< Previouswww.fm-middleeast.comwww.fm-middleeast.com30 October 2021 OPINION FUTUREPROOFING OPERATIONS WITH FM TECH I try to see property operations through the eyes of all stakeholders: the occupants, owners, and the Facility Management professionals. And in buildings with legacy CaFM or Computerised Maintenance Management Software (CMMS), I see cause for friction, between each of these perspectives. The aftermath of the pandemic, has created the need for superior remote and digital experiences. Despite such digital conveniences being commonplace in our day-to-day lives, built environments are still lagging in this regard; with three key challenges to overcome. The first is in unifying stand-alone piecemeal solutions; leading to siloed operations, and loss in productivity and revenue. The second challenge is enabling data and insight led C-Suite decisions. Clearly, FM professionals cannot empower such decision making with spreadsheets and siloed data. Finally, the previous generation of solutions provides limited value – particularly to occupants. In contrast, smart building suites enable capabilities like ‘Mobile-first’ proactive and predictive maintenance; comprehensive automation; remote monitoring; energy optimisation; and asset optimisation; as well as enhanced occupant experiences - like touch-less features, and customer interface portals. FM is a critical intermediary, between the distinct priorities of occupants and owners. This is why we must reimagine CaFM/CMMS, keeping IoT and automation as the drivers, and using unified, multi-stakeholder platforms. In my opinion, the answer is to adopt a modern, comprehensive, data-first O&M platform; which can easily integrate with your existing software stack. This will lead to a low-cost, low-barrier, connected building environment; with enhanced efficiencies, cost-savings, and customer satisfaction. And here’s why this can make a difference: • Automation drives efficiency: Unified integration of all property assets, via a single pane of glass interface, is key to connected, data-driven operations. It revolutionises previously laborious manual processes, and reduces associated errors. From the word go, it puts O&M teams in control to automate dynamic processes, gives occupants and stakeholders visibility into service delivery, addresses sustainability factors like energy benchmarking, and wellness- centric factors like indoor air quality (IAQ), well before they become an issue. This means FMs and operators can focus on strategic initiatives while realising the benefits of a market-tested increase in workforce productivity of up to 13%. • Efficiency-centric mindset enables value creation: Portfolio-wide visibility The future of facilities management lies in leveraging the power of IoT, data analytics, and automation capabilities, to provide a complete and unifi ed digitised experience reduces the energy consumption of power-hungry assets, like HVAC; helps identify inefficiencies that would otherwise build up, and addresses them through predictive maintenance; which adds to asset life cycles, and superior occupant experiences. • Impact bottom-line: Automation- first O&M platforms can unify the management of vendors, assets, and services; setting the stage to fully optimise workflows, and contextualise insights, for multi-stakeholder decision making. Perhaps most importantly, retrofitting such O&M platforms can help legacy CaFM/CMMS emulate Greenfield developments, which is truly game- changing. With IoT-enabled automation, FM teams can streamline non-revenue generating functions, and support strategic decision making, new efficiency initiatives, opex reduction, and more. This creates a virtuous cycle in operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and value addition; and leads to significant cost-savings. In essence, emerging technologies make FM teams the custodians of a property’s valuation, profitability, sustainability, and desirability for tenants. With the adoption of a data-led O&M platform, on average, real estate portfolios experience 85% reduced escalations, improved workforce productivity of up to 13%, and an overall saving of up to 10% or more, in operational costs. By adopting such an approach, the portfolio owners and operators can secure and future- proof operations. They can also meet changes to workflows and guidelines, while supporting new initiatives such as energy optimisation and predictive maintenance. Prabhu Ramachandran, founder and CEO of Facilio Inc. By Prabhu Ramachandran, founder and CEO of Facilio IncTHE LAST WORD October 2021 31www.fm-middleeast.com Ameya Kopargaonkar, project manager at Adeptus Technologies, talks about the market for IoT and automation in FM and the innovations around it T he pandemic has revealed that “investments made in technology are delivering steady results”, says Ameya Kopargaonkar, project manager at Adeptus Technologies. The question is now on what more can be leveraged out of technology? He says: “The FM industry has quickly adopted innovative solutions in IoT, connected technology, sensor technology and an eco-friendly approach. The days of questioning business automation and technology upgrades are over; the region’s FM market is keenly interested in taking measurable risks in technology implementation. Moreover, the growth in FM sector is fuelled by Expo 2020 and a boost in construction sales. FM leaders are now witnessing the benfits of implementing cost-effective IoT solutions during the pandemic and beyond, and