As the world grapples with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge effect on the global economy, the pandemic lockdown continues to redefine the management of commercial spaces, changing expectations and most certainly altering the industry for years to come. With most buildings still operating during the lockdown, typically without manual input, this is a perfect opportunity to elevate the use of cloud-based, remote building automation systems (BAS) for commercial buildings. This will not only allow remote monitoring and operation but also will allow a leaner operation to most facilities while reducing operational expenditures. Techs were forced to conduct on-site visits at buildings lacking building management systems (BMS) and those that could not be controlled remotely, ensuring that lighting, HVAC systems, and security systems were all still working correctly, potentially exposing themselves to contracting the COVID-19 virus with each trip. It was either visit the buildings or wait until the lockdown was over to check on their condition. This was a serious issue for building owners during the extended period of lockdown around the world. Facilities with control systems that were capable of remote monitoring and control had no such issues. For these systems, if there are issues that could not be solved remotely, firms/owners could dispatch one of their less at-risk facility staff to check on the facility.
Every major disruption shifts our priorities and alters perspectives, redefining the existing status quo. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to redefine our new normal. During this pandemic experience, the digital economy gained substantial traction, paving the way for the adoption of technology in every sector, including the building industry. COVID-19 has forced building operation to be more automated and less reliant on manual interventions. During the current pandemic, BMS/BAS technology was one key tool that helped building managers quickly modify their building operations in an effort to minimize the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The use of enhanced ventilation systems is key to the reduction of the COVID-19 transmission within commercial buildings. Buildings that could use their BMS/BASs to quickly modify their ventilation systems proved to be more flexible than those that were unable to. The remote manipulation of an MEP system has been around for some time, but the majority of buildings that are in operation are not equipped with that technology. This is often attributed to the high capital cost involved in getting them installed during the construction process. Usually, these remote operation designs are often viewed as extra and not a necessity.