-machine level. To understand pollutants present in air, household dust, and in Dyson's machine filters, its dedicated microbiology and household dust labs allow Dyson scientists to get under the skin of indoor pollution – and ensure that Dyson technology works properly in real-world environments. FREQUENT EXPOSURE TO A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF POLLUTANTS CAN WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND COMPROMISE ITS ABILITY TO RESPOND TO INFECTIONS. DR. IYAD AL-ATTAR, A REGIONAL AIR FILTRATION EXPERT A Dyson air purifi er in the room. ENVIRONMENT 26 September 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Ghaba: Miyawaki Forests can grow in deserts with Breathable Sand D ake Rechsand, a Dubai- based company offering sustainable solutions in water conservation and desert farming, has announced its ambitious plan to develop green cover in deserts using the innovative Miyawaki forest model and the company’s ground- breaking technology: Breathable Sand. Dake Rechsand has partnered with management consulting firm Investment Hub for a presentation, where sustainability advocates, thematic investors, and CSR-focused companies will be offered an opportunity to be part of a potential green revolution in the Middle East. Developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the eponymous model revolves around the regeneration of forests through shrubs, trees, and canopy layers; using a methodical approach involving soil analysis, resource analysis, and maintenance plan for the short term. Following successful implementation, practitioners can achieve a green cover that is 30 times denser and grows 10 times faster than a typical meadow. In addition, a matured Miyawaki forest boasts high survival rates, and can harbour 18 times more biodiversity, compared to the average achieved using conventional methods. These figures have been substantiated by more than 3,000 real-world instances of forests grown globally, using the Miyawaki model. However, due to arid climate, desert conditions, soil salinity, and water scarcity in the Middle East, this model was not considered feasible in the region; but this was before the emergence of Breathable Sand. The water-retentive properties of Dake Rechsand’s Breathable Sand reduce irrigation requirements for optimal plant growth, by nearly 80%, FOREST IN A DESERT? A matured Miyawaki forest boasts high survival rates, and can harbour 18 times more biodiversity, compared to the average achieved using conventional methods [representational image]. when compared to conventional practices. At the same time, its air- permeability ensures sufficient oxygenation of roots; optimising nutrient supply, and reducing the amount of fertiliser used. In fact, Breathable Sand has been used to successfully green around 2,000 square kilometers, in one of the world’s most arid and hot deserts, in China. Commenting on the upcoming presentation, and the possibilities it can enable in the Middle East, Chandra Dake, CEO and founder of Dake Rechsand, said: “The Miyawaki model holds the answers to some of the pressing issues in the Middle East, and the world at large. It will enable the sustainable expansion of green cover at a scale previously unimaginable. And, in doing so, it will make a massive contribution to offsetting GHG emissions, and addressing climate change. Our goal for this year is to plant 200,000 trees, and follow up with another two million trees by 2022. With increased investor participation and multi-stakeholder engagement, we can scale up to ten million trees, which will have a profound effect on regional and global sustainability parameters”. • The impact of a fully-matured Miyawaki forest is as follows: • It has the potential to reduce local temperature by two degrees Celsius • It can result in a noise reduction of 10dB • A forest cover in an area of 5,000 square meters with 15,000 plants can absorb 300-350 tonnes of CO 2 per year • The CO 2 absorption is 30 times compared to monoculture plantation, hence more lucrative for carbon trading Roy Malmberg, founder of Investment Hub, said: “Dake Rechsand’s ‘Ghaba’ drive, using the Miyawaki model, is an attractive alternative investment avenue, which has great long-term growth prospects. Investors have an option to buy the assets, retain direct ownership, generate carbon credits, and rake in returns; or diversify their holdings over time. With a rising ESG focus refashioning the portfolios of a rapidly growing segment of investors, this presentation is a particularly timely event, for the market.” BRANDVIEW September 2021 27www.fm-middleeast.com Every product ASCEND Access Systems Scaffolding LLC produces is inspected and evaluated, and the company’s CEO and founder Shadab Ahsan explains that their aluminium scaffolding and products follow EN1004 standards, known as Kitemark Certification. He says: “We are the first and only scaffolding company in the GCC to have this certification from the British Standard Institute.” There is always an advantage of achieving this certification, he explained, especially to export to European countries which require this Kitemark Certification. He adds, “Getting this certification is a continuous process in which they ensure whoever gets it continues to maintain this standard of a perfect product.” Compliance and certification are two different things, he tells. “Some companies have received compliance which involves a one-time compliance certification after product testing from a third-party.” With certification, all components in manufacturing must be certified with known traceability of the product. “There’s a permanent embossing on the products, and every item must match these specifications; from the nuts, washer, and bolts,” he explains. With metal, it has to be corrosion resistant and hot dip galvanized, according to international specifications. Different products have various specifications and requirements, he explains. “The couplers used on construction sites are certified as EN74 standard, the tubes are EN39 standard; so this involves the quality to the material to the configuration, plus the longevity and corrosion wear.” CEO OF ASCEND ACCESS SYSTEMS SCAFFOLDING, SHADAB AHSAN REVEALS THEY ARE THE ONLY SCAFFOLDING COMPANY