understanding the value of harnessing data, which is further refining their decision making.” However, there are some challenges to implementing IoT and automation, Kopargaonkar reveals. “The full potential of digitisation and integrated communication technology is still underutilised. This problem has two sides: on the one side, for FM companies, it is paramount to understand why they need a digital solution, what are the functional, business or company objectives and how to choose and implement the services? There is an opportunity to work with customers and guide them through the hearsay, help them with the underlying problem in the existing system, which requires open communication, clear objectives and collaboration between FM and service providers. “On the other side, service providers tend to oversell the solution or go for ‘one fit for all’ approach which doesn’t meet the desired objectives. This is the bottleneck in implementing digital solutions and we need to bridge this gap. We at Adeptus have an approach to take on this challenge with our end-to-end solution capabilities, domain knowledge expertise, aligning with customer’s vision and being creative in problem solving. “In the digital era, FM companies are working to harness the wave of IoT innovation and deliver real-world outcomes with reliable, cost-effective and scalable IoT solutions like ours. Increasingly, the FM sector is looking for IoT solutions that can give it a competitive edge with customisation, easy scalability in operation, addressing business problems and providing cybersecurity with a single IoT infrastructure.” Adeptus’ IoT solution Building Talkz is designed on three pillars: customisation, scalability and security. Also, the recent trend witnessed with the FM companies is that instead of relying on a product that gives standard outcomes or has dependencies on flexibility, FM managers increasingly want digital tools to implement their action plans and deliver business performances. Kopargaonkar adds: “We at Adeptus work to mitigate this specific challenge in order to provide maximum flexibility with our product features, while ensuring cost-effective, customer-focused solutions and services.” Talking about some of the new innovations in IoT and automation Kopargaonkar says that the FM and smart buildings industry is taking big leaps in leveraging the best of IoT, AI and big data technologies and coming up with innovative solutions that will truly become the new normal in the coming years. He says: “Post pandemic, the focus area for FM and solutions providers is to tackle indoor air quality (IAQ) and ensuring that occupants are well protected from Covid-19. So innovative IAQ sensors and alert systems have been proven effective for the safe return of, for instance, kids in school. Also, property owners are implementing newer ideas like digital concierge to give occupants a truly smart built experience.” Continuing its journey to provide cost-effective solutions to its clients, Adeptus has enhanced its Building Talkz Xpress application, which is an innovative and cost-effective solution for clients with smaller footprints/portfolio built on robust open Tridium Niagara 4 framework to revolutionise traditional building automation operations bringing in intuitive data visualisation and nearly all the features of enterprise platforms. “FM LEADERS ARE WITNESSING THE BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING COST-EFFECTIVE IOT SOLUTIONS” Ameya Kopargaonkar, project manager at Adeptus Technologies. FM EXPO 2021 32 October 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Visiting professionals including architects, engineers, contractors, project managers and more connected with over 1,200 exhibitors at The Big 5 show H is Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council officially inaugurated the 42nd edition of The Big 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Now in its 42nd edition, The Big 5 show ran from 12 September to 15 September. Co-located at the event was FM Expo. Some of the exhibitors at the FM Expo included Everlux Diana Baptista, Facilio Inc., TAQT, FSI Middle East, ZOLL Medical, Urbanise, Water Seal FM EXPOFM EXPO 2021 October 2021 33www.fm-middleeast.com Insulation Mat. Cont. Co., Vertico X-treme Alessandro Bianchi, and Berkeley Services (UAE). There were also event seminars called FM Talks at the exhibition. With future sustainable buildings and integrated facility services working to enhance workplaces and boost productivity, the FM Talks were designed to explore enhancing energy management for better asset management, workforce safety and wellbeing across the GCC and the agility of the FM sector to adapt to gaps and opportunities in the FM industry. At The Big 5, visiting professionals including architects, engineers, contractors, project managers and more connected with over 1,200 exhibitors from 50 countries at the event, gaining access to the latest construction products and solutions from around the world to accelerate market growth following Covid-19 impact. The event also offers over 70 free-to-attend CPD certified talks delivered by 150 global speakers and covering critical topics such as digital twins, AI, sustainability and project management, presenting a unique opportunity for visitors to stay up to date on trends in the sector. BRANDVIEW 34 October 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Ziad Salloum, general manager at Al Masaood Village Facilities Management, talks about Masaood Village