The effective sanitisation solution that facilities managers have been waiting for

With the new strain of Covid-19 causing further lockdowns across the world, including the UK, facilities management companies need to adapt constantly to meet the challenges which the pandemic continues to present.

In Spring 2020, contingency planning focussed on immediate issues such as adapting offices for social distancing, prioritising hygiene measures and managing remote workforces.

Though many of these priorities remain the same, the main responsibility of a facilities manager going forward is to maintain and promote health and safety standards across all managed premises. Naturally, this has taken on a renewed urgency throughout the pandemic, with additional responsibilities for facilities managers who are tasked with managing the potential of a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace, particularly when we eventually get the green light to go back to work.

So what’s next for facilities management companies who need to starting planning now (and not last minute) for the second easing of a national lockdown?

UV-C Disinfection Robots

If you are looking for effective, long term, practical solutions to managing the disinfection and sanitisation of your spaces - Evolve Raybotix has the answer.

We are the only UK supplier of UV-C Ozone disinfection robots which are now certified as a ‘Class I Medical Device’ (see details here).

These cutting-edge robots use UV-C light supported by Ozone gas to destroy microorganisms’ DNA structures, quickly and safely eradicating 99.9% of harmful bacteria and viruses in an environmentally friendly and chemical-free way in all areas and surfaces whilst leaving no residues behind.

There are three models available of these robots which vary in sizes, applications and coverage as follows:

• The NEO portable robot is ideal for sanitising smaller spaces thanks to its ease of use and manoeuvrability. The NEO is able to clean 25m2 in as little as 7 minutes.

• The EOS Static Robot uses room mapping technology to deliver a fast and effective germicidal dose of continuous wave UV-C light. The EOS can sanitise an area of 100m2 in as little as 7 minutes.

• The SOL Mobile Robot is our largest model and has been specifically designed for use in the hospital, healthcare, pharmaceutical industry and/or other similar environments as well as retail, warehouse, storage and logistics and manufacturing facilities which require rigorous routine sanitisation on a significant scale. In terms of coverage, the mobile SOL UV-C disinfection robot is able to clean 100m2 in as little as 7 minutes and is completely autonomous.

Step By Step To Cleaning An Office Block

The robots have been developed by engineers who are renowned for their attention to detail in creating artificial intelligence systems for high value vehicles. Whilst they are sophisticated in their design and complex scientifically, the operating software is simple and easy to use. The machines act as their own Wi-Fi hotspot, therefore can be programmed from a tablet or smart phone next to, or within the Wi-Fi range of the machine itself. The robot can also be programmed using the machine screen – so if for any reason Wi-Fi is unreachable or tablets and phones are out of charge, the robot can be programmed manually with plenty of time allowed by the robot for the operator to leave the room before the cycle starts.

If we take the example of an office block, the process would be as follows. Please note, this process is meant as a guideline and can be followed for small individual offices or larger open plan offices, even though other methodologies and programmes are available as well.

• Step 1: The offices are cleaned and disinfected following normal routines with your in-house or commercial cleaners removing debris, tidying the space, emptying bins and sanitizing surfaces as per their usual procedures and standards.

• Step 2: The robot is positioned in the centre of the office and power is switched on.

• Step 3: The robot, once active, will display a log in screen. Connect the smart phone or tablet to the robots Wi-Fi. Do this via ‘settings’ ‘Wi-Fi’ on the smartphone/tablet and the Wi-Fi hotspot should appear. Log in using the username and password provided by the supplier. Alternatively, you can log directly using the touchscreen on the unit itself.

• Step 4: Once logged in, the robot will provide several options. If disinfecting a space for the first time, for the most effective outcome you will need to map the area using the LiDAR technology integrated above the UV-C bulbs.

• Select map area and allow the LiDAR to rotate, scanning the room for surfaces and size so it can then advise on the optimum positions and cycle length for it to be in before it starts its cycle.

• (Alternatively, for a quick disinfection, ‘simple disinfection’ is chosen, and a specific duration time or area is specified for the disinfection run. In such a case disinfection can be carried out in a quick two-step process)

• Step 5: Name the map area and note the location so that this space can be easily selected again when repeating the cycle.

• Step 6: Return to home screen to start disinfection. Select the mapped area that you have just named and choose the ‘Custom disinfection’ cycle. You can opt to sanitise with or without ozone and choose to switch on/off the movement detection. Start the cycle.

• Step 7: As the robot indicates it is about to commence its cycle, the light above the UV-C bulbs will change to blue, the robot will start beeping and you will have a minimum of 15 seconds to leave the room.

• Step 8: Your smart phone or tablet (or the screen on the unit) will have a countdown timer to indicate how long the cycle should take. Await completion of the cycle and a confirmation beep before returning to the area/room.

• Step 9: Repeat steps 6-8 if the robot needs to be moved to alternative locations as specified by the robot itself. When complete the unit will beep and the LED light will turn to green to show cycle success. Afterwards carefully move the robot into the next area to be sanitized.

• Step 10: Seal the recently sanitized room to indicate that the bioburden has been minimized and will remain at this low level until someone enters the room. A report will be generated and can be saved for auditing/certification purposes.

The ability to sanitise a space, vacate and seal is highly desirable in a commercial setting such as an office block. This method of disinfection is particularly effective in call centres for example, where the offices can be sanitised quickly and efficiently in between team handovers.

The mobile SOL robot is particularly effective in larger retail stores, shopping centres and manufacturing facilities as this robot can be pre-programmed to carry out the disinfection automatically across different areas whilst the space is closed. This is achieved through the superior mapping technology which is available in our SOL robot giving it the ability to operate continuously, remotely and autonomously, ensuring a consistent and efficient disinfection schedule with minimum human intervention and zero downtime.

Evolve Raybotix

The confidence that Evolve Raybotix is giving to facilities management companies far surpasses anything that has gone before them by minimizing any contamination and maintaining safe spaces for staff, customers and other visitors.

These disinfecting robots are being distributed exclusively in the UK via Evolve Raybotix based in the ILS2 at Swansea University.

To find out more information visit the website www.evolveraybotix.com or email evolveteam@evolveres.com to book a demonstration.