Hygiene safety in common-interest developments

Due to the health crisis caused by the coronavirus COVID19 pandemic, all sectors of society have taken measures to prevent viral infection. Most people wash their hands several times a day with soap and water or with disinfectant gel. Masks and gloves have also become yet another element of our every-day routines.

One of the most important aspects is how to ensure hygiene in common-interest developments and residential areas. In most of them, the property administrator has contacted the residents to put into place a series of intensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for communal areas such as stairways, lift, entrance or landings.

But what other action can be taken in common-interest developments? Without a doubt, what helps most avoid any contact at building entrances and exits is the automatic door. This helps avoid pushing or turning knobs, holding onto handles, opening a lock or pulling on a door.

Automatic doors and hygiene to fight infection

Access through automatic doors gives people complete hygiene safety. Faced with this new scenario created by the pandemic, it is both recommendable and necessary to adapt the accesses to residential areas or to common-interest developments. The following are the benefits and advantages of installing automatic doors in a residential building:

  • Accessibility: Ideal for any user with reduced mobility (elderly, wheelchairs) or with difficult access (distribution, pushchairs) thanks to their automatic detection.
  • Safety and hygiene: Full access control and one hundred per cent hygiene safety because nothing has to be touched for them to open.
  • Design and exclusivity: Modern, attractive design that encourages entry without noticing the change in space. Automation of existing doors.
  • Added value: Increased safety and property value. Advice from Manusa throughout the installation process. Cheaper than a traditional door.

Along with this, there is an extensive catalogue of touchless accessories. Everyone is responsible for stopping this pandemic. We must look after ourselves both inside and outside the home. We can achieve this by pulling together.

The best automatic doors for restaurants

How often have you arrived at the entrance to a restaurant, pulled or pushed a door open and then had to repeat the process? Many bars and restaurants have a double door, either due to the layout of their entrance or because it helps maintain the HVAC inside the premises.

This method has changed thanks to automatic doors. The transition towards automatically-operating accesses without the need for a customer to do anything is increasingly commonplace, although this remains a slow process.

Which are the best automatic doors? The most popular are the standard sliding door, the telescopic sliding door and the automatic swing door. The latter is recommended more for hotels than for restaurants.

All these products are excellent at improving the energy efficiency of the facilities and, therefore, have a positive and sustainable impact on environmental care. Furthermore, given the possibility of designing, producing and installing large transparent leaves, the owners, customers and employees will gain a great deal of outdoor light.

Automatic door for the kitchen of a restaurant

Not only is the entrance door to the restaurant important. The quality of work life of the employees of a restaurant, café, pub or bar must also be considered. Making it easier for waiters to move between the kitchen and the front of house is a good action that will improve the professional health of the employees.

An automatic door can also be installed at the entrances to the toilet or the storage room, or even the emergency exits in the building. These doors can be activated using remote control systems, photocells, movement switches or remote controls. The safety of people is as important if not more so that their comfort as they have breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Tools that can help architects during COVID19

The crisis caused by coronavirus COVID19 has led to radical changes in the workplace. Many people around the world have been either permanently or temporarily dismissed from work, and many others have had to install their office at home and start doing their jobs via telework.

Architects are among the professions affected. Thanks to the BIM (Building Information Modelling) method, architecture and design professionals can work together to create and manage building projects.

The possibility of designing and working online, sharing contents over the internet, has enabled this profession to continue inventing and designing. There are different computer programs to carry out this work, such as Graphisoft BIMcloud or Autodesk BIM 360.

Technology for architects

There is also another type of digital tool that is not just used in architecture, but by an increasing number of people during this pandemic. For example, it is possible to store and share files containing BIM drawings, designs and documents in virtual spaces such as Google Drive or WeTransfer.

Furthermore, communication between colleagues is essential in any teamwork. Over recent weeks, keeping in contact through videocalls has become extremely relevant. Apps such as WhatsApp, Skype or Zoom will ensure members of an architecture studio can hold voice or video calls while they plan the project, or hold meetings with clients.

Manusa has an extensive catalogue of BIM files to help designers and architects view our automatic doors and accesses on their computer screens. In turn, they can show them online and in 3D to their clients in the same city or on the other side of the world.

A very important part of this home confinement involves disconnecting the digital world to connect with the real world. Being able to chat with our relatives under the same roof will make it easier for us to get through this period. We hope everything returns to normal as soon as possible.

Statement: We resume productive activity

Dear Manusa customers,

First and foremost, we hope you are fit and as well as possible given the present exceptional situation. We would like to send you a message of encouragement to all those who have been affected by coronavirus, in either their families or close surroundings. We are sending them all our strength and support.