WITH BSEN 1004 KITEMARK CERTIFICATION HERE ASCEND started as an aluminium scaffolding company in 2006, and once they started manufacturing here, Ahsan said they took the lead first and managed to sell to the end users, directly on the projects. “ASCEND started with aluminium scaffolding in the MEP sector for electrical jobs in major commercial projects. ASCEND started diversifying and introduced fiberglass, cuplock, and ringlock scaffolding in 2018. There’s a certain industry that requires fiberglass as compared to aluminium scaffolding for certain reasons. “Fiberglass is non- conductive to electricity so when we supply fiberglass scaffolding with anti-slip wooden deck and complete fiberglass filtration, it’s completely safe for select jobs and completely safe from heat,” he explains. “Also, fiberglass is strong; in aluminium we’re able to achieve 750kg for moveable scaffolding, but in fiberglass we’re able to achieve 850kg, so there is more load bearing capacity.” ASCEND also introduced a work platform for higher level access in the form of a foldable rolling ladder. “This became very popular because most sites require 3-5m, ultimately making our market position stronger,” he tells. “Moreover, ASCEND is giving the market a new choice with our platform ladder.” With scaffolding, you need to assemble, store, and transport, but their platform ladder is foldable and actually can go from 2-6m working height, making it a more practical product.” RAISING THE BAR OF SAFETY STANDARDS IN CONSTRUCTION WE ARE THE FIRST AND ONLY SCAFFOLDING COMPANY IN THE GCC TO HAVE THIS CERTIFICATION FROM THE BRITISH STANDARD INSTITUTE. By: Saadiya Ahmad STANDARDS 28 September 2021www.fm-middleeast.com The IMMUNE Building Standard is a blueprint for the healthy buildings of the future, leading to healthier people, THE STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO HELP BUILDINGS INCLUDING OFFICES, LOGISTICS & INDUSTRIAL SITES, SPORTS & RECREATION CENTERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TO RE- OPEN AND OPERATE SAFELY businesses and economies. As the world’s first standard to address the immunity of built environments, IMMUNE redesigns and reengineers buildings for the post-COVID world and beyond. Inspired by technologies and procedures grounded in science, this innovative standard that better prepares people, businesses and THE IMMUNE BUILDING STANDARDSTANDARDS September 2021 29www.fm-middleeast.com communities to withstand health threats has the power to transform the future. WHAT IS THE IMMUNE BUILDING STANDARD? The IMMUNE Building Standard, through the Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI) in Brussels, is an evidence based, third- party certified rating for the built environment, focusing on providing building operators with the tools and strategy to monitor, communicate and adjust the health of the indoor physical space, with an efficient response protocol in case of viral, bacteriological, or toxicological events. The IMMUNE Building Standard is based on a practical investment in a Healthy by Design System (HbDS), incorporating a network of devices and available technologies, specialised equipment, dedicated personnel, and new amenities, promoting operational and health rules focused on the physical space where occupants and visitors interact. HOW DOES THE IMMUNE BUILDING STANDARD WORK? The IMMUNE Assessment Scoring Index is comprised of a set of 135+ recommended measures, technical solutions, and facility management practices to certify the level of resilience of a building to present and future health challenges. Any building owner or tenant can consult the list of measures and implement them - entirely or partially, as needed - in their workspace and follow the Assessment Scoring Index to independently evaluate the level of resilience of the assessed building against health threats. To receive an IMMUNE certification, an authorised assessor - an independent third-party company specialised in the field of sustainable building design, development, and certification - needs to evaluate the building using a Scorecard. Each measure earns a number of points and, based on the total score, a building will be awarded with one of the three IMMUNE labels, in order of importance: Strong – equivalent of 3 stars / Powerful – equivalent of 4 stars / Resilient – equivalent of 5 stars. As an inaugural edition, the present version of the IMMUNE standard will remain under constant, frequent review. As the medical, scientific, architectural, and engineering bodies develop new research for a better, in- depth understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic, the IMMUNE™ standard will also grow and evolve by including and standardising more measures to combat existing and future health risks. Based on the number of points received during the official assessment, the evaluated building will be awarded with one of the three IMMUNE labels, in order of importance: • Strong – equivalent of 3 stars • Powerful – equivalent of 4 stars • Resilient – equivalent of 5 stars HOW WAS THE IMMUNE BUILDING STANDARD DEVELOPED? The IMMUNE Building Standard is a collaborative standard developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in a very short timeframe, following an initial investment of one million Euros in research, development and implementation. Pioneered by Liviu Tudor, European business-property entrepreneur and president of the European Property Federation, IMMUNE was developed in Romania in 2020, mid Covid-19 pandemic, together with an international team of experts in health, technology, architecture, constructions, engineering, and facility management, as a blueprint to improve the immunity of office buildings against health risks. We invite collaboration, support, and contributions from a variety of experts and qualified people to help further update the criteria to reflect emerging findings as the scientific evidence base around Covid-19 continues to unroll. WHAT IS THE ASSESSMENT SCORING INDEX? The IMMUNE Assessment Scoring Index stands as the Scorecard used by the assessor to evaluate the resilience of the assessed building. The Index extensively evaluates architectural engineering, technology, design and two levels of operational practices - Next >