Today on the Daily Grind, Ron Prager, Executive VP and COO, Brinco Mechanical Management Services, Inc., highlighted ASHRAE’s air quality COVID-19 guidelines, and provided actionable steps to keep HVAC systems functional now and after multi-site facilities reopen. Brinco Mechanical Management Services are committed to providing the highest quality of national HVAC and refrigeration management services nationwide.
“ASHRAE (American Society of Heating / Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) is the ultimate authority and resource for all things HVAC,” Explained Prager. “They perform base research, write papers and recommend base standards. Those standards are then adopted into almost every mechanical code world-wide. ASHRAE provides 5 broad recommendations for control of indoor air quality when pathogens are involved.
1. Dilute contaminates by increasing ventilation rates. By bringing in outside air and exhausting indoor air, your dilute existing contaminates in the facility space.
2. Increase air filter efficiency. Obviously if you can strain whatever pathogen out of the air, you create a healthier environment.
3. Treat your space with ultra-violet light. We know UV light will kill pathogens and viruses
4. Maintain humidity levels between 40%-60% to minimize airborne transmission of the virus. As recommended on an earlier session of The Daily Grind.
5. Ensure proper maintenance and operation of HVAC systems including the cleaning of coil services and any surface the air may pass over.
FMs need to examine possible measures and what makes sense for specific sites, based upon what we’re need to accomplish, both during and after the pandemic. We also need to look at the cost and practicality of those efforts versus real benefits.
So which measures make sense for closed sites versus ones that remained open? What measures have a proven effect on indoor air quality and reducing the spread of the virus versus the steps needed to present the best perception to both employees and guests visiting those sites. That perception is real and will make a difference.
We also need to consider measures required by law and codes, both existing, and soon to be created and implemented as a result of the pandemic. It will all be locally and regionally based, and in an uncertain future, staying up to date as codes and regulations unfold will be crucial.
Lastly, we need to consider limiting liability. If you do everything according to the new codes and what is expected and required – gross negligence is not involved. If you do not comply with codes or do the bare minimum of what’s expected and there is an incident, you will be held to a very strict standard. We need to ensure we limit liability and project the perception that makes people feel comfortable when visiting or working in our sites.
And now we get to my favorite subject – proper maintenance. Most retailers have put maintenance on hold. If we’re looking at businesses re-opening sometime in June or July, some stores will have been without maintenance for up to six months.
This is a mistake I understand the need to minimize expenses. However, we are going to end up with a lot of equipment in very bad shape. You’re trying to convince guests coming into your space that you are doing everything you can to protect them, having multiple HVAC units offline when they visit is not going to do that.
I think we will experience a shortage of air filters as stores begin to reopen. Some of the air filter companies have shifted to produce PPE. We will also experience a contractor shortage as stores come back online. The workforce is already strained from the shutdown. I really think FMs and suppliers need to work with landlords and building owners to get maintenance up to standards 30 to 60 days before opening to ensure everything is ready to go when the doors open,” concluded Prager.
