U.S. firm Steelcase, which manufactures furniture for offices, hospitals and classrooms, announced an exclusive agreement with Canadian smart building company Kontrol Technologies to offer customers in the U.S. and Canada access to Kontrol BioCloud viral detection technology.
Kontrol will offer its air quality monitoring device exclusively in the contract furniture market through Steelcase’s extensive dealer network. Kontrol says that BioCloud provides real-time detection of airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, sampling the air “continuously” through a combination of three independent capture techniques. When the device detects a virus, it sends a communication in the cloud or over local intranet, notifying workplace leaders in real time, Kontrol said, adding that based on this information, employers can take the measures needed to mitigate virus outbreaks in the office.
“Steelcase research shows that when people return to the workplace they will expect a greater emphasis on safety ? citing air quality and adherence to safety protocols as top needs,” said Allan Smith, Steelcase global vice president of marketing. “The office can play a role in helping to mitigate the spread of disease, and collaboration with Kontrol BioCloud will help our customers in their efforts to create healthy spaces for their employees when they return to the office.”
As organizations plan to bring employees back to the office in the coming months, creating safer workplaces will be a critical step in returning to normal, Kontrol said.
With findings that aerosol transmission is the primary means of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, air management is a key area of focus when it comes to creating a safer workplace. Real-time air monitoring can play an important role in establishing the confidence needed for organizations to succeed in the current environment and beyond, the firm added.
“We look forward to delivering air quality and real-time safe space monitoring technology to the work environment through the extensive Steelcase dealer network,” said Paul Ghezzi, CEO of Kontrol. “The marketing alliance with Steelcase provides Kontrol BioCloud with a significant platform into the United States office market as well as an established corporate customer base.”
Starting in early September, organizations across the U.S. and Canada can access Kontrol BioCloud through Steelcase’s dealer network.
Kontrol provides a combination of software, hardware, and service solutions to its customers to improve energy management, air quality and continuous emission monitoring.
Earlier this month, Kontrol Technologies announced the completion of the acquisition of Global HVAC & Automation.
Kontrol already provides its customers with a suite of Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based technology to optimize heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as overall energy management and emission reduction.
The firm said that Global?s service offering complements Kontrol?s existing product portfolio, adding that the combination of the two is expected to create significant growth opportunities over the coming years.
