Leading Integrator Warns Of ‘Dangerous’ Overclaiming Of Fever Detection Systems
Marketing materials from some manufacturers are overstating system capabilities when advertising their ability to detect carriers of COVID-19, the Managing Director of a leading systems integrator has warned.
Claims that a technology can ‘avoid infected people entering’ a building has prompted Richard Lambert of Evolution, an integrated fire and security systems installer, to advise customers that they will not be installing certain thermal imaging technology that claims ‘fever detection’ capabilities.
“We have investigated many of the claims, some of which are fanciful to the point of being dangerous,” Richard says. “And even supposing such systems did work, they can still only give an ‘indication’ of fever and that would then need to be validated. Are we seriously suggesting that every business has medically trained personnel on hand to test every employee or visitor who seems to have a temperature?
“Without proper consultation, a survey of location and in many cases a redesign of entrances and operations at those entrances, these thermal cameras will be little more than an expensive token gesture.”
The thermal imaging technology purports to work in a number of ways: one is by measuring the temperature of the inner canthus (the corner of the eye) which correlates closely to the core body temperature. Another is that it measures the temperature of a person’s forehead as they pass by. Richard says that neither approach is practical nor accurate:
“It takes up to five seconds to record the temperature of the inner eye and that’s assuming the individual stands still,” he says. “But perhaps more concerning is the system’s accuracy.
“Most have variances, even in perfect conditions, of +/- 0.3 degrees Centigrade at best. Such a variance can put you ‘in’ the fever zone or preclude you from it. And fever is only a possible sign of COVID-19, not the principal determinant, which means many without the virus would still have to be stopped and tested. This isn’t practical in every customer’s case.”
Richard says he is disappointed to see certain manufacturers exploiting the current crisis: “Buyers need to be aware of both the limitations of the technology and the challenges of ‘what happens next’ should a test prove ‘positive.’
“Infectious persons will still get past this process if they are asymptomatic, and others will slip through the net because of the inaccuracy of the reading. Yes, thermal imaging and other security system technology do have a role to play but manufacturers and their agents need to be honest about what their technology can really achieve and the operational issues installing such technology will bring.”