We at Manusa are writing to inform you of the measures we will be adopting in the coming days with regard to our operations. As the relevant authorities officially declared, 9th April was the last day of hibernation for non-essential businesses in our country.

To this end, as of 13th April Manusa is restarting its production activity in the factories, as well as our sales activities, maintenance service and installations, and our technical assistance service will remain active to help our customers.

The opening hours will be from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. on Friday.

We also remain available through all our communication channels with our customers and distributors.

Manusa wishes to return to normal as quickly as possible, prioritising the health of the people who make up our organisation and integrating the safety measures proposed by the Department of Health. We would also like to send you a message of confidence and calm in facing this health crisis, and send a message of encouragement to society as a whole.

Kind regards,

The Manusa Team

The energy efficiency of revolving doors at airports

When you have to take a plane to travel to another city or country, you want the process before you take off to be as easy as possible. Checking in your luggage, passing through airport security, waiting, passport control before boarding, looking for your seat, etc.

It all starts when you enter the airport. Although it might seem insignificant, the journey starts here and, subconsciously, passengers like not having to push a door while they’re piled high with bags, suitcases or luggage.

Automatic doors encourage this flow of people and also increase the energy efficiency of the building by keeping the indoor temperature stable, whether it is in the winter with heating, or in the summer with air conditioning.

One of the products that works best in this airport sector are automatic revolving doors, which are able to meet the highest requirements regarding functionality thanks to their advanced technology and avant-garde design, ensuring they blend right in with the airport architecture.

Why install an automatic revolving door?

  • It saves on energy and HVAC costs
  • It eliminates draughts
  • It prevents temperature fluctuations
  • It is always open and always closed
  • It prevents pollution from dirt and noise
  • It is safe
  • It is very attractive and adapts to the surroundings

The revolving doors designed, produced and installed by Manusa are available in the following finishes: 304 or 316 stainless steel, brass, lacquered or anodised aluminium, wood, mirror finishes and RAL finishes. They also all guarantee perfect thermal and acoustic insulation in the entrance area.

There are several types. On one hand, there are the medium-traffic revolving doors (Tourniket and Crystal Tourniket) and, on the other, the large capacity revolving doors (Duotour and Tournex). Thirdly but no less importantly, are the high-security revolving doors (Circlelock and Tourlock).

Without a doubt, this product is a great solution for airports. But also for other sectors such as retail, offices, hotels or healthcare.

Accessories that can help avoid coronavirus Covid-19

Gloves, masks and disinfectant gels have become commonplace items in the lives of millions of citizens worldwide due to coronavirus Covid-19.

In public spaces, almost nobody touches the button with their hand to switch on a light or open a door. Most people use their elbow to activate that element.

There is a series of accessories that can help avoid contact due to coronavirus. A list of them is provided below:

  • Photocells: a mechanism for automatic doors that consists of a switch that detects objects and people as they move over the threshold of the door and that prevents it from closing in the presence of obstacles.
  • Movement switch: A device that automatically opens a door when a person approaches.
  • Touchless switch: An accessory designed specifically for spaces where hygiene must be maintained. The door will open when users bring their hand or elbow up to the touchless switch, without having to touch it.
  • DDS hybrid switch: A mechanism for automatic doors with an innovative design that combines microwave technology, which triggers the door to open, and active infra-red sensors (AIR), which guarantee personal safety.

Automatic doors in relation to Covid-19

The different types of automatic door must be added to all these accessories and mechanisms to avoid having to touch the glass, the handles or the door knobs. Their presence and movement switch will trigger and open the accesses when a person approaches the door or is simply standing within the detection radius.

Solutions for hospitals regarding Coronavirus

You can never be too careful when helping in the fight against coronavirus. Automatic accesses in hospitals and health centres are of great help in the fast traffic of healthcare staff and patients. Furthermore, contagion by touching is avoided because the doors do not have to be touched.

Airlocks are essential for isolation rooms and can be installed as standard or customised, depending on the needs of each hospital. Manusa has already designed and installed isolation rooms for infected people in several hospitals in Spain.

Thanks to the connection between the different P50 sliding or swing doors leading to the restricted area, compliance with the isolation room access protocol is guaranteed. Airlocks include several additional components such as electro-mechanical locks, entry/exit communication lights, control display, numeric keypad or swing operator.

The first rooms were installed during the ebola crisis in 2014. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis reminds us that extraordinary situations require special solutions to help control them.

Products with antimicrobial treatment

The HPL material used to manufacture our P50 doors reduces microbial activity on their surface. This reduction is certified by the Quality Labs laboratory that specialises in biological tests in line with Standard JIS Z 2801:2012.

Remember that stopping coronavirus starts with each individual. This is why we should not leave the house, and why we should wash our hands with soap and water several times a day, cough and sneeze into our elbow, and clean objects and the home more often.

