{"id":7222,"date":"2020-11-20T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/impacteng.ca\/?p=7222"},"modified":"2020-12-03T22:34:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T22:34:55","slug":"hvac-design-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/impacteng.ca\/news\/hvac-design-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"HVAC Design & COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems provide ventilation, thermal comfort, and humidification to buildings. System design varies depending on the function and type of building being served. Hospitals, for example, have strict infection control requirements, that are managed through the implementation of strategies such as air filtration or UV-treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ventilation using outdoor air is an effective method of diluting contaminants in an indoor environment and has been proven to reduce the transmission of traditional respiratory tract infections (such as influenza) in a building setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given that we are still learning much about the SARS-CoV-2 infection, it has yet to be clearly defined whether COVID-19 can spread easily within a building by the ventilation system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a recent statement, ASHRAE have clarified that the \u201cTransmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of HVAC systems can reduce airborne exposures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ventilation and filtration provided by heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air. Unconditioned spaces can cause thermal stress to people that may be directly life threatening and that may also lower resistance to infection. In general, disabling of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems is not a recommended measure to reduce the transmission of the virus.\u201d [1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Given what we know about infection control, particularly in a healthcare setting, there are proven strategies to help improve indoor air quality and reduce the potential for the spread of respiratory tract infections such as SARS-CoV-2 in buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMitigation Strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n