MOPPING CONTAMINATES FLOORS

Study reports have revealed that conventional floor cleaning methods like mopping lead to gross contamination. In India, more than 99% of the cleaning jobs begin or end with mopping.

This study found that traditional floor cleaning methods, specifically mopping, were actually responsible for the contamination of floors. This fact surprises many people – cleaning professionals and laymen alike – since it is generally assumed that mopping not only cleans floors, but also helps to remove germs, bacteria, and other contaminants. Apparently, however, this is not the case.

In fact, according to the report, “One hundred and thirty-four floors (were tested) before and after mopping, (along with) the mops and cleaning materials before and after use, (and all) showed that the ‘cleaning’ procedures were in fact spreading gross contamination throughout (the floors).” A related study came to the same conclusion, finding that “Mops can be a serious potential source of contamination. Even when soaked in phenolic disinfectant overnight, contaminants could still be detected.”

These studies have serious implications for all types of facilities, but most especially for schools, food-service locations, and medical facilities, where keeping all surfaces clean, healthy, and sanitary is of paramount concern.

Floor Surfaces

Unfortunately, it isn't only traditional cleaning methods that can cause contaminants to be present on floors. In fact, the specific types and ways many commercial floors are designed and installed make them a welcome setting for bacteria. Quarry tiles, tile and grout, and other hard-surface flooring materials typically used in commercial settings are porous. This means soils, grit, germs, and bacteria can find their way into the pores of the flooring material, making them difficult to remove. Also, many floors may not be as flat as they appear. Slight irregularities are common, and these increase the chances of bacterial growth.

An even bigger problem is grout. “Grouting is usually softer and more porous than tiling, and because the grout line is often lower than the surface of the tiles, making them harder to clean … there is increased chance for bacterial contamination.”

To combat these issues, facility managers and their cleaning personnel should consider cleaning systems or methods that do not spread contaminants and can reach deep into surface pores to actually root out germs and bacteria. Fortunately, new cleaning technologies are now making this possible.

No-Touch Technology

A cleaning technology known as the No-Touch® Cleaning System is proving to be a valuable tool when it comes to stopping the spread of contaminants on floors and other surfaces. The way these systems work is as simple as it is thorough. The operator applies a cleaning agent to the floors and other surfaces to be cleaned. These same areas are then rinsed to loosen and remove soiling. Then the cleaning professional removes the moisture, cleaning solution, and contaminants on the surface via the machine’s built-in vacuum system (found on more advanced models).

Tests comparing traditional mopping techniques and a no-touch system showed favourable results. To conduct the tests, two similar, equally sized grouted floor areas were cleaned, one using traditional mopping methods and the other system. Researchers gathered bacterial counts after each cleaning.

For the first test, no cleaning agent was added to the water. For the second test, a multi-purpose cleaning agent was added. The results were as follows:

• With just water, the mopping system removed about 50% of the contaminants, according to bacterial counts; the no-touch cleaning system removed almost 90%, and there was no indication that contaminants had spread to other floor areas.

• When the cleaning agent was used, the traditional mopping system was only slightly more effective than in the first test; the Kaivac system, on the other hand, was able to remove 99% of the bacteria on the floor.

It is interesting to note that at one time, the key floor care concern of most facilities was that their floors shine. A high-gloss, “wet” look was considered critically important.

Today, things are different. Effective sanitation and cleaning for health are now considered key aspects of proper floor care. Facility managers and their cleaning personnel in all types of locations should consider choosing new cleaning systems or methods that do not spread contaminants and can reach deep into surface pores to remove germs and bacteria. No-touch cleaning systems can help facility managers ensure that their floors are hygienically clean, reducing the risk of contamination and protecting human health.

THE GREEN ROOF OVER OUR HEADS

In the past year, roofing systems that can meet energy efficiency and also impose lesser load on the structure gained popularity among owners and designers alike. The choice ranged from metal, plastic and fabric to tiles and solar covering. The next year brings with it even more innovative roofing and innovative insulation materials.

