The COVID-19 pandemic has created a massive shift in corporate culture and will impact the way we work and interact with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders in the workplace. This “new normal” way of life, will need to be instilled to ensure the health and well-being of those operating in office environments. Incorporating effective space planning, agile working capabilities, and functional design in your workplace has never been more crucial. dhk thinkspace has created a "new normal" guide to help unpack the aspects of how to structure a Covid-ready office environment, ensuring the safety and security of staff, clients, and stakeholders.

2. preparing your business for the
new normal
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a massive shift in corporate culture
and will impact the way we work and interact with colleagues, clients and
stakeholders in the workplace.
This “new normal” way of life, will need to be instilled to ensure the health
and well-being of those operating in office environments.
Incorporating effective space planning, agile working capabilities, and
functional design in your workplace has never been more crucial.
way of working.
here’s what you need to know...

3. the amount of
exposure to COVID-19
The standard international test for coronavirus is quantitative.
Instead of just a ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ result, diagnostic teams also get a
number from zero to 40 - indicating the ‘viral load’ of that particular patient.
Reports have shown that COVID-19 positive patients with milder
symptoms have consistently had lower levels of the virus when tested.
This means it is of the utmost importance to reduce not only exposure, but
the extent of exposure in our workplaces.
determines how sick you’ll get

4. the fact is, just
social distancing
Some scientists say just breathing or talking may spread COVID-19.
Being aware of another’s ‘breathing zone’ is paramount when trying to
minimise airborne disease transmission.
The ‘breathing zone’ is the volume of air around a persons mouth and
nose that can be contaminated with an airborne disease, from further
away than you would think.
While the breathing zone is only 30cm around your face, pathogen-
bearing droplets of all sizes, expelled from an infeccted person through a
cough or sneeze can travel up to 4m in front and 2.5m behind the infected
person.
isn’t enough.
4 metres2.5 metres

5. COVID-19 isn’t going away, but
In the 2018 to 2019 flu season, even with a flu vaccine, 35.5 million people
were infected with influenza and 34 200 died. A flu vaccine, and hence a
coronavirus vaccine is only a ‘best guess’ of the virus’s next mutation and is
not always correct. It also can take months, to years to create.
The reality is, we are a long way from a COVID-19 vaccine. But COVID-19
risks can be managed with a science-based office design and management
strategy.
In the future we will still have COVID-19, flu and other novel viral challenges,
so we need to plan for the future right now.
here’s how to re-think space...
it can be managed

6. START AT THE FRONT DOOR
+ 01: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
+ 02: CHECK YOUR TEMPERATURE
+ 03: CHANGE YOUR WALK OFF MATS
+ 04: RECEPTIONIST SCREEN
+ 05: INFORMATIVE SIGNAGE
+ 06: CHANGE YOUR FOOTWEAR
+ 07: BRANDED FACE MASKS
MANAGING MEETINGS
+ 08: PRIORITISE VIRTUAL MEETINGS
+ 09: MEETING ROOM RATIONALISATION
+ 10: MEETING ROOM SCREENS
+ 11: MEETING ROOM PADS
MANAGING YOUR OPEN PLAN
+ 12: SPATIAL ANALYSIS
+ 13: DESK ASSIGNMENT
+ 14: CIRCULATION CONTROL
+ 15: DESK SCREENS
+ 16: WORK PADS
+ 17: KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED
+ 18: ADJUST YOUR AIR CONDITIONING
+ 19: STERILISE YOUR SPACE

7. mandatory
requirements
you should know
01Employees must be screened before entering the office.
Not just for temperature but also for a cough, redness of eyes, sore
throat or difficulty breathing.
Your biometric access system is out. So are cloth towels.
As hot spots for germs, finger print readers and fabric towels are
prime.
Every employee needs two masks. And employers must
provide them.
The cleaning of these masks is also up to the employer. This is the
only way to ensure responsibility is taken by one credible party.
Your hand sanitiser needs to have 70% alcohol.
And employers need to ensure sufficient quantitties of this are
provided throughout the office.
Quarantine areas need to be provided.
If an employee starts to show symptoms while at work they will
need to be isolated and provided with a medical grade mask and
safe transport home.
Employers will need to explain what happened, if an
employee contracts COVID-19
The responsibility lies with the employer to protect the employee
as far as possible.
start at the front door

