Temperature Screening Cameras & Thermal Imaging Solutions – Quickfire Q&A

Temperature screening systems & thermal imaging cameras are growing in popularity for businesses looking to kick start the process of reopening and bringing people back to work.

There are various types of businesses, investing in these systems as they provide a range of benefits including employee, customer, and visitor safety as well as improved staff attendance to name a couple.

In this article, we will be providing answers to a range of questions people are asking at the moment.

The questions we answer in this blog are:

Let’s begin.

What are temperature screening systems and how do they work? 

Temperature screening systems are a form of electronic security system designed to help businesses protect their employees, visitors, and customers from the spread of viruses.

Upon entry to a business, a person has their body temperature scanned for abnormally high temperatures.

Depending on the type of business and budget there are a few options including:

• Walk-through detectors – perfect for larger offices, stations, construction sites, schools, warehouses, and factories

• Handheld temperature screening and thermal imaging cameras –  highly relevant for bars, smaller hotels, small business and gyms

• Turret cameras – these make up part of a static system set up, much like a CCTV installation. These are perfect for shopping centres and high footfall businesses

Here’s a short explanation of how temperature screening cameras & thermal imaging solutions work.  

1. Employees, customers, suppliers and other visitors arrive at your premises or site
2. As they enter the premises, the temperature screening cameras scan them for an abnormally high body temperature
3. If their body temperature is high, the system raises an alert so they can be checked
4. Their temperature is checked manually and the decision is made whether it is safe for them to enter your premises

What companies manufacture these systems?

Here at Safeguard Systems, we work with a range of electronic security system manufacturers.

When it comes to temperature screening systems & thermal imaging cameras there are two core suppliers we work with:

They are:

• Hikvision

• Dahua

You can find more information on their respective websites:

Hikvision temperature screening systems and cameras

Alternatively, you can watch the Hikvison product video here:

Dahua temperature screening systems and cameras.

Alternatively, you can watch the Dahua product video here:

What type of temperature screening systems & thermal imaging cameras are there?

There are various types of temperature screening systems to cater for different sizes of business, objectives  and budgets.

Here are some examples:

Handheld thermal cameras

These cameras are lightweight, portable, and flexible, Perfect for smaller businesses, low footfall construction sites, boutique hotels, restaurants, and gyms.

Handheld systems are more discreet than walkthrough detectors and turret thermal cameras.

You can view the product brochures here:

Hikvision Handheld Temperature screening, thermal camera  – 1 

Hikvison Handheld Temperature screening, thermal camera  – 2

Thermographic Turret Body Temperature Measurement Cameras

These cameras require an install similar to a CCTV system.

There are a couple of ways this can be done:

Businesses set up a temperature screening area, which guides people through this area on arrival to a business premises, and the cameras will detect an abnormally high temperature. 

This solution would work for high footfall office-based businesses, large restaurant chains, retail outlets, train stations and large gyms.

For high footfall businesses and sites where there are multiple entrances, these cameras can be fitted across different areas of the site. These temperature screening systems can be used for shopping centres, high footfall businesses and more.

You can view and download the brochure here:

Thermographic Turret Body Temperature Measurement Camera 

Temperature screening walkthrough detectors

These thermal imaging systems and cameras can be used where businesses operate outdoors or have significant capacity to set up temperature screening areas around the entrance to a business or site.

To use a large construction site as an example, the walkthrough unit is set up in a convenient location. Employees, suppliers and visitors are required to walk through the unit upon arrival to the site. Temperature screening cameras are set up within the unit and alert the system should anyone have a high body temperature.

You can view and download the brochures here:

Temperature Measurement Walk-Through Detector 

Do these systems guarantee to spot someone with a virus such as COVID-19

These systems give businesses the ability to spot people with a high temperature when entering a building or site.

They should be used as a preventative measure, to help businesses manage the threat of viruses such as COVIID-19.

With COVID-19 we know some people are asymptomatic and don’t show signs of the virus. Recently the World Health Organisation has commented that transmission rates for asymptomatic carriers are low, but studies continue.

Therefore these systems aren’t a golden bullet to fixing the issue of COVID-19 in the workplace but certainly help to manage and reduce it. The responsibility still lies with us all to socially distance and use the track and trace systems where possible.

You can read about the benefits below.

What are the benefits of temperature screening systems & thermal imaging cameras for businesses?

There are a range of benefits these systems bring to a business when looking to manage the threat of viruses in the workplace.