With new advances in materials and technology, lightweight designs and the innovative resources are replacing heavier roofing materials. The introduction of lightweight concrete as a material for roof decking and as an insulation system provides a variety of economic and environmental advantages. It is consistent in compressive strength and density, provides thermal R-value of R-30 and as these roofs is an integral part of the building structure, the concrete acts as the insulation reducing the dead load of a structure. Insulating concrete roof is produced either with cellular concrete (preformed foam) or with expanded aggregate concrete (perlite or vermiculite).

Synthetic Thatch

To add the traditional architectural style in a cost effective way, concrete roof tiles are being used in projects. Alternatively, the tiles made from natural materials like sand, cement and iron oxide pigment remain cool in summers and are highly weather resistant. Likewise, synthetic slate tiles manufactured from post-industrial and post-consumer polymers called ACE compound, are environmentally safe material for roofing. It is fade resistant, maintenance free and 100% recyclable.

Moneir Concrete Tiles

The architectural metal roofing (steel, aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel and titanium) available in vertical standing seam, corrugated, tile profiles and horizontal panels can simulate the look of standard shingles, wood shake, slate and tile. The metal roofs with oven-cured and pre-painted organic coatings incorporate new “cool pigment” technology providing solar reflectance and high infra-red emittance even with darker colours. This cool metal roofing typically has a minimum recycled content of 25% and is 100% recyclable.

Synthetic Slate Tiles

A roofing material that is gaining ground for both exterior as well as interior applications is tensile fabric. The tensile fabric acts as a light weight roofing offering dynamic forms and functionality. The past years witnessed its wide use in airports, stadiums, mall atrium's, restaurants and as skylights and porches in residences. For structures where high performance in thermal insulation is desired, the newer single layer low- E membrane fabrics are now being used. The product has a lower solar factor, meets flame retarding standards and is a 100% recyclable textile. “The fabric structures are engineered to meet the requirements of most building codes and standards worldwide. It provides speedy installation or relocation as an alternative to conventional construction.”

Copper Zinc Roofing

A category that is fast developing is of uPVC roofing that is heat, chemical and corrosion resistant and has sound insulation properties. They are fast replacing conventional asbestos, metal G.I. sheets and fibreglass sheets. An innovative roofing option that emerged for resorts and vacation homes was the synthetic thatch made from recycled plastic. The roofing is not only similar in looks to natural thatch but is as environment friendly. The roofing apart from being no maintenance is structurally stable and UV resistant. “The synthetic thatch roofing panels can be conveniently installed on a pre-existing roof and give the natural thatch look. The roofing does not attract insects, rodents or birds and does not need replacement for almost ten years”.

Tensile Fabric Roofing

According to roofing industry experts, environment friendly metal roofing will hit its all-time high. Conventional roofs are being replaced with insulated colour coated sheets and tiles that are energy efficient, quick to install, low maintenance and assure safety. Gray and dark blue is the popular colour choice while, deep green and earth tones will continue to find favour that draw on natural surroundings.

With the increased focus on Green buildings, recycled materials, green roofs and solar panels are predicted to have increased demand in coming years. High performance and green roofs though common around the world are steadily gaining popularity in India. They are likely to become technically more feasible and economically reasonably in next few years.

Talking of renewable energy, solar roof covering too is transforming into a more aesthetically pleasing materials such as flexible thin-film to easily integrate photovoltaic into the metal roofs or solar shingles that can be bolted on existing roof and work like the conventional larger solar panels but do not add extra weight and are much more visually appealing.

Solopower Roof – flexible solar films

Solar films roofs

Originally invented by DuPont as an insulation material for the aeronautics industry, ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene) is fast becoming one of the most exciting materials in today’s design industry. The makings of ETFE as a long term construction material will lie in the development of various high-tech coatings and methods of printing which will modify not just the translucency but also the thermal and acoustic properties of the fabric. For instance, Architen Landrell Associates, UK is running an active test programme to develop IR reflective coatings that will allow multilayer ETFE systems to transmit visible light yet block (insulate) infra-red transmission.