in Abu Dhabi that houses close to 6,000 people A l Masaood Village Facilities Management was established in 2011 to provide turnkey workforce residential accommodation services in Abu Dhabi. Ziad Salloum, general manager at Al Masaood Village Facilities Management, says: “We extend high-value, cost-effective accommodation and catering solutions to clients who have a requirement to accommodate and sustain their employees and contractors. In delivering our solutions, we emphasise the highest standards of service excellence, workforce well-being and productivity.” Located on the outskirts of Mussafah, en-route to Hameem, Masaood Village can house approximately 6,000 people. It is being managed in full compliance with the standards and regulations laid down by Abu Dhabi regulatory authorities. Salloum adds: “For our adherence to global standards of quality and security, we have been awarded the ISO 22000: 2018 certification and have become a member of the Build Safe UAE. Furthermore, we were recognised at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) Award 2020, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) Award 2015 and the Abu Dhabi Police G.H.Q. Award for our strict compliance with exemplary food safety standards.” “Providing a modern, healthy, peaceful and safe living space and atmosphere is at the heart of Masaood Village’s existence,” says Salloum. “Each solution we offer reflects this commitment. Our fully integrated services and facilities — including on-site catering, retail and in-house laundry services, and worship and recreation areas — are designed to make our tenants feel comfortable, secure, happy, and more importantly, at home.” OUR IMPETUS FOR STARTING MASAOOD VILLAGE IS THIS PASSION TO PRESERVE THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF THE UAE’S LABOUR FORCE AND PROVIDE THEM A HEALTHY, COMFORTABLE, AND PEACEFUL LIVING SPACE. MOST ACCOMMODATING Masaood Village in Abu Dhabi.BRANDVIEW October 2021 35www.fm-middleeast.com Masaood Village also includes a modern in-house kitchen, a gym, and a TV room. Additionally, an internal mini- mart is available within the community. Talking about his role, Salloum says: “As the general manager, I oversee Masaood Village’s full operations to ensure that it consistently lives up to our promise of providing a sustainable, world-class community space for workers. I make sure that every aspect of our operations works in synergy to achieve high levels of client and tenant satisfaction and experience. Through the help of my team, I closely monitor key elements such as consumables management, equipment maintenance and safety, budget, inventory, labour costs, as well as successful & hygienic kitchen operations. “In the time of the pandemic, we have enforced stricter adherence to safety requirements and hygiene policies for everyone’s protection. Business development, revenue-generating and cost-saving initiatives also fall within my responsibilities on top of creating and maintaining a positive and safe work culture in the organisation.” COVID TIMES At the onset of the pandemic last year, Masaood Village spared no efforts to ensure that it would sufficiently protect the health and safety of its employees and tenants. One of its measures was to allocate around 20% of its total Village space “Our impetus for starting Masaood Village is this passion to preserve the overall wellbeing of the UAE’s labour force and provide them a healthy, comfortable, and peaceful living space. Additionally, it demonstrates our objective to contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity. We have, therefore, built our community based on the UAE’s industrial, infrastructural and economic development aspirations and in line with the new policies of and services under the ZonesCorp. We have a solid belief that a strong and healthy labour force can essentially work more productively and efficiently. Therefore, raising the quality of their living is an important aspect of business that we encourage companies to consider when choosing suitable accommodations for their workers.” Talking about some of the future objectives of Al Masaood Village Facilities Management, Salloum concludes: “We expect the demand for turnkey workforce residential accommodation services to continue to increase. This is why we are planning to open new facilities in other Emirates. We are also looking at introducing sustainable systems in our facilities to support the country’s sustainable development agendas. Part of our plan is to rollout new technologies including solar panels that will help rationalise our water and electricity consumption. This will significantly reduce our environmental impact.” as isolation centres or ‘wards’ to accommodate any Covid cases recorded. Salloum says: “We implemented an effective internal system to immediately isolate these cases, under the supervision of Abu Dhabi Police, ZonesCorp, and the relevant health authorities. “These areas were monitored 24/7 as per the specifications of ZonesCorp and Abu Dhabi Police. The confirmed positive cases were reported immediately and transported by the authorities to Razeen camp for isolation and further medical attention.” Other precautionary actions deployed throughout Masaood Village’s buildings and facilities included the installation of thermal cameras at the entrance gate, the distribution of Covid-19 awareness notices written in different languages across our premises, and the imposition of a 1.5-metre physical distancing rule everywhere