In the effort to reopen business, thermal cameras have a role to play, but security integrators need to educate themselves on what they can and cannot do.
Who would have imagined, at the start of this year that the security industry would play such a significant role in the pandemic recovery? A good number of technologies are now part of the regular discussion security integrators are having with clients, while many manufacturers are working as quickly as possible behind-the-scenes to adapt existing solutions or build new ones.
One of these solutions is video surveillance, and within this category are what we know as thermal cameras. There is a distinct difference, however, between a thermal surveillance camera and a thermal camera that detects elevated skin temperature (EST) — the latter of which is swiftly coming to market for the sole purpose of helping businesses reopen as safely as possible following their shuttering. The idea of selling thermal cameras for businesses to use in screening for people with elevated temperature is rife with opportunity but weighed down with some uncertainties — one of which is a huge influx of new products on the market that seemingly all send a different message about what works best. Security integrators should obtain at least a basic understanding of how EST or “fever cameras” work, as well as what characteristics are important when selecting and deploying an accurate system.