ETFE Roofing

Innovations for Sustainability

• A product under development by The Speciality Group, Australia is composite and lightweight solar   roofing in sheet form, from UV cured polyester resin prepare. The technology aims at building integrated photovoltaic product, where the roofing material itself has solar cells embedded into it.
• Bayer Material Science has engineered a photovoltaic module for producing electricity and a solar air collector that captures the sun’s heat. “The two modules don’t just use solar energy; they simultaneously serve as roofing and in the case of the air collector, even intelligently increase insulating performance.
• Transparent solar modules offer the most attractive building integrated PV solutions. They use double low iron tempered glass with solar cells laminated in between and are ideal for roofs, skylights and façades. The modules can also be part of shading devices named shadow-voltaic systems.
• New insulating materials like Nanogel and Icyene are patently high-tech and non-organic, yet their special qualities permit new applications such as spray-in-place quick fixes, and translucent insulating ceilings. Aerogels have an extremely small pore, which makes them one, the best thermal insulators in the world. Nanogel® from Cabot Corporation is light and transparent, while being extremely insulating to create translucent walls and ceilings that will let the light in, but keep the heat out. 

TRAINING CONFINEMENT

The discussion on the dearth of skilled and trained manpower in the cleaning industry has remained an inconclusive topic; often raising disputable questions like “why should one invest in training workers who switch jobs for an extra penny”; “what is there to train them in cleaning”; and so on...

An interesting point surfaced during a discussion with service providers – “if there is training facility available, we would definitely want our cleaning staff to get trained but only if the duration is for a day or two. If the training extends to one week or 15 days it would be difficult to spare workers.” This raises further questions: what to train, how much to train, how many days to train…

Ironically, India faces not only dearth of skilled cleaning workers but also lack of proper training programmes. Training is restricted to what workers learn on-site, where many hired from the local areas are probably holding the broom for the first time. In the absence of proper training facilities, a few of the equipment suppliers have opened up training facilities in the recent past. This move by equipment suppliers is largely to ensure that their machines are handled properly. A few service providers, on the other hand, have established facilities at their offices to provide basic training. In a layman’s perception, cleaning is a mundane activity which holds no business potential and hence, providing training for cleaning is understandably inappreciable to them. Improbably so, even for many FM professionals, training takes a back seat. Training is provided for the sake of training. FM professionals here refer both to service providers and client companies.

Better training for better productivity

It is important to provide the right and required training “because training, in the long run, will help in better productivity and more efficient use of all resources.

While 99.99% of the people believe that cleaning is something that anyone can do, every other person gets into the cleaning business either as a worker or a service provider. However, it is this mindset that has to be altered to ‘cleaning as a science that can be learned through training and proper practice’.

Profile of Workers

When it comes to sourcing workers for cleaning, the service industry looks at locally available manpower which often includes those from the area close to the worksite. They are given what is termed “on-job training”! This category of workers hired by such service companies are novices put on a professional job. Engaging such workers has resulted in absenteeism, dropouts, poor service delivery and mistrust on the service industry as a whole. The service company gets penalized or loses the contract too!

Another category of workers is the security guards-cum-cleaners. It is not surprising to find a security guard outside an ATM doubling up as a housekeeper. Using the simplest of tools – a cotton mop cloth and a broom – the security guard cleans up the ATM room probably once and periodically when it gets visibly dirty. Training or no training, he still does the job of cleaning for the sake of cleaning.

Duration of training

The duration for training remains a deciding factor on whether to train or not to train. It is challenging too. “Getting a fresher off the street or a school dropout to train in cleaning for better prospects has its own challenges. Hence, if a slum dweller is being offered a six months or one year course, it would not hold his interest.

At the services end, even if a company decides to send its workers for professional training, it would mean loss of business during the days of training. This is one of the major reasons why service providers refrain from sparing their workers even if it is for training for better productivity.

Thus, service providers have created a schedule for training which includes pre-site training, on-job training, periodic training…in an attempt to provide the worker the necessary skills to perform. However, this ‘ideal alternative’ of training schedule adopted by the service provider is not implemented as projected. Often the workers are pulled out to complete errands in the midst of the on-site training or workers engaged for cleaning are pulled into doing tasks other than cleaning…

Thus, such trained workers are tagged ‘trained’ but yet not trained.

Pre-training

Keeping in mind the increasing need for skilled manpower, the VDMA-run training centre in India in the last two years has been extending training to marginal people from the slums and from the countryside. “They offer these people 45-day training at the Institute and thereafter depending on their skills, resources and capabilities they are absorbed by the cleaning industry. This way the industry can engage skilled workers and there is no loss of business in training them later or on site.”

