This contactless solution offers high accuracy and provides an additional tool in the first line of defence for building owners and operators as part of their pandemic safety measure

At the heart of the Johnson Controls Smart Elevated Skin Temperature Scanning Solution is the Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST camera, which provides rapid scanning at accuracy levels that, according to the company, exceed standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as tested and confirmed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). In addition, the solution has been designed to meet the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's April 2020 Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems.

Skin temperature scanning is carried out while people continue to walk. Embedded, advanced facial detection technology and rapid scanning times quickly alert operators to an elevated skin temperature reading. People do not need to stop or be approached by the operators. This helps to reduce crowding and contributes to a contactless building entry experience for visitors and employees at businesses, schools, sporting and transportation venues, and other buildings.

"How we interact with our environments, buildings and shared spaces has become top-of-mind as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a 135-year history of creating smarter, safer, more sustainable buildings, Johnson Controls has unmatched expertise, technology and the solutions to rethink our physical spaces at this critical time," said Mike Ellis, executive vice president, chief customer & digital officer, Johnson Controls.

The solution is equipped with technical features such as a 5-megapixel colour/thermal camera with built-in, AI-enabled face detection technology that isolates the forehead and performs a multi-point temperature measurement, specified as accurate to within ±0.2ºC/0.4ºF, when deployed in compliance with proper installation and condition requirements.

It has a blackbody temperature calibration device, with a 24-month calibration certificate, for sustained accuracy, and it can be customised for real-time alerts for local or remote monitoring via a browser or through compatible video management systems.  The solution can be integrated with other security systems, such as an access control solution that can automatically prevent the person from further access.

Elevated skin temperatures identified by the solution should be confirmed with secondary evaluation methods, such as clinical thermometers. Temperature measurements should not be solely or primarily relied upon to diagnose or exclude a diagnosis of COVID-19, or any other disease. Pro Thermal EST should be used to measure only one individual's temperature at a time, in accordance with FDA guidelines.

The Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST is now available for sale in the United States and will be released globally in phases.