By Staff Writer, PHCC-National Association
As virus infections increased around the world, the PHCC staff began teleworking from home in March 2020. A significant investment in improved cloud technology and infrastructure approved by the PHCC Board of Directors a few years earlier, enabled the staff to operate remotely without any interruption in providing a full range of member services and benefits.
While advising contractors on the steps to take to protect employees and communities, PHCC was practicing what it preached with its own staff and tenants in the Falls Church, Virginia, building owned by the association.
The association invested in additional equipment and services to ensure proper safeguards were in place. Steps included additional cleaning and disinfection measures; safety signs and reminders throughout the building; PPE available in the lobby; installation of touchless faucets; and social distancing requirements. Any potential COVID-19 exposures were minimized by managing entry into the building and screening tenants and visitors.
Sanitizing was done to all common high-touch surfaces and disinfectants met CDC requirements with PH7Q EPA-approved products. Facility managers conducted regular inspection and flushing of plumbing apparatuses to mitigate legionnaire causing concerns.
HVAC safety precautions in the building included needlepoint bipolar ionization air purification retrofit to continuously remove sources of bacteria and viruses, deodorize and sterilize air space in the entire building, set controls to maintain ideal relative humidity of 40-60 percent, changing filters to MERV 13 rating and completing coil cleaning.
PHCC staff began returning to the office in mid-2020, with full reoccupation expected in July 2021.