around the Village, and contactless transactions in the dining area. MOTIVATION AND FUTURE On the motivation behind starting Masaood Village, Salloum elaborates: Ziad Salloum, general manager at Al Masaood Village Facilities Management. Masaood Village catering services. A typical accommodation at Masaood Village. FM CONFERENCE 2021 36 October 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Facilities Management Middle East Conference platform was created to discuss issues such as contracts, worker welfare and training T he Facilities Management Middle East Conference was held on 29 September and took place as a physical in-person event for the first time. The half-day event brought together consultants, senior executives, government representatives and other experts from the facilities management industry in the Middle East. This iteration of FM Conference focused on the ambiguity associated with FM tenders and the process of winning the right ones. Also, there is an intrinsic need for FM firms to have FM-specific contract templates. In addition to this, the conference will tackle the subject of worker welfare and what it really means. The event, which was held at the V Hotel Dubai, Al Habtoor City, comprised three panels, and a couple of presentations. The speakers included Jennifer Peltenburg, a facilities management consultant, Marwan Othman, executive director – Human Capital and Administration, Imdaad, Mohamad Abou Laban, chief executive officer, Deyaar, Eng. Fahad Mohamed, director – Dubai & Northern Emirates, Adeeb Group, Prabhu Dharmarajan, director – Human Resources Dulsco, Prakul Tewari, business planning manager, AG Facilities Solutions, Saima Ahmad, group director, Human Resources, EFS Facilities Services, Stuart Harrison, CEO, Uzair Bhamji, assistant manager HR Training and Development, Farnek Services, Emrill Services, James Smith, general manager, Emrill, and Tarek Nizameddin, senior executive director – commercial at Ejadah. Below is a brief description of the speakers: • Jennifer Peltenburg is a highly accomplished global management professional offering over 20 years of experience operating in Facilities Management (FM), Real Estate and Aviation sectors in the Middle East, Europe, UK, and North America in Business Development. Focusing on innovation, Jennifer has a proven track record of turning around loss making businesses and driving a company’s revenue, profitability and long-term success, as well as developing and executing start-up companies and services in the GCC. • Marwan Othman is responsible for all aspects of recruitment, training, employee engagement, payroll, and related projects at Imdaad. His deep knowledge of human capital enables him to identify, develop and oversee the A PLATFORM TO DISCUSS FM CONFERENCE 2021 October 2021 37www.fm-middleeast.com implementation of innovative policies and solutions, generating greater value and efficiency throughout the company’s HR department. • Mohamad Abou Laban joined Deyaar Facilities Management as chief executive officer in 2018. Abou Laban is responsible for overseeing all Deyaar Facilities Management operations as well as he is responsible for delivering DFM’s growth plan. • Fahad Mohamed is the director – Dubai & NE with Adeeb Group, which specialises in Facilities Management and MEP Contracting. In this capacity, Mohamed oversees the overall business and growth of the group in Dubai and Northern Emirates Region. • Tarek Nizameddin is leading Ejadah’s commercial division as the senior executive director – commercial, driving the business development and marketing of Ejadah’s SBU. In his capacity, Nizameddin is also overseeing the operations and service delivery of soft services, and manages Ejadah’s Abu Dhabi portfolio, in addition to leading the sustainability and energy management department. • As director of HR/Recruitment at Dulsco, Prabhu Dharmarajan is an accomplished HR professional with business acumen with over 22 years of experience in the field of HR & Recruitment of which over 17 years in UAE. Dharmarajan has a professional qualification in HR with a Master’s degree & CIPD Diploma in HR. • Prakul Tewari heads Strategy and Planning for AG Facilities Solutions and MBM. He is a multi-faceted Management professional with 18+ years of Corporate Strategic Planning, Sales & Marketing, Business Analytics, Business Transformation experience spanning across Facility Management, Financial Services and Hospitality sectors. • Saima Ahmad is a self-driven professional with robust knowledge of Human Resource Management. She brings over seventeen years of human resources experience with a and operations, Smith has worked across a diverse range of projects and has supported government and commercial customers. He holds qualifications in mechanical and electrical engineering and is a Six Sigma certified green belt. The moderator of the event was Prabhakar Kesavan, regional general manager at Voltas – International Business Operations Group. Kesavan is responsible for Voltas’ joint ventures in the Middle East. He is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and has worked in financial, commercial and general management roles in the Construction and Power Projects business for 30+ years, 26 of which have been in the Middle East and 2 in Singapore. The sponsors for the event were Ejadah as Platinum Sponsor, and Adeeb Group, Emirates National Facilities Management (EnFM) and YAEMCO as Silver Sponsors. Note that at the time of writing this, the conference