CapitaLand rolls out precautionary measures including disinfection floormats and contactless lift activation at its malls

As we wait eagerly for life after circuit breaker when we enter into Phase 1 (Safe Reopening), CapitaLand, announces how they’ll be stepping up precautionary measures at their malls.

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The real estate giant owns some of the most popular malls in Singapore including ION Orchard, Plaza Singapura, and Jewel Changi Airport, as well as neighbourhood malls like Bedok Mall, Junction 8 and IMM.

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These measures make use of innovative tech solutions to enhance the safety and well-being of shoppers, tenants and employees.

1. Anti-microbial coating for high contact areas

capitaland-mall-safety-measures-covid19-2 High contact areas in all CapitaLand malls including lifts and lift buttons, door entrance buttons, handrails, touch screens, toilet cubicles and basins, family rooms, and customer service counters will progressively be coated with an anti-microbial disinfectant in June 2020.

This disinfectant is a technology researched an developed in Singapore.

The treated surfaces can guard against bacteria and virus for up to six months, compared with general cleaning and disinfection which is effective only at the point of application.

CapitaLand will continue to clean and disinfect all high contact touch points at stepped up frequency of once every two to three hours, as a complementary measure to the anti-microbial coating.

2. Disinfection floormats

Disinfection doormats will be introduced at CapitaLand malls from June 2020. The introduction of this measure is a first for malls in Singapore.

Disinfection solution will be poured over the floormats, allowing shoppers’ soles to be cleaned when they step on the floormats.

Thereafter, shoppers can dry their soles by stepping onto a runner mat. The floormats will be placed at key entrances and they will be changed out and cleaned twice daily.

3. UV disinfection robots

Autonomous UV disinfection robots will be deployed after mall operating hours to conduct daily disinfection of high shopper traffic floors.

In June 2020, the robots will be introduced at the basement floors and level one of Tampines Mall and Bukit Panjang Plaza, two high traffic malls identified by the authorities. They will then be progressively rolled out at other CapitaLand malls at a later time.

This technology will complement daily disinfection routines carried out by cleaning crews.

4. Lift car disinfection with PhotoPlasma technology

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All lift cars in CapitaLand malls will be installed with PhotoPlasma air disinfection system
from June 2020 onwards.

This technology will energise atmospheric air into a plasma state, in turn eliminating air-borne and surface microorganisms such as virus and bacteria.

The PhotoPlasma air disinfection system in lift cars will be complemented by anti-microbial coating and general cleaning procedures to disinfect lift surfaces.

5. Automatic escalator handrail disinfection and contactless lift activation

The Atrium@Orchard will be the first mall in Singapore to trial the automated escalator
handrail disinfection and contactless lift activation system.

With an Ultra UV device installed in the escalator system, handrails will be efficiently disinfected when the escalator is in use.

These devices will be built into two high traffic escalators, ensuring that tenants and shoppers are not exposed to UV light.

Two lifts at The Atrium@Orchard will also be fitted with a QR code registration device, allowing tenants and shoppers to scan a QR code and activate the lifts without contact with lift buttons.

Other safety measures

In line with guidance from the authorities, temperature screening of all visitors and employees at the point of entry will continue at CapitaLand malls. The malls will also conduct contact tracing using SafeEntry NRIC and SafeEntry QR. Mask wearing in the malls is compulsory.

To facilitate safe distancing, CapitaLand malls have put up signs and queue markers. Service ambassadors from CapitaLand’s security and retail management teams are on hand to break up any crowd that may gather.

Special dine-in areas that fulfil safe distancing requirements have been set up specifically for frontliners who work in CapitaLand malls, so that they can take their meals in comfort.

As part of Temasek Foundation’s Stay Prepared initiative, frontliners working in CapitaLand malls including centre management staff, tenant employees, vendors and contractors will each receive two complimentary face shields. CapitaLand will distribute over 47,000 face shields to recipients across its malls from the first week of June 2020.