The Marker, Meirav Moran, 18.03.2020

Housing management and maintenance companies filed a request earlier this week to recognize the management of buildings as a vital sector of the economy. The letter was addressed to Health and Economy Ministers and National Security Council leaders on behalf of five large management companies, which are incorporated in the association and cumulatively manage close to 350 employment, commercial and residential towers of more than ten million square meters in common.

The companies, which manage more than 14,000 housing units where tens of thousands of people live, warn that if operating crews are prohibited from reaching and performing their functions in buildings, beyond the daily routine, tenants will be at risk of life because of the complex systems required for the operation of a tower and binding Constant supervision.

Management companies also argue that providing services through them will reduce the interaction between tenants and themselves, contributing to reducing the spread of the virus.

In addition, the companies noted that in case of full closure, the presence of management and retention teams in office towers and especially in commercial centers should be ensured.They warn that there is a need for regular monitoring of facilities and systems, because if a malfunction occurs they will pose an environmental hazard.The building managers expressed concern that the closure and isolation of areas would lead to criminal activity, burglary and looting of the empty buildings.

The heads of the association believe that their request for state institutions expresses the needs of the owners of office buildings as well as of hundreds of thousands of other Israelis living in towers throughout the country. They believe that the need for recognition of growers maintenance and operation teams as an essential industry will soon be joined by other home management companies of their kind.

                                            Towers in Be'er Sheva Photo: Eliyahu Hershkowitz

Towers managed by the High Tower Company - one of the applications for recognition as an emergency body and manages among others luxury towers in Central Tel Aviv, the Moshe Aviv Tower in Ramat Gan and the large residential complexes Blue and TLV - formulate a procedure in case a tower is closed on an area where the tower is located Or complete closure throughout the country. Mickey Barel, a former IDF commander and owner of High Tower, points out that the procedure is designed for a reality where the buildings' maintenance and management workers can continue to be employed.

In the closure procedure, the guard's role will be to keep doors and doorways locked to the lobby and car parks to prevent pedestrians and vehicles from entering except emergency crews.Couriers of food and supplies will not be allowed to move into the apartments, and may leave them at the entrance. The guard will manage the gathering and movement in the common spaces - occupants will be invited to arrive at time intervals so that they descend and climb individually in elevators and do not meet with each other in the hallways or lobby.

The building managers knew about occupants who were sent for isolation and they were instructed to follow the instructions. If they identify isolated people who have gone out into common areas of the building, they should make a comment once and in case of repeated violation - report to the authorities. "It's impossible to hide in our buildings carriers. If there are symptoms, MDAs come and everyone sees where they came from and where the suspect came from as a patient. We are responsible for the safety and lives of tens of thousands of people. If it is a false alarm - the role of growers' managers is to calm down. If you need to stay away from someone - our job is to keep them away from danger. "

At Hi Taur, a procedure for reducing internal manpower was prepared if the state restricted a number of workers or sent workers to isolation - a "spatial management" map for a team that oversees several towers simultaneously."Leaving a tower unattended is life threatening to hundreds of people who live in it. A routine glitch like cracked pipes and floodwaters can paralyze elevators, which skilled workers prevent in simple operations. If they are not in the field - there will be no one to do so, and the elevator means paralysis. Paralysis of the building, also for the supply of food and access to medical teams. In the event of a fire breach in the tower, the initial treatment is that of a maintenance man, if he is absent until the arrival of the fire rescue forces, the tower is inhabited by these families.

Contrary to the trends in the removal of workers from the USSR and the dismissal. The employees of the management, security and cleaning company continue to function normally and are especially required during this period to fulfill their duties. Therefore, in this industry, the economy continues - there is no cessation of activity, it is good for tenants, employees and the economy.

The companies that filed the application are: Age of Second Management and Holdings, Makden, Ramot, Asset Management and High Tower.

                                    People in protective suits in elevator Photo: Moti Millrod