How automatic doors help slow down Coronavirus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting thousands of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reminded all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be considerably slowed down or even stopped if strict containment and control measures are applied.

The health authorities recommend hygiene as the best exponent to prevent it from spreading. Included among the prevention guidelines are:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
  • Adopt respiratory hygiene measures and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • Avoid crowds and limit physical contact
  • If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, immediately request medical care
  • Adopt hygiene measures when visiting areas where there are a lot of people
  • Increase the cleaning of communal areas and areas considered a risk of infection
  • If possible, stay at home to avoid infection or infecting others if you are infected

Public spaces –except hospitals- are becoming empty due to the logical fear of this pandemic. Places such as shopping malls, supermarkets, cafés or offices have reduced the number of people circulating around them to a greater or lesser extent.

Despite this, you sometimes have no choice but to leave home, for example to shop for basic goods or medicines. Thank goodness the accesses to these establishments are automatic.

Doors that avoid the spread of the pandemic

Many people are pushing entrance doors with their arms when they are manual. But they are unsure how to open the door when you have to pull on it to exit to enter the premises. Thanks to places with automatic doors, this is no longer a problem because there is no possibility of contagion from the hands.

Automatic doors are becoming essential at present in hospitals and health centres, as they completely isolate the inside of the rooms. These are hermetic doors that provide the utmost safety in quarantine conditions. Nowadays, when many patients have to suffer the effects of the illness in isolation, they are of great use and importance for health centres.

Likewise, in warehouses working with products where there is a great loading and unloading activity, automatic doors are fundamental. They provide agility, great operability, and the best hygiene conditions. At times where we must be strict with regard to distances and the use of materials, they provide comfort and safety.

Once this pandemic is over, it would be a good idea to analyse where automatic doors might be of benefit (in most places and buildings, including public transport), for the common good of all society. Not only to avoid a new epidemic, but also for hygiene against the common cold and flu.

Manusa took part in the SICUR International Security Exhibition

SICUR, the International Security Exhibition, was held in Madrid from 25th to 28th February 2020. Manusa was there with its products. Visitors were impressed by its access control and security systems, which are compatible with any validation system: either a card reader, RFID, or digital.

Manusa aims its work and strategy at access control applications and integration solutions such as facial recognition and fingerprint readers, among others. What’s more, this year’s SICUR included new innovations such as the circular airlock.

International presence this year represented 23.5 percent of the rate of participation at the exhibition, with 2,016 companies from 31 different countries. Furthermore, there were 706 exhibitors, 8.6 percent up on the 2018 edition.

Visitors to SICUR were given the unique chance to see one of the widest ranges in security and discover the latest proposals from a state-of-the-art sector in technology, design and innovation that turns the exhibition into its greatest showcase every two years.

The exhibition is divided into three main sectors. Firstly, workplace safety, which included innovations in materials, work equipment, clothing, etc. Secondly, the fire and emergency security sector.

And a third area devoted to the section called “Security”, where Manusa was present with its stand. The different companies were able to show, for example, significant improvements regarding the installation of video surveillance equipment and systems, the use of artificial intelligence, biometric facial detection, systems that prevent false alarms, smart safes, explosion-proof doors, and other proposals.

Manusa would like to thank everyone who visited us at our stand during the exhibition.

Automatic doors in communities of residents. Much more than security

When we refer to the communal areas of a neighbourhood, we always think of the areas of the lift, the entrance, the meter rooms, or the irrigation system, if the community of residents has gardens. The entrance and exit doors of the building are also important, whether they are the main doors, the secondary doors, or the garage doors, for example.

Many residential areas now tend to be automated, which means that mechanisms can be activated by remote control, programming activities, or making things happen by mobile phone. Although it is true that technology is not as advanced and not such a high degree of implementation is reached in every home.

With regard to automatic doors, it is always said that it is important for safety reasons. And it is true that this type of system ensures our homes are safe from undesirable intrusions. Accessories such as photocells, safety switches or access control systems are implemented in many neighbourhoods to keep them safe when the owners are away from home working or are on holiday for a few weeks.

Automatic doors for entrances

There are also elements associated to automatic doors that make life easier for the tenants of communities of residents. For example, drive controls; a system that we are used to seeing in offices, shopping malls or restaurants, and that are also very convenient in accesses to residential complexes.

Buttons can be added to these, either hand or elbow activated. We normally use them to switch on the lights in the corridors of communal areas in the stairway. Incorporating them to open doors is a very good idea and makes the flow of people easier.

And a very recommendable accessories for properties with several buildings belonging to a housing cooperative or community of residents is the entry and exit control, as computer systems are used to control all accesses and doors. Without a doubt, a 21st century convenience for communities of residents that is one hundred percent technological.