HVAC Greatest Practices to Make Faculties Safer Throughout COVID-19
Funded by federal funds, K-12 and higher education institutions across the country have overhauled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems this year. However, to prove safer classroom environments to a federal examiner, schools likely need to do more than just provide a receipt. You must follow industry best practices to produce results backed by science and data-driven reporting.
In March, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is worth more than $ 120 billion, with increasing scientific evidence that COVID-19 is primarily transmitted as an airborne virus, the ability of an HVAC system in schools to virus and Filtering out other pathogens has become critical.
As a 30+ year HVAC industry veteran, I warn schools not to rush to overhaul their HVAC systems or place expensive bets on unfamiliar technology. Instead, I recommend that they follow industry best practices supported by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and use an accredited and certified Indoor Air Quality Company (IAQ) to do a thorough assessment of their HVAC systems. Systems to carry out. A thorough assessment should answer the following questions:
When was the current system manufactured and installed?
According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, State of Our Schools, 2016, the median age of a public school building in the United States in the 2012/13 school year was 44 years. Older buildings often have mismatched systems and technologies. Only a certified and experienced civil engineer can determine whether they are working properly and efficiently. It is easy and lucrative for HVAC companies to recommend replacing everything, but it may not be necessary.
Is the current system clean and free of mold, legionella, or other dangerous microbes?
Visual inspection and testing of a system are required. If a system was recently shut down or powered off for any period of time, possibly during a COVID-19 lockdown, mold, legionella, or other dangerous microbes may be present. Environmental cleaning of the current system may be required. A certified technician can determine whether environmental cleaning is insufficient and the contaminated components need to be replaced.
Can the current system handle the increased outside airflow recommended by the CDC?
The current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend adding more outside air to indoor spaces. Of course, the outside air contains large amounts of particles and moisture that create maintenance problems for an HVAC system. A certified technician can advise or recommend modifications on the maximum addition of outside air that your current system can handle.
Can the current system maintain the minimum airflow required with the more restrictive HEPA filtration recommended by the CDC?
Current CDC recommendations call for increased, highly efficient particle air filtration (HEPA). This helps remove particulate matter and dangerous microbes like the COVID-19 virus. However, increased filtration can reduce airflow, which is also important in reducing the presence of the virus in the air. A certified HVAC technician can determine the maximum amount of filtration your system can handle while creating the desired airflow.
Does the existing system have to be supplemented with air purification devices?
Whether an HVAC system needs to be supplemented with air cleaning devices (APUs) depends on the system. After a thorough review, test, and evaluation of your system, if an accredited construction scientist recommends the use of APUs, look for those that use a combination of the following technologies that have been shown to be effective in controlling the IAQ: filter media, electrostatic separation, Ionizers, needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI), ultra-germicidal radiation (UVGI) and adsorbent media.
Does the current system offer IAQ monitoring to protect against potential threats?
An effective IAQ monitoring system monitors the building conditions around the clock with an all-in-one module. A remote team notifies facility managers of changes that could affect the IAQ.
Does the customer have an assessment of the operating and maintenance systems?
From my point of view, the HVAC system is a building’s most valuable asset and the biggest contributor to energy consumption and pollution. It is almost impossible to understand the effectiveness of its operation without knowing the history of an HVAC system. If you don’t have an O&M assessment, a certified HVAC technician can help you create one. It is an important tool to help a secondary or higher education institution develop best practices in the use of ARPA funds.
In conclusion, there is no magic pill to solve all HVAC problems and keep our students safe. However, by working with an accredited and certified IAQ company, school administrators can conduct a thorough assessment of their HVAC systems and learn what their specific needs are. Such a company will help you to use the ARPA funds sensibly and efficiently to finance the necessary renovation of your systems. Eventually, should audits become necessary, an accredited and certified IAQ company can provide the scientific and data-driven reporting that auditors require to justify a school’s HVAC spending.
