Johnson Controls (JCI) Unveils Contactless Skin Temperature Scanning Solution

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 27, 2020
  • Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE: JCI) has announced the launch of its smart elevated skin temperature scanning solution called the Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST

Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE: JCI) — a global leader in creating smart buildings and helping reopen buildings — has announced the launch of its smart elevated skin temperature scanning solution called the Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST. Providing a healthy and safe environment starts with a holistic approach that encompasses a building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) infrastructure. Temperature screening along with contact tracing, frictionless entry and exits, and the practice of social distancing has also become essential due to the pandemic.

Johnson Controls’ contactless and highly accurate solution will be another tool in the first line of defense for building owners and operators as part of their pandemic safety measures.

The Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST camera provides rapid scanning at accuracy levels that exceed standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as tested and confirmed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). And the solution has been designed to meet the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s April 2020 Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems.

Plus skin temperature scanning is done while people continue to walk. The embedded advanced facial detection technology and rapid scanning times quickly alert operators to an elevated skin temperature reading. So people do not need to stop or be approached by operators. And 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.

Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST
Photo: Tyco Illustra Pro Thermal EST

“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,” explained Mike Ellis, executive vice president, chief customer & digital officer at Johnson Controls. “This camera provides added measures in a rapid and contactless fashion. Johnson Controls is very proud to be providing a solution that not only meets, but exceeds IEC standards.”

These are the technical features for accuracy and rapid response:

1.) 5-megapixel color/thermal camera — The camera has a built-in AI-enabled face detection technology that isolates the forehead and performs a multi-point temperature measurement, accurate to within ±0.2ºC/0.4ºF, when deployed in compliance with proper installation and condition requirements

2.) Blackbody temperature calibration device — The blackbody temperature device has a 24-month calibration certificate for sustained accuracy

3.) Customizable and real-time alerts — The alerts work for local or remote monitoring via a browser or through compatible video management systems

4.) Integration with other security systems — The system has an access control solution that can automatically prevent the person from further access

The elevated skin temperatures identified by the solution should be confirmed with secondary evaluation methods like clinical thermometers. And temperature measurements should not be solely or primarily relied upon to diagnose or exclude a diagnosis of COVID-19 or any other disease. The Pro Thermal EST should just 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 US and will be released globally in phases.