All transportation hubs, stadiums, theme parks, government buildings like courthouses, tax collector, Social Security all have safety plans and procedures for protecting the public and their staff.  The Coronavirus introduces additional concerns and complications associated with it, causing the need for an advanced plan to be designed and implemented.

PROBLEM:

While there have been virus\sickness outbreaks before and your staff has been trained on how to identify, contain, and respond to these situations.  Your plan should address the following and more. All pedestrians and workers entering facilities where large gatherings may congregate should now be screened prior to allowing access to prevent contamination wherever and whenever possible. If you can identify someone showing signs of illness early, you can remove the person away from general population for further testing to minimize the spread of this virus.  

DETECTION:

Identifying sick people while trying to correctly diagnose symptoms is a challenge. Several ailments have similar symptoms.

SOLUTION:

While a FLIR Thermal Image Camera can’t detect a virus, using thermal image cameras can identify individuals with Elevated Body Temperature (EBT), staff can be more discrete, efficient, and effective in identifying individuals that need further screening with medical test equipment or virus-specific tests.

While not be feasible to perform a physical medical test on each person entering your facility, the use of FLIR thermal image cameras can help you proactively monitor your guests to get an early jump and hopefully mitigate any outbreak.  A procedure can be implemented to check guest’s temperature with FLIR technology without the need for physical contact while keeping recommended social distancing. Anyone with an EBT should not be permitted access until they are screened with other medical test equipment or undergo virus-specific tests.

Vetting guests with a FLIR thermal image camera is exactly what is being done in airports, train terminals, businesses, factories, and concerts—as an effective tool to measure skin surface temperature and identify individuals with Elevated Body Temperature (EBT).

Airports in particular are actively employing FLIR thermal cameras as part of their screening measures for passengers and flight crews. The screening procedures implemented at airports and in other public places are just the first step when it comes to detecting a possible infection: it’s a quick way to screen for anyone who might be sick, and must always be followed up with further screening before authorities decide to quarantine a person.

What FLIR cameras are used for thermal screening?

While governments outside the United States may choose from many different cameras, FLIR has a 510(k) filing (K033967) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for select camera models for use as non-contact screening tools to detect differences in skin surface temperatures.

These cameras include the FLIR Exx-Series, FLIR T-Series, and Extech IR200. Models T540, T530, T620, T640, T840, T860, T1029, T1040, A655sc, E75, E85, E95, A310, A615 or IR200.

IMPLEMENTATION:

One of the easiest and most effective solutions for detection and monitoring of elevated body temperature are FLIR thermal cameras with Screening Mode. With Screening Mode, simply set the baseline temperature and your desired threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the camera will beep. For example, if you set the baseline at 98.7° F, you can program it to set off an alert when it measures one degree higher. This is an easily configured feature.

The thermal camera must be able to image the inner corner (tear duct) of the eye when screening for EBT at a safe distance.  Have subjects remove glasses or any other eye obstructions before screening. 

These cameras can be handheld or mounted on a tripod. By mounting on a tripod, workers can view results on an external monitor from a further distance away.

 On the advanced thermal image models listed below (under More Details), you can set a temperature threshold to trigger an alarm when a temperature higher than the threshold is exceeded. The alarm temperature is, in turn, the sum of a specified allowed deviation and a sampled average value.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Consider all entry points into your facility. Can you reduce the number of entry points without lines forming (maintaining reasonable social distancing)?  You will need a camera (or more) at each entry point to screen guests and employees entering.

Considering the daily flow in and out of your facility.  Everyone entering needs to be screened for the safety of all others in the building.  You can’t choke off the flow of guest and make them wait in long lines so you may need multiple cameras covering all entry points.

You can take each guests temperature as they enter and decide if they are safe to enter.  While this isn’t fool proof and there may be infected people that do not run a fever above 100° or whatever the threshold you have set but it’s better than not checking at all. The quicker you can detect a possible issue, the quicker you can put your plan into action to protect your facility and its occupants. The quicker we can implement safety procedures, the sooner we can reopen our businesses.  The world has changed and we need to adapt to these new challenges.