They are as follows:

• Provide peace of mind for employees – a safer workplace is a happier workplace

• Increase productivity  – these systems will help reduce fear of infection at work  and allow people to get on with their jobs

• Protect the business from the outbreak of COVID-19 and other viruses, reduce workplace anxiety and additional, unnecessary stress

• Encourage the safe return of guests, customers, and visitors to the business

• Deters employees, visitors, or contractors who have a temperature from coming to work

• Real-time multiple screening  – avoids queues and operational disruption. This is perfect for high footfall businesses (such as call centres) and shops

• You can use your existing IT infrastructure. This often means no additional cabling and minimum disruption to the workplace

What type of businesses can benefit from temperature screening systems?

There is a range of businesses which will benefit from using these systems including:

• Construction businesses

• Schools

• Office-based businesses

• Gyms

• Bus and train stations

• Hospitality – hotels, bars, restaurants, and venues

• Warehouses and Factories

Here’s a brief overview of how these systems work within each business.

Construction

Temperature screening systems can be used on construction sites to:

• Scan employees, contractors and site visitors for a high temperature

• Maintain security across the construction site

• Encourage the safe return of workers, visitors and suppliers to your site

• Reduce the risk of a virus spreading and potentail project delays

Industry example: Laing O’Rourke has been using temperature screening systems on some of its sites and is now rolling this out to its offices.

Schools

Temperature screening systems for schools can be used to:

• Reduce anxiety for pupils returning to school and their parents / guardians

• Encourage the safe return of pupils to the school

• Screen site visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading

• Improve general health and safety in and around the school

In this article by the BBC, there is a mention of schools using thermal imaging cameras to check children every morning.

Office-based businesses

Temperature screening systems and thermal imaging cameras can be used by office based businesses to:

• Reduce anxiety for employees returning to work

• Provide a safer environment for all staff and visitors

• Improve attendance and reduce sick days due to anxiety and worry

• Screen customers and other visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading

• Improve general health and safety in and around the workplace

Industry example: Vodafone has been developing its own suite of thermal imaging and temperature screening systems for use in offices.

Gyms

Gyms can use temperature screening systems and thermal imaging cameras to:

• Encourage customers to return and use the facilities

• Enable gyms to reopen with a renewed focus on virus-related safety

• Provide a safer environment for customers

• Sign up new members looking for a safer place to enjoy a workout and get fit

• Provide a safer working enrichment for all staff – personal trainers, gym instructors, and support staff

• Screen customers and other visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading

Industry example: This article highlights how gyms across the world are now using these systems as part of their health and safety and reopening strategies. 

Travel: Trains, bus stations ports, and airports

Airports, ferry ports bus and train stations can use temperature screening cameras to:

• Reduce anxiety for employees returning to work – ticket staff, guards and more

• Improve customer safety and encourage more customers to use public transport 

• Provide a safer environment for all staff, commuters, and travelers 

• Screen customers and other visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading

• Reduce anxiety around viruses spreading on buses and trains

Industry example: Portsmouth International Port now uses thermal imaging cameras to temperature screen its passengers.

Industry example: Bournemouth Airport is now using thermal imaging technology to screen its passengers.

Hospitality – hotels, bars, restaurants, and venues

Hotels can use thermal imaging cameras and temperature screening systems to:

• Encourage the return of customers and guests  – people are likely to choose to stay at a hotel which has better safety measures in place than others

• Reduce staff and guest anxiety

• Provide a safer environment for all staff, guests and site visitors

• Screen guests and other visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading

Industry example: Various hotels are now investing in temperature screening systems as part of their reopening strategies. 

Warehouses and factories 

Warehouses and factories and starting to use temperature screening systems to:

• Improve staff attendance and productivity  – a safer workplace is a productive, happy workforce

• Reduce employee and visitor anxiety

• Provide a safer environment for all staff and visitors 

• Screen guests and other visitors for a high temperature, reducing the risk of a virus spreading. The worst case scenario is a loss of staff, lower productivity, reduced business and site closure

Industry example: Amazon has been rolling out the use of thermal imaging cameras across its network of warehouses and distribution centres over the last couple of months.

How much do temperature screening systems & thermal imaging cameras cost?

This is a question customers ask us a lot.

All businesses are different, have varying requirements, budget and objectives.

Some already have the IT infrastructure in place for quick installation and others require more time and expertise.

To help ensure we make the right recommendations we take each customer through the following process:

• An initial call to understand requirements – this is to understand more about the business and why they are looking for a thermal imaging solution 

• Site survey – here we undertake a thorough survey of the premises. This helps us to recommend the right system based on a number of factors – IT set-up, space and any obstacles to a smooth installation

• Recommended temperature system and quote – at this stage we will provide a full written quote and systems recommendation 

• Quote approval, sign off and installation – the customer agrees to work with us and we schedule an installation date and time.

Looking for a quote?

Call us today to schedule an initial call on 0800 689 1835 or get in touch via our contact page.