8. check your
temperature
As a mandatory requirement, checking everyone’s temperature as they come into
the office is safe and quick with the right technology. Avalaible options below:
without coming close
02
access control and temperature reader in one
start at the front door
Control access and measure temperature
This AI face recognition unit replaces your access control system for a touchless experience
that also measures your temperature. Access can be denied and an alarm sounded if the
temperature is too high or if the mask is worn incorrectly.
Non-contact thermometer
The only way to screen temperature from a distance with an instant result.
infrared, non-contact thermometer

9. change
A simple addition is a sanitising walk off matt. This is a mat with an extra deep well
in which sanitising liquid can be poured so the soles of the shoes are cleansed
when stepping onto the mat.
your walk off mat
03
sloped surrounding edge
deep well for
sanitising liquid
start at the front door
Select the right mat
We can help you specify the correct size and specification for your new sanitising walk off mat.
Provide a second mat
To catch the left over liquid before it gets tracked into your space.
Brand your mat
While being practical your new mat can also enhance your brand experience.

10. receptionist
A freestanding, transparent protective shield provides a sleek, barely-there solution
for existing reception desks.
screen
04
horizontal application
vertical application
start at the front door
High quality, acrylic glass screens can be in standard or custom sizes
A universally applicable solution that offers the best possible protection without
detracting from your reception design.
Brand the screens with your logo
A discreet opportunity to reinforce your brand aesthetic.
Clean your screen easily
With standard detergents.

11. communicate
Communicate with your staff and visitors alike to ensure regulations and safe
practice is understood and adhered to from the moment they step into the office
space.
with your staff
and visitors
05
signage design can be
based around your brand
Regulate and remind everyone of the rules
Using infographics that suit your brand, remind everyone what is expected of them.
Put your visitors minds at ease
Knowing there are strict methods in place provides peace of mind for your visitors,
so they know they are entering a place that has taken every precaution for their
safety.
Provide detailed information
To protect yourself as an employer.

12. change
COVID-19 can cling to the soles of your shoes and contaminate the office
enivronment you are entering.
your footwear
06
start at the front door
Remove your shoes
To prevent contamination of the space you are entering.
Provide a bench
For guests and employees to sit and remove shoes on.
Provide storage for shoes
Either a simple open shelf unit or a custom designed shoe locker.
provide storage for shoes

13. branded
As a mandatory requirement for all people outside of their homes and an item that
the government expects you as an employer to provide your staff with, a branded
face mask is a great opportunity to share your brand message and engender a
sense of community in your business.
face masks
07
start at the front door
Provide your employees with two branded cloth face masks
Re-useable and available in many different designs, make sure the masks your
employees are wearing everyday accurately reflect your brand.
Provide visitors with branded disposable masks
Promote your brand and protect your company against unprepared visitors with
branded disposable masks.

14. START AT THE FRONT DOOR
+ 01: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
+ 02: CHECK YOUR TEMPERATURE
+ 03: CHANGE YOUR WALK OFF MATS
+ 04: RECEPTIONIST SCREEN
+ 05: INFORMATIVE SIGNAGE
+ 06: CHANGE YOUR FOOTWEAR
+ 07: BRANDED FACE MASKS
MANAGING MEETINGS
+ 08: PRIORITISE VIRTUAL MEETINGS
+ 09: MEETING ROOM RATIONALISATION
+ 10: MEETING ROOM SCREENS
+ 11: MEETING ROOM PADS
MANAGING YOUR OPEN PLAN
+ 12: SPATIAL ANALYSIS
+ 13: DESK ASSIGNMENT
+ 14: CIRCULATION CONTROL
+ 15: DESK SCREENS
+ 16: WORK PADS
+ 17: KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED
+ 18: ADJUST YOUR AIR CONDITIONING
+ 19: STERILISE YOUR SPACE

15. virtual meetings
With more virtual meetings than ever before, get your space ready to handle the
new volume and keep everyone productive.
are the new reality
08
managing meetings
Get your technology up to scratch
Ensure your technology supports your new way of working and turn all meeting
rooms into VC ready environments.
Convert small meeting rooms into VC rooms
4 seater meeting rooms can easily be converted into VC rooms for 2 people.
Provide new spaces for virtual meetings
Virtual meetings can be formal or informal. Consider adding more of these spaces
to your open plan to continue collaboration between team members.

