As we navigate through the pandemic, it has become more of a priority than ever to create safer and healthier spaces for building occupants.
How can this be done?
Creating healthier environments requires an understanding of how the COVID-19 virus can spread and developing a strategy to minimize the spread. In this article, our team of mechanical engineers give their expert advice on mitigation strategies for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC).
Based on studies by the scientific community, one method of COVID-19 spread is by droplets and aerosols emitted when people breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze. Droplets are larger and heavier particles of spit or mucous. Studies show that droplets tend to spread 3 to 7 inches from the source. Since the particles are heavier, the weight of the particle causes them to drop within the air stream and settle onto surfaces that are within 3 to 7 inches of the source.
The CDC guidelines for social distancing are mostly based on droplets. Since the droplets can settle onto surfaces, including hands, desks, tables, steering wheels, phones, and any other surface, the CDC also stresses washing hands and repeated cleaning of surfaces or devices to prevent the spreading of viruses that may have settled on these surfaces.
Aerosols are lighter than droplets and can travel further distances from the source than droplets, thus raising the question of what can be done to reduce the spread or impact of aerosols.
Asking questions about what the HVAC system can do to combat aerosols raises several questions about the mechanism for infection and what mitigation options are available through HVAC systems.
Questions may include:
Understanding the mechanism for the spread (aerosols vs. droplets) and understanding the goal of the building owners and occupants will help determine a course of action.
As has been determined by the CDC, a mitigation strategy involves many different elements including individual behavior, cleaning, building operations, and, as we are discussing here, HVAC systems.
Learn the HVAC system strategies that can help with mitigating infectious aerosols by downloading our quick and easy guidelines.