The Institute has recently introduced Supervisor training. “Training takes an important turn when it comes to supervisors, essentially because a supervisor is the director behind the whole process of cleaning. Cleaning is not just cleaning from left to right. A supervisory training teaches focuses on how to study the floor plan, how to calculate the time and resources required for cleaning and how to formulate a strategy to clean. This way the supervisor is able to get work done more effectively and efficiently; there is more activity and better results,”

The major issue faced by the Institute with students is to convince the people in the slum areas and from the street to come to the Institute for training and better life. “When you pass by the slums, you will find that satellite television and mobile is given preference and only then comes the toilet and the shower. There is a need to spread awareness that it is important to have a good health and good environment and one need to clean oneself, wear clean clothes and live in clean surroundings.

“We are happy that the Modi government has launched the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan. With cleaning being raised at the political level, it will speed up the awareness process. If there is no awareness, people will not know the need for professional cleaning. Buildings can be maintained, houses can be maintained, people can live in a hygiene environment and a lot more issues can be addressed through professional cleaning.”

Wage Structure

In the present scenario of the wage structure, a fresher joining the cleaning job is on the same pay scale of the one who has put in few years of work. Hence, it is important that skilled and trained workers being hired are placed on the higher pay slab and are engaged in specific projects with a clear career growth path. “This will motivate the trained workers and they can foresee their future themselves as a supervisor in a year or two.

“Pay slabs differ from segment to segment depending on the kind of work that needs to be done. The job profile of a worker in a hospital is much different from a worker in a hotel. Moreover, there is a big challenge with the wage slabs in countries following the minimum wages which are region specific. Sometimes, a market driven wage is much better than the minimum wages, as it is subjected to change from time to time and place to place. In fact, the framework of the minimum wages should be altered. The worker should be able to make a living out of the wages and a worker who is working better with better skills and training, needs to be paid more if we have to keep in the job for a longer time and made more productive,”

WHERE IS THE REAL ROI - INFRASTRUCTURE BASED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

There is no getting away from the importance of infrastructure as a catalyst for real estate growth. Especially in terms of public transport and overall connectivity of areas, infrastructure is of paramount importance. Many transport infrastructure projects that have been announced for Pune in the past are still hanging fire. With the arrival of the BJP into power, there are talks of the Congress-driven Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) being scrapped in favor of the ‘100 new cities’ agenda. Meanwhile, a report on the planned Pune Metro was again submitted to the PMC in 2010 and has not been actioned, either. Even while new allotments for its expansion have been approved by the Ministry of Urban Development, other segments of the city’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) are undergoing safety audits because of doubts that have been raised about safety on roads.

Nevertheless, some of the game changing infrastructure projects for Pune are very much on track and set to boost the city’s real estate market in various key pockets. One of these is the ambitious Pune Ring Road connecting Pune and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The Ring Road, which will be developed on the time-tested PPP model, will interconnect key thoroughfares such as the Pune-Nashik, Mumbai-Pune-Solapur, Pune-Ahmednagar and Pune-Satara highways. Understandably, this and similar infrastructure projects are drawing a lot of interest from long-term property investors, expecting that these projects will turn a lot of locations into investment goldmines. While the positive effect that transport infrastructure has on beneficiary locations is a proven market dynamic, property investors need to understand where this actually works on the ground, and where it does not.

Metro Stations - The True Picture

Let us first take the hypothetical case of locations in Pune that may eventually have metro stations. While it is generally assumed that property prices in these locations will rise astronomically, this is not necessarily a broad-spectrum truth. It must be remembered that Metro and railway stations are essentially public transport nodes that involve massive movement of population as well as engines and tracks that result in significant noise pollution.

The noise, debris and congestion caused by the very process of setting up such terminals are only one side of the coin. The overall safety of such a location is also significantly reduced. There are two reasons for this - one, vast numbers of people from all backgrounds move through them on a regular basis, and two - labourers who service the functioning of these transportation hubs tend to inhabit slum-like tenements in the immediate neighborhood. These factors have been proven to exert considerable downward pressure on the demand for (and therefore valuations of) properties closest to these nodes.