16. meeting room
rationalisation
09
managing meetings
Reduce your meeting rooms to 50% capacity
As an absolute minimum.
Ensure chairs are 1.5m apart
This may mean even less than 50% capacity in your meeting rooms.
Define movement in a one way direction through the room
This eliminates face to face contact to reduce cross contamination.

17. meeting room
screens
horizontal application
vertical application
managing meetings
A freestanding, transparent protective shield provides a sleek, barely-there solution
for existing meeting room tables.
High quality, acrylic glass screens can be in standard or custom sizes
A universally applicable solution that offers the best possible protection without
detracting from your meeting room design.
Brand the screens with your logo
A discreet opportunity to reinforce your brand aesthetic.
Clean your screen easily
With standard detergents.
10

18. meeting room
disposable pads
managing meetings
11
Grab a disposable pad on your way into the meeting
A pad of loose paper sheets should be stationed at the entrance to each meeting
room. This pad is large enough to protect you from touching the table while taking
notes, discussing items or drinking coffee during your meeting.
Dispose of the pad on your way out the room
And the meeting table remains clean and uncontaminated.
Brand your pad
The design of the pad can be used as an opportunity to showcase your brand,
remind users of the rules, or simply send a positive message.

19. START AT THE FRONT DOOR
+ 01: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
+ 02: CHECK YOUR TEMPERATURE
+ 03: CHANGE YOUR WALK OFF MATS
+ 04: RECEPTIONIST SCREEN
+ 05: INFORMATIVE SIGNAGE
+ 06: CHANGE YOUR FOOTWEAR
+ 07: BRANDED FACE MASKS
MANAGING MEETINGS
+ 08: PRIORITISE VIRTUAL MEETINGS
+ 09: MEETING ROOM RATIONALISATION
+ 10: MEETING ROOM SCREENS
+ 11: MEETING ROOM PADS
MANAGING YOUR OPEN PLAN
+ 12: SPATIAL ANALYSIS
+ 13: DESK ASSIGNMENT
+ 14: CIRCULATION CONTROL
+ 15: DESK SCREENS
+ 16: WORK PADS
+ 17: KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED
+ 18: ADJUST YOUR AIR CONDITIONING
+ 19: STERILISE YOUR SPACE

20. spatial analysis
for your existing office
12
managing your open plan
It’s not as simple as just reducing numbers
In studies conducted by Buro Happold, even at 20% occupancy, the standard office design is
not conducive to social distancing and will result in most of the occupants being too close to
each other most of the time.
dhk thinkspace can customise your solution
The solution to social distancing in the workplace isn’t as simple as it seems. Make sure you
have the right people guiding you on where to make changes and what to implement.
dhk thinkspace are well versed in the new rules and best practice for social distancing
and can help you put together a plan for occupancy, circulation, and social distancing
communication to ensure your office is as prepared as possible.

21. desk assignment
for best seating proximities
13While each situation will be different, we have highlighted three main strategies for
desk use in your open plan to ensure everyone works in a COVID-19 prevention
friendly way.
The three options identified include the following:
managing your open plan
stagger desk use in your existing clusters
alternate staggered desk use in your existing clusters
Re-arrange your existing clusters to suit seating guidelines

22. desk assignment
for best seating proximities
13
managing your open plan
01. Stagger desk use in your existing clusters
In this option, every second desk gets used.
People never sit directly opposite each other.
utilised desk

23. desk assignment
for best seating proximities
13
managing your open plan
02. Alternate staggered desk use in your existing clusters
On ‘Day One’, as per option 01, every second desk gets used and people never sit directly opposite each other.
On ‘Day Two’ the other desks are utilised. This means there is a full day on non-use of each desk. Allowing for less contamination.
Alternatively, the desks can be owned and 50% of the workforce work from the office on ‘Day One’, the other 50% then work from
the office on ‘Day Two’.
day two
day one

