• Posted: April 21, 2021
• better construction, eBook, outdoor dining, Safety

With restaurants reopening with limited capacity, now is the time to invest in health and safety electrical modifications to prepare for a gradually increasing number of diners. The improvements you make now will make your restaurant a safer environment for patrons and staff and providing a valuable marketing tool to re-attract skittish diners who are hesitant to return to in-person dining.

From the new eBook Back to Business: A Guide to Safely Reopening Chicagoland Restaurants with Increased Capacity, here are a few of the ways that Powering Chicago contractors and their skilled union electricians recommend improving the safety of indoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Ways to Improve the Safety of Indoor Dining

Increasing Circulation of Outdoor Air
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), increasing the circulation of outdoor air in enclosed spaces can help reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. To automate the process of filtering fresh air from outside the building into the building, control systems can be integrated with HVAC units, eliminating the need for constant monitoring and creating a safer environment. 

Disinfect Surfaces and Airborne Droplets with Ultraviolet Lighting
Specialized lighting that helps disinfect or sanitize surfaces was once only used in hospitals, but is now widely available for use in restaurants. 

Audiovisual (A/V) Solutions for Regulating Restaurant Traffic
Reopening indoor dining areas at reduced capacity will lessen opportunities for close contact, but A/V solutions can also be implemented to promote social distancing. 

Fortunately, there are many improvements, both indoor and outdoor, that restaurants can make to improve the comfort and safety of their patrons, helping to ensure restaurants stay open.

For more information on improvements to indoor dining, download the free eBook, Back to Business: A Guide to Safely Reopening Chicagoland Restaurants with Increased Capacity. The eBook provides considerations for indoor and outdoor dining options while empowering owners to think of all the details that go into making patrons comfortable and healthy.