It is only properties that are located at a reasonable distance from the chaos of such terminals which actually show significant appreciation, since they offer the combined benefits of increased connectivity without the undesirable fallout. This dynamic is equally true for properties located around airports, as well. End users looking at the purchase of homes will invariably focus on areas that provide the advantages of the infrastructure in question but also offer reasonable living comfort.

Interestingly, while property pricing and capital appreciation tend to remain subdued in projects immediately adjoining such projects for the above reasons, there does tend to be an increase in the demand for short-term rental options in such locations, as many occupiers are less focused on prolonged residential comfort and place more value on fast transit.

New Road Infrastructure as ROI Driver

The entire scenario changes when we consider road infrastructure such as the upcoming Pune Ring Road. Roads are the preferred means of transportation by vehicle-owning local inhabitants and do not involve the movement of large masses of population at a single spot. Neither do large highways cause bottlenecks of transient population nor does the servicing of these highways require support personnel to live in the immediate vicinity. These factors automatically raise the safety as well as the convenience quotients for people living in localities that lie along or are connected by major highways.

The benefits that the Ring Road and similar highway projects bring to these locations, minus the inherent drawbacks of transport points such as metro and railway stations, have a direct and very positive correlation to the investment value of residential projects located in these areas.

To summarize, it is advisable to look below the surface when it comes to the hype that usually surrounds the arrival of a new infrastructure project. In terms of future investment potential, not all projects and the locations they impact are created equal. A location benefited by new roads rather than other transportation infrastructure tends to do much better on the property market.

WHAT IS GREEN CLEANING ???

Green Cleaning is more than just using “green” products. The success of a green cleaning program is dependent on numerous factors. While the selection of a product is important, it will have little effect in the case of an inadequate cleaning regimen that leaves facilities dirty and the health of occupants, visitors and the environment at risk. Green Cleaning encompasses a total program including chemicals, procedures, equipment, paper, liners, mops, matting, and all other essential components.

The movement towards green cleaning does not imply that traditional methods are inadequate or have created unsafe conditions. Instead it can be viewed as simply taking the next step beyond our current approaches to further reduce polluting impacts while continuing to maintain and improve the healthfulness, comfort and aesthetics of our surroundings.

Sustainability also minimizes cleanings impact on people and the environment, but more importantly, it is a process, not a product. It is a process to protect resources for the future. In articles and discussions about green cleaning, you will typically read/hear something about the triple bottom line which entails – People, Planet and Profit.

People – pertains to fair and beneficial business practices toward labour and the community and region in which a corporation conducts its business.

Planet – refers to sustainable environmental practices. This practice entails reducing the ecological footprint by carefully managing consumption of energy, non-renewables and reducing.

Profit – is the economic value created by an organization after deducting the cost of all inputs, including the cost of capital?

The cleaners used by the custodial staff have an impact on the residents and staff at Long Term Care facilities. By switching to safer chemistries, without sacrificing performance, residents and staff can perform in a safer environment and will help lead to reduced HAI’s.

How do I know if a product is truly GREEN? We know that Green Cleaning creates healthier environments. However, to make sure that you are Green Cleaning you need to look for some type of third party certification like; Green Seal, Eco Logo, Design for the Environment or Bio Preferred. These third party certifiers review a manufacturer’s product to make sure that it adheres to strict requirements based on the effects to the environment.

The facility janitorial staff contributes as much to the well-being of patients as the medical staff. Good GREEN cleaning practices, keeping linens clean and reducing clutter help improve the indoor environment and are conducive to healthy residents and staff.

WHAT CAUSES ODOUR & HOW DO YOU TACKLE IT ???

Odour generates from the bacteria in the un-cleaned uric acid, usually found on the floor or walls of the restrooms. To effectively get rid of this odour, all the surfaces of the restroom need to be cleaned and scrubbed. In case one doesn’t find the source, a UV- Light can make a patch in the dark room, glow. The glowing indicates the source of the odour which needs cleaning.

Strong odour fumes also originate from the floor drain. Any kind of smell if noticed must be addressed by the concerned janitor, supervisor or the manager. What one needs is a proactive team.

It is also observed that the janitors use the same mop & bucket, used in the other rooms leading to spreading odour and cross contamination. On completing the task in each room, the water should be drained. This would prevent continuous use of the same bucket and mop multiple times and also allows the drain to have flowing water in the trap.

