ASHRAE has developed an online resource to help address coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) concerns with respect to the operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems.
ASHRAE’s COVID-19 Preparedness Resources webpage provides a range of resources to building industry professionals including a long list of publications to provide guidance.
The organisation’s president, Darryl K.Boyce, said the recent escalation in the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 is alarming on a global scale.
“While ASHRAE supports expanded research to fully understand how coronavirus is transmitted, we know that healthy buildings are a part of the solution,” he said.
The Preparedness Resources page provides building owners, operators and engineers with guidance on how to best protect occupants from exposure to the virus, especially in relation to airborne particles that might be circulated through buildings’ HVAC systems.
Because small particles remain airborne for some period of time, the design and operation of HVAC systems that move air can affect disease transmission.
In order to reduce disease transmission, ASHRAE recommends dilution ventilation, laminar and other in-room flow regimes, as well as differential room pressurization, personalized ventilation, source capture ventilation, filtration (central or unitary) and UVGI (upper room, in-room, and in the airstream).