was about to take place and so more details on what transpired at the event will appear on the website and in the November issue of the magazine. strong background in developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures, HR compliance, and core HR functions, including Talent Acquisition, Performance management, Talent management, Compensation & Benefits, Employee relations and engagement. • Stuart Harrison has over 27 years’ experience in technical, operations and senior business roles, across facilities management, construction and engineering projects, including managing services in critical environments, such as international gateway airports, hospitals and healthcare. • Being involved in the FM industry for over 8 years, Uzair Bhamji, assistant manager HR Training and Development, Farnek Services, has developed over 15,000 FM professionals over the years. He is experienced with training all levels of talent ranging from cleaners, technicians and security guards to C-Suite Managers. • James Smith joined Emrill as a general manager in 2018. With over 20 years’ experience in the Middle East in project management, delivery The Facilities Management Middle East Conference 2021 will be a physical in-person event. SUPPLIER NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com38 October 2021 LAUNCH Leading commercial building stakeholders and specialists from across the UAE got their first chance to experience Grundfos’ exciting new ultra-efficient water pressure boosting and chilled water distribution systems at a special CBS (Commercial Building Services) Day Event at Dubai’s Sofitel The Obelisk Hotel on 8th September. The audience comprised of the top end-users, consultants and contractors, who experienced how Grundfos’ focus on innovation and sustainability has led to the development of new stand-alone pump technology that brings together the four key components of the current pre-packaged systems. The resulting self-controlling pump units are simpler and more efficient to install, commission and operate and help overcome many of the problems associated with current REFRIGERATION The refrigeration and heating specialist ENGIE Refrigeration from Lindau on Lake Constance, Germany, is heading into autumn with a major order for five thermeco 2 high-temperature heat pumps for one of the leading food manufacturers in Croatia. At the same time, the company is celebrating the first order for a QUANTUM Water chiller from the redesigned series. It will soon be providing cosy temperatures for a large Swiss office and residential complex. ENGIE Refrigeration is thereby further strengthening its market position in the field of international heating and refrigeration technology. Energy efficiency and sustainability The resulting self-controlling pump units are simpler and more effi cient to install, commission and operate Grundfos launches next-generation pump solutions for commercial buildings ENGIE Refrigeration is further strengthening its market position in the fi eld of international heating and refrigeration technology ENGIE Refrigeration wins two new customers with eco-friendly refrigeration and heating solutions pressure boosting systems. Headed by the new area sales director for CBS in the Gulf, Shiney Jacob, the Grundfos team officially launched the first pumping system in the UAE to feature the breakthrough technology – the Grundfos Hydro Multi-E. This revolutionary new pressure boosting system, fully engineered and designed by Grundfos, combines between two to four of the new variable frequency drive integrated pumps with IE5 efficiency, parallel connected in a single integrated unit and continuously communicating to ensure optimum efficiency whilst cutting energy and water consumption up to 33%. The team then followed on with a second major launch of the Grundfos Distributed Pumping System. The next- generation chilled water distribution system replaces the traditional centralised pumps and control valves with new self- controlling intelligent pumps positioned throughout the system, ensuring energy savings up to 54%. Delegates had a first-hand experience of the new Grundfos solutions’ simplicity and efficiency. As always, Grundfos innovative solutions prove to be far easier to balance than traditional systems, generating pressure only when and where needed, and providing a more stable and reliable indoor climate, as well as improving Delta T and reducing pump energy use. play a key role in the ENGIE Refrigeration product portfolio. Both aspects are expressed, for example, by the thermeco 2 high-temperature heat pumps, which are especially eco-friendly due to the natural refrigerant CO 2, and the new QUANTUM Water chillers. The latter became available worldwide in June 2021 and are now the most efficient water-cooled models on the market. Both series meet the highest ecological and economic requirements for heating and refrigeration supplies. This has now allowed ENGIE Refrigeration to win new customers from Croatia and Switzerland. In future, one of the largest food producers in Croatia will deploy a total of five thermeco 2 high-temperature heat pumps with a total heating capacity of five megawatts at three sites in the Osijek region. Each heat pump will bring a 10,000m2 greenhouse to the right temperature; the total refrigerated area of 50,000m2 is roughly the size of ten football fields. Previously the greenhouses were heated by a gas-fired burner. The thermeco 2 solution will generate hot water from ambient heat, with the