Bad odour can be found not only in the washrooms but also in work areas. One must check the exhaust systems, the ventilation for regular circulation of fresh air and any water blockage or seepage.

Another reason for bad odour is when the sewer gases escape into the air due to dry trap or because of water stationed in the trap with food for too long.

A regular check on the Sewage Treatment Plant water used in the washrooms for flushing, a track on the trap and the drain line, regular briefing to the janitors about identifying the cause of the odour and deep cleaning the areas are feasible solutions.

De-ozonisers should be used in hospitals and pathology centres to cut through the strong odours of spirit and other chemicals along with some advice on how to prevent bad odour generated from Bio medical waste. 

SCAN TO BIM

The technology of 3D scanning and converting it into a 3D model has its applications into various fields. In relation with the Building Industry (AEC), scan to BIM is the process by which a Building Information 3D Model (BIM model) is created from scanned point cloud data to accurately represent the ‘As Built’ environment.

Scan to BIM is helpful and used in sectors like building industry, process industry and digital factory for the purpose of reverse engineering, ship building, documentation of accident and forensic scenes and facility management and others. The laser scan point cloud survey data is collected and registered by certified surveyors and it is this registered point cloud from which the BIM model is produced.

What is a point cloud model?

A point cloud model is a set of millions of data points within a coordinate system. These points represent the outer surface and the shape of an object. However, a point cloud model cannot be used as a BIM model. This point cloud data is used as a reference, and BIM experts trace upon this data to reconstruct a 3D model that is ready for BIM. Scan-to-BIM process consists of three major steps: scanning, registration, and modeling. There are many inaccuracies and inefficiencies associated with each of the aforementioned processes that lead to inaccurate end product, as-built BIM, and also that increase the cost of Scan-to-BIM operations.

Benefits of Scan to BIM

The major advantage of the technology is in the ‘As Built’ sector. Especially on the much older buildings, there are almost no details available in terms of drawings or details. Laser scanning technology for a building is much quicker, more accurate and more detailed than compared to the traditional surveying methods.

It helps in creating an ‘AS Built’ accurate BIM model from the point cloud data, which saves significant time and cost for the client on the design side of the project. This helps in giving the design team, a much accurate and detailed 3D BIM model. Additionally it is possible to create a full set of ‘As Built’ 2D plans, sections and elevations from the BIM model.

This BIM modeling service and deliverable helps in providing a streamlined workflow for the design, planning and construction stages of retrofit, refurbishment and renovation projects, and also provides architects, engineers, government agencies and facility managers with a 3D model which contains the intelligent part as well.

For Scan to BIM tasks, what counts is the practical experience. Based on the experience and learning’s,

the professional gets while working on the various projects, the below mentioned points are taken care of:

Detailed Inputs

It is very much essential to get the precise and detailed brief of the project, as it can be challenging due to the nature of Scan to BIM project and especially for the project involving the interior modeling. There comes a situation, where client can request for a pricing without providing the scanned data. In such cases, one needs to make sure to receive the photographs and/or videos of what is going to be scanned and study them carefully. It is very likely that the service providers either provides under price and suffers heavy loss or over price and lose the contract. If possible, it would be advisable to make a site visit and study the building components such as beams and columns and their junctions. One needs to study the site condition as well, as it would also influence the modeling process.

In case where client provides with the scanned point cloud data, it would be much beneficial to get the 3600 colored panoramic views, which gives a clear idea to the modelers about the existing conditions. Many of the recent scanning machines have this facility.

Level of Detailing

This is a very important point to be received from the client or to be mentioned in the scope of work provided by the client. The Scan to BIM projects is quite different as compared to the visualization projects. The former one mainly requires focusing on detailing part, whereas the later one is mainly for a presentation in a 3D format. The level of detailing applies to architectural, structural and MEP part of the project.

For the regular BIM projects, it mainly deals with the LOD 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500, which are mainly related to the design part. For the Scan to BIM projects, there are levels 1-5 which are referred to while discussing the details to be considered while modeling. Here, one need to make sure that one understands is on same lines with that of the client.

Knowledge Imparting

As evident, the Scan to BIM is comparatively very new technology and process. There are cases, where the client is not fully aware about what he is asking for in reality, while the project is being discussed. It would be required to educate clients thoroughly about the process and about the output that would be delivered. This would help avoid any disputes during the project process or at the time of final deliverables. The practical scenario differs from the theoretical part.