24. desk assignment
for best seating proximities
13
managing your open plan
03. Re-arrange your existing clusters to suit seating guidelines
Permanently re-arrange your desk clusters to create clusters where no one person face each other and maximum distancing is
achieved. This will result in higher possible density with increased safety.
utilised desk
1.5m
>1.5m
1.5m

25. circulation control
around your existing office
14
managing your open plan
define the direction of
movement through the space
Create a one way circualtion track
This needs to be an easy to follow route that makes efficient sense regarding facility
locations. A one way track eliminates moving past another person, which reduces the risk
of cross contamination.
Clearly mark the track and guide people through the space
Markers and guidelines range from floor stickers (applicable for vinyl, tiled and screeded
surfaces among others) to freestanding, cleaar acrylic signs (applicable for carpeted
areas where stickers won’t work).
dhk thinkspace can guide you on what you need and where you need it
Get in touch.

26. desk screens
physical distancing
to stay social
15
horizontal application
vertical application
managing your open plan
A freestanding, transparent protective shield provides a sleek, barely-there solution
for existing meeting room tables.
High quality, acrylic glass screens can be in standard or custom sizes
A universally applicable solution that offers the best possible protection without
detracting from your meeting room design.
Brand the screens with your logo
A discreet opportunity to reinforce your brand aesthetic.
Clean your screen easily
With standard detergents.

27. work pads
methods to retain
activity based working
16
Grab a disposable pad on your way into the office
A pad of loose paper sheets should be stationed at the entrance to teh open
plan space. This pad is large enough to protect you from touching the table while
working.
Dispose of the pad on your way out at the end of the day
And the desk you used remains clean and uncontaminated.
Brand the pad
The design of the pad can be used as an opportunity to showcase your brand,
remind users of the rules, or simply send a positive message.
managing your open plan

28. stay informed
and up to date
17
COVID-19 is a moving target. As rules and regulations shift and grow, keep your
employees up to date with minimal poster frames that are easy to change.
A3 paper size A4 paper size
managing your open plan
Display health notices and governmental regulations
These may change frequently so display them in easily nterchangeable frames.
Remind users of your internal protocol
In your own branding, remind users to be considerate of the rules, put their masks
on, move in a clockwise direction etc.

29. adjust
your air-conditioning
18
Have your HVAC contractor adjust the mean temperature and air speed in your
office to provide you and others with the best protection.
managing your open plan
Adjust your aircon temperature to more than 20°C
COVID-19 is sensitive to heat with fewer cases at more than 20°C, so warmer
interiors may be protective. Temperatures over 60°C completely deactivate
COVID-19
Adjust the airspeed
COVID-19 appears to be sensitive to windspeed, with fewer cases present at both
very low or very high air speeds.

30. sterilise your space
without touching it
19
UV sterilisation is probably the best method to sterilise surfaces and surrounding
areas. No contact, no contamination and a 99.9% sterilisation reading.
managing your open plan
Sterilisation wand
A handheld wand, that you wave over surfaces to disinfect. Use this to clean desktops,
keyboards, screens and other everyday items before sitting down to work.
Room sterilisation lamp
Place one lamp every for 30 - 40 m² and switch it on whene everyone leaves for the day. The
UV light emitted sterilises the surround surfaces and air and switches itself off overnight, so
when you arrive in the morning, the offices are clean and safe.
Handheld devices sterilisation
Place shared personal items like phones, tablets etc in the lamp for full sterilisation
room sterilising lamp
handheld,
sterilising wand
mobile device
sterilising station

31. need help?
contact us for a custom solution
together, we are stronger.

32. johannesburg
082 599 0846
20 the piazza
melrose arch
3rd floor, 2076
hello@dhkthinkspace.co.za
cape town
072 971 5030
9 somerset road
de waterkant centre
6th floor, 8001
hello@dhkthinkspace.co.za
community
company/dhkthinkspace
@dhkthinkspace
hello@dhkthinkspace.co.za
www.dhkthinkspace.co.za