This approach will be something your customers will see as an added security measure implemented to detect and deter any illness outbreak. 

For more information about ordering FLIR cameras for temperature screening purposes, please contact TEAM Equipment, Inc. +1 800.367.9054.

More Details:

There are several models to choose from, but keep in mind you get what you pay for.  Base model IP thermometer’s or low res inaccurate thermal imagers may be inexpensive but do not provide accuracy and alarm notification if threshold levels are exceeded. For this reason, FLIR recommends the T540, T530, T620, T640, T840, T860, T1029, T1040, A655sc, E75, E85, E95, A310, A615 or the IR200.  The Extech IR200 is an IR-Thermometer that was previously discontinued.  FLIR has put the IR200 back into production if necessary but will require a minimum order of 100 units per order. Contact Team Equipment Inc. in Florida for quotes or orders of any of these cameras.

In light of the global outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which is now officially a pandemic, society is deeply concerned about the spread of infection and seeking tools to help slow and ultimately stop the spread of the virus.  Although no thermal cameras can detect or diagnose the coronavirus, FLIR cameras have a long history of detecting EBT in high-traffic public places through quick individual screening.

If the temperature of the skin in key areas (especially the corner of the eye and forehead) is above average temperature, then the individual may be selected for additional screening. Identifying individuals with EBT, who then can be further screened with virus-specific diagnostic tests, can help reduce or dramatically slow the spread of viruses and infections.

Using thermal cameras, officials can be more discrete, efficient, and effective in identifying individuals that need further screening with virus-specific tests. A variety of institutions, including transportation agencies, businesses, factories, and first responders are using thermal screening as an EBT detection method and as part of employee health and screening (EH&S).

Airports in particular are actively employing FLIR thermal cameras as part of their screening measures for passengers and flight crews. The screening procedures implemented at airports and in other public places are just the first step when it comes to detecting a possible infection: it’s a quick way to screen for anyone who might be sick, and must always be followed up with further screening before authorities decide to quarantine a person.

For more information about ordering FLIR cameras for temperature screening purposes, please call +1 800.367.9054.

FLIR Thermal Cameras Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Can FLIR products be used to detect the coronavirus?

No, thermal imaging cameras cannot be used to detect for or diagnose an infection. However, FLIR thermal cameras are being today used in public spaces – such as airports, train terminals, and concerts – as an effective tool to measure skin surface temperature and identify individuals with Elevated Body Temperature (EBT). Used at points of entry including airports and buildings, FLIR thermal cameras enable the screening of people with EBT that might indicate illness. People who are indemnified with EBT must then be screened medical professionals for diagnosis of any medical condition.

Q: How does thermal imaging technology work in detecting Elevated Body Temperature (EBT) screening?

FLIR thermal cameras detect heat radiation and can be used to identify the surface temperature of objects and people. With this capability, FLIR thermal cameras are commonly used as a non-contact screening tool to detect differences in skin surface temperatures and pattern changes. In fact, FLIR has received US FDA approval for using a variety of its thermal products to screen high traffic public places like airports, train stations and subway stations.

Q: How should operators use thermal cameras for EBT screening location?

• FLIR handheld cameras mounted on tripods or FLIR fixed-mounted cameras, positioned at building or port entrances, can be used as a non-contact screening tool to detect differences in skin surface temperatures.
• Camera operators screen people one at a time and look for temperature anomalies. Operators should measure temperature in the corner of the eye as this location provides the most accurate reading on the human body.
• FLIR’s EBT cameras “see” or detect the temperature differences with temperature measurements between -20 C to +2000 C (-4 F to +3632 F).
• A camera operator who detects elevated temperature in a person being screened should request that such individual be screened using additional medical devices.

Q: Explain the Screening mode available in the FLIR FDA-certified cameras?

Certain FLIR cameras include a screening mode that provides an alarm when an object or person is detected to have an elevated temperature. Activating the screening mode will turn on a measurement box and screening data on the camera’s screen:

• The sampled average temperature.
• The alarm temperature.
• The measured temperature.

Q: What cameras do you sell for this use?

All thermal cameras in this list are certified by the US Food and Drug Administration for Elevated Body Temperature Screening.