Project Work

The scan to BIM conversion is a very specialized service which involves complexity and exactness, of the modeling especially for the ‘As Built World’. The precision is of utmost importance linked to the modeling part.

The future of scanning is immense and the different ways we scan will continue to evolve and become more customized to the specific industry problems presented. Point cloud data is still the best data that exists for capturing and studying existing conditions. The future will be exciting to watch for sure. Final BIM Model.

THERMAL IMAGING FOR HVAC MAINTENANCE

In hospitals, climate control is of critical importance to ensure both hygiene and comfort for the patients and personnel. A Swedish hospital was introduced to the Flir thermal imaging camera when it hired an external consultant for electrical maintenance who used the technology. Since then, the hospital used it to inspect and maintain its HVAC system. According to hospital technicians, the camera provides with the right information and allows making well based decisions with regard to maintenance of the heating and ventilation, troubleshooting all kinds of building issues.

The air temperature in the hospital should be 22°C and the air coming from ventilation ducts should be 18°C. To maintain the same, the thermometers installed in certain parts of the building provide feedback for the automated HVAC system used by the hospital. If the technical staff wants more specific information about the airflows and temperature distribution in a room, thermal imaging camera is used.

“From time to time complaints might arise from patients about a room being too hot or too cold but with the thermal imaging camera the staff can quickly assess whether there is actually something wrong in that room. If nothing is wrong, the screen of the thermal imaging camera allows staff to immediately show the patient that the temperatures are perfectly normal in the thermal image. And if there is a fault the thermal imaging helps us to find the problem much faster, allowing a quick repair. The two faults that the technicians sometimes find in the hospitals are HVAC system is clogged radiators or blocked ventilation ducts. The camera also helps inspect fuse cabinets and mechanical components in the ventilation system for faults, check whether the district heating shunt group is cooling the warm water down to the right temperature and even the backup batteries in the server room.

Operation Room:

For different types of operations different ambient temperatures are necessary. And a close control of air circulation is an obvious necessity to prevent contamination with airborne pathogens. The hospital staff therefore regularly checks and closely monitors the HVAC systems of the operation rooms with the thermal imaging camera.

Insulation Defects:

During a recent building project large parts of the hospital where renovated. The Flir thermal imaging camera was used to verify whether the insulation was working perfectly. Inspections showed that there was some warmth leakage at the window stills and that there was insufficient insulation in the attic roof. Also detected was incorrect installation of some of the radiators. Based on the information from the thermal imaging inspections these faults were corrected, ensuring that the new renovated parts of the building are well insulated.”

Thermal Imaging Vs Spot Pyrometers:

Before the use of thermal imaging camera, hospital technicians had to base the maintenance inspections on contact measurements. The personnel had to either touch warm components manually or use a spot pyrometer. Thermal imaging cameras have important advantages compared to spot pyrometers. For instance, the spot meter just gives a value of a small area. Using it for inspections is very labor intensive and it lacks the overview that a thermal imaging camera gives. On a thermal image one can immediately scan an entire area for thermal hot or cold spots and see at once where the problem is located. The details may vary, but a spot pyrometer is basically similar to a thermal imaging camera with one pixel as in that it tells the temperature of one spot. A thermal imaging camera will provide the same accurate temperature readings, but it gives you not one, but thousands of temperature readings at the same time.

Also, with a spot pyrometer it is very easy to miss crucial information as it gives a number while; thermal imaging presents an image of the entire area. Thus, one can immediately see the temperature distribution in the entire area and quickly spot problems that would otherwise remain undetected.

Versatile Tool

Flir Ebx-Series-models have an image quality of up to 320x240 pixels and include the features needed to make well informed building decisions like built-in insulation and dew point alarms. The cameras are specifically designed for building inspections such as, HVAC heating and cooling issues, air flow, moisture detection, insulation problems and other heat related building issues. Other features include Wifi connectivity, iPad compatibility, easy use and built-in picture-in-picture & thermal fusion.

