Event Overview.
In today’s workplace, hybrid working is already a standard, and the pressure to drive operational efficiency is stronger than ever. To meet these challenges, organizations are turning to technology-driven solutions that help them manage occupancy and reduce risk.
In this session, Joe Heredia, Product Manager for Smart Buildings at Freespace, and Kay Bussell, Real Estate and Data Manager at PwC, explored how occupancy metrics can play a critical role in mitigating fire loading and other operational risks.
Joe opened the discussion by explaining how fire loading extends beyond the management of flammable materials – it also involves ensuring occupancy levels remain within safe limits. Overcrowded spaces can hinder evacuation, while under-occupied areas can leave lone workers vulnerable. He demonstrated how insights from Freespace’s people-counting sensors provide actionable data to support safer, more efficient workplaces.
Building on this, Kay shared PwC’s real-world experience of implementing Freespace solutions to manage fire loading risks. By leveraging real-time occupancy data, her team is able to monitor compliance with fire safety regulations and act swiftly when alerts flag occupancy approaching critical thresholds. This proactive approach helps maintain safety, optimize space usage, and reduce operational risk.
