What you’ll discover:
1. Examine for Mold
2. Examine for Rodents and Pests
3. Drain and Refill the Water System
4. When restarting HVAC systems, adhere to new construction guidelines.
5. Provide for more air circulation
6. Recognize and address high-risk areas
7. Expand Cleaning Procedures
Did you shut your office or building during the epidemic, or did your employees or tenants relocate to work from home? The number of office reopenings is increasing, and many more are on the way. It’s time to consider what has to be done before office spaces reopen. The extended outage might have resulted in unknown health and safety consequences. When reopening office buildings for business, commercial property owners, managers, and tenants should be aware of the following possible dangers.
Table of Contents
1. Examine for Mold
Mold thrives in chilly, dark environments. It accurately describes the majority of closed office environments. Mold development is aided by poor air movement. It causes spores to settle, making it more difficult for moisture to escape from humidity and other sources.
Mold has the potential to produce allergic responses as well as short- and long-term respiratory difficulties. Asthmatics are particularly vulnerable.
Do a visual assessment of all areas of your building for mold. Consider hiring a professional to evaluate your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, which are prone to mold development while not in use. Consider contacting a professional if you see any evidence of leaks, water damage, or other wetness.
2. Examine for Rodents and Pests
Rodents, bugs, and their excrement may spread illness and create respiratory issues, not to mention the unsettling feeling of witnessing rodents darting along corridors or around corners. Workers, residents, and customers are unlikely to feel welcome in a pest-infested facility.
Look for indicators of pests, such as droppings, shredded paper, or other nesting materials, before you begin cleaning. Look for any gaps in the walls or containers. If you believe bugs are present, you should seek the assistance of a pest control professional.
3. Drain and Refill the Water System
Although your water system should be sealed in most cases, Legionella and other bacteria may enter via small breaches and proliferate while the system is not in use. Depending on the plumbing in your building, the water may become dangerous after a few days, weeks, or months of inactivity.
Turn on the water throughout your facility before reopening to ensure that the water in the pipes is entirely restored. Clean the faucets and other outside surfaces, as well as any filters or pumps that need to be serviced.
4. When restarting HVAC systems, adhere to new construction guidelines.
If your HVAC system was completely shut down rather than working at a reduced capacity, ensure that your contractor adheres to the Standard Practice for the Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems. The purpose is to protect your system while looking for mold, dust, and other pollutants that may have entered while the system was turned off.
5. Provide for more air circulation
Increasing air circulation and bringing in outside air is one of the most important aspects in decreasing the spread of COVID-19. This disperses viral particles in the air that might gather in a room.
If at all feasible, design your structure such that windows and doors may stay open. Installing screens to keep pests out or safety bars to prevent falls may be part of this. While improving air circulation, keep outside concerns in mind, such as carbon monoxide from a road or loading dock, pollen, or other pollutants.
Many heating and cooling systems just recycle interior air and lack filters capable of removing viruses like COVID-19. Air exchange systems may assist replace stale indoor air with new outside air while keeping the interior temperature appropriate.
6. Recognize and address high-risk areas
There will still be an elevated danger in busy spaces such as conference rooms, cafeterias, locker rooms, elevators, and major entrances until COVID-19 is done. Consider expanding into these locations to enhance physical distance if you have spare space owing to remote work or lower occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may also be required.
You may need to make changes to your employee workspaces. This might involve dividing workstations, turning desks away from one another, or putting up physical barriers.
7. Expand Cleaning Procedures
Only restrooms are cleaned daily in many workplaces, while the majority of other areas are spot-cleaned or cleaned on a regular basis. Consider cleaning all contact points and surfaces on a daily or more regular basis. You may also want to have disinfection sprays or wipes readily available in common staff areas.