FURNITURE EFFECTS ON IAQ

The reclassification of Formaldehyde by the International Agency for research on Cancer as carcinogenic to humans has triggered enormous concern globally. Lack of awareness in India on the formaldehyde emissions from UF bonded panels is even more worrisome.

Furniture is a functionally needed utility, keeping in view the ergonomic design needed for good working conditions. One of the most neglected aspects in India is the knowledge of acceptable level of formaldehyde emissions in the office or home interiors. It is mostly released from the wood panels used in the fabrication of furniture like Plywood, Block board, Particleboard and Medium Density Fiberboards (MDF). Therefore, it is preferable that the furniture manufacturers use wood panels with E1 certification.

Formaldehyde exposure potentially causes a variety of symptoms and adverse health effects, such as eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde has been associated with cancer in humans. Formaldehyde can affect people differently. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde at a certain level while others may not have any noticeable reaction to the same level.

Formaldehyde levels in indoor air can vary depending on temperature, humidity, and air exchange rate within the indoor space. In addition, several studies have shown that, in the presence of ozone, formaldehyde levels increase; therefore, the outdoor and indoor ozone levels are also relevant.

Formaldehyde levels in internal office or home spaces may change with the season, day-to-day and day-to-night. Levels may be high on a hot and humid day and low on a cool, dry day.

Major sources of Indoor Formaldehyde emissions

Measuring formaldehyde emissions from individual interior product is difficult because a variety of furnishings in the office or homes can release formaldehyde or trap formaldehyde emitted from other sources. Products with greater emissions and larger surface areas in the office or homes will most likely have a greater contribution to indoor air formaldehyde levels.

Pressed-wood (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF)) and wood-based products, especially those containing UF resins, may be a significant formaldehyde source. Moderate levels of formaldehyde initially follow application of wallpaper and paints. Some paints are now available with low-VOC formulations. Formaldehyde can be created from the chemical reaction between ozone and other VOCs during the use of personal computers, laser printers, and photocopiers. Products, such as carpets or gypsum board, do not contain significant amounts of formaldehyde when new. However, they may trap formaldehyde that is emitted into the air from other products and later release it into the indoor air.

RSG: HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS

RSG: HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS: A system that first takes care of fundamental concerns and only then moves to higher levels, can ensure disciplined investing You’ll ...

HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS

A system that first takes care of fundamental concerns and only then moves to higher levels, can ensure disciplined investing

You’ll probably be familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, if you've studied psychology, or more likely, marketing as part of your business school curricula. This hierarchy was formulated by Abraham Maslow to classify and understand levels of needs that human beings have. Starting from the most basic level, these roughly correspond to physiological needs, safety, social needs and, at the top of the hierarchy, what he called, self-actualization. According to Maslow, needs at a higher level become important only when those at the lower level are met. Someone who does not have enough to eat or whose basic physical safety is not assured is unlikely to worry too much about the deeper meaning of his or her life.

It is interesting to see that this idea of hierarchy of needs can be useful in planning one’s savings and investments. There are types of investments that belong at a higher level of a ‘Hierarchy of Savings’ and shouldn't be attempted before the lower levels are taken care of.

Here’s what I think this ‘Hierarchy of Savings’ should be like.

Level 1: Basic contingency funds: This should be the money that you may need to handle a personal emergency. Should be available instantly, partly as physical cash and partly as funds that can be immediately withdrawn from a bank.

Level 2: Term Insurance: A realistic amount that should be calculated to allow your dependents to finance at least short- and medium-term life goals if you were to drop dead is struck with a debilitating injury or disease.

Level 3: Savings for Foreseeable Short-Term Goals: Money that is needed for expenses that are planned to be made within the next two to three years. Almost all of this should be in minimal risk deposit-type savings avenues.

Level 4: Savings for long-term foreseeable goals: Same as level 3, except the planned expenses are more than three to five years away. This level should be invested in equity and equity-backed investments like equity mutual funds.

One could think of many other levels beyond this and really, the details matter much less than the concept. Also, depending on one’s circumstances, any of the levels may have to be modified. However, this is not an asset allocation tool. The point of this exercise is to prevent yourself from going to higher level unless the lower one is fulfilled. It’s simply a way of reinforcing that there’s little point in trying to fine-tune how much you will earn in an equity investment if you haven’t put away cash for an immediate emergency or adequate term insurance cover.