majority of the required electricity coming from a photovoltaic system. ENGIE heat pumps. Launch of Hydro Multi-E.www.fm-middleeast.com SUPPLIER NEWS October 2021 39 IAQ The new academic year has resumed all around the Kingdom with students partially attending their classes in-person after more than 18 months of home-schooling due to Covid-19, with the application of several precautionary measures set by the Ministries of Education and Health, to ensure the safety of students and faculty members. With this step, the issue of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in educational institutes - schools & universities alike - becomes more vital than ever. Studies have indicated that individuals spend 90% of their time in indoor environments, such as homes, workplaces, schools, restaurants, etc., and now with the new academic year, students will spend a lot of their time in classrooms. Hence, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) should be a primary focus of educational institutes, by ensuring the air inside their facilities is free from pollutants, allergens and other harmful substances, as well as measuring IAQ, the HVAC systems’ efficiency, and controlling temperature and humidity levels. Buildings’ IAQ refers to the quality of the indoor air, which directly impacts the health, comfort and well-being of individuals. Air is affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mold and bacteria), and other factors such as unpleasant odors, smoke, mold and dust mites and the like. With the physical return of students, educational institutes need to enhance the IAQ in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, halls and other places where students gather, especially with continuity of the pandemic. This does not necessarily mean the need of installing new air conditioners, rather enhancing the efficiency of the ventilation system across the entire facility and the air exchange rate to avoid the circulation of the polluted air within the premises. This also includes controlling temperatures and humidity levels to grant students comfort and increase their academic productivity, while simultaneously limiting the spread of viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. The air exchange rate - the rate at which outdoor air replaces polluted circulated indoor air - in closed environments is an important factor in reducing the concentration of air pollutants and increasing IAQ. The air exchange rate is affected by the design, construction, and operating parameters of buildings (air that flows inside through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings and around windows and doors), natural ventilation (air that flows through opened windows and doors), and mechanical ventilation (air that is forced indoors or vented outdoors by ventilation devices, such as fans or air handling systems). The importance of the air exchange rate per hour rises from the fact that the air is naturally affected by physical and chemical changes, resulting in the amount of oxygen decreasing and carbon-dioxide increasing, in addition to odors, heat and humidity due to the physical activity of people. This increases with the increase in the number of students, and their activity. Hence, Educational Institutes must ensure that their ventilation systems regularly renew the air inside their premises at a rate of 5-6 times per hour in order to preserve the student’s health. Aiming to play a role in the Kingdom’s efforts in preventing the spread of the pandemic, Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK)’s Research & Development, Product Management & Jeddah Factory, have worked together resulting in the development of a new air purifier, fully made in Saudi Arabia, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals of enhancing local manufacturing. The portable easy-to-use unit is helping various facilities improve their IAQ, thanks to its latest air purification technologies. This Unit comes in different capacities to suit various applications, such as small and large educational institutes, health, commercial and residential facilities, offices hotels, and others. The YORK Air Purifier filters the air up to 99.97% though its multistage filtration system. Starting with a pre-filtration by an aluminum filter to remove large particles and moisture. Secondly it traps gases, such as odors or smoke via filter loaded with activated carbon. In the third stage, a high-quality HEPA filter separates the finer particles that escape from the prefilter. The Air Purifier includes an Air Quality Sensor to measure the degree of air purity and then automatically adjust its settings in terms of speed and power to ensure consistent IAQ in a room. Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK) continues to conduct local research, transfer the latest international technologies to the Kingdom, and harness its expertise in the field of HVAC, to develop more Saudi-made units in its factory located in King Abdullah Economic City. The company also has extensive experience in services such as measuring IAQ, balancing air flows and raising the HVAC Systems’ efficiency. In addition to having the largest specialised maintenance team in the Middle East. With the physical return of students, educational institutes need to enhance the IAQ in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, halls and other places YORK emphasises on the importance of IAQ in schools IAQ should be a primary focus of educational institutes.Next >