Since late 2019, COVID-19, also known as the novel Coronavirus, has been spreading throughout the world. COVID-19 has caused much panic and despair around the world. The virus, which sometimes causes a serious and life-threatening respiratory illness, is easily spread via air particles from a sneeze or cough. Many measures need to be taken to slow and hopefully prevent the virus from spreading.
To get a full understanding of how facility managers have an impact on the situation, