Fears of 'millennium time bomb'

Citation

(2000), "Fears of 'millennium time bomb'", Facilities, Vol. 18 No. 1/2. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2000.06918aab.012

Fears of 'millennium time bomb'

Keywords Data protection, Technology

Fears that the "millennium bug" could paralyse office blocks, shopping centres and other buildings as computer chips tick over into the year 2000 were dispelled by Workman and Partners, which is one of the UK's leading property management specialists.

The company, that has offices in London, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow, checked electronic systems in the 2,500 properties it manages around the country and found that less than 5 per cent had a problem.

Robert Yeo, head of Workman's own Year 2000 Taskforce, said his team had searched through electronic time clocks, access control machinery, lift controls, heating plant, security systems, telephone switchboards and everywhere else containing microchip technology, to make sure there would be no problem as the new millennium dawned.

He said today:

We found just two areas that might be affected - the boxes controlling access to buildings, and telephone switchboards. Where necessary, we replaced the access control boxes with new ones, which have four digits rather than the old two-digit technology, and BT is working to clear up the switchboard problem.

It had been feared that there could be problems in buildings in the year 2000, because chips, working on just two digits, would not recognise the date, but Mr Yeo added:

Most of the chips in buildings are not date sensitive, so there shouldn't be any problem.

The company's core business is commercial property management, facilities management and building surveying.

For further information call Robert Yeo, Workman and Partners. Tel: +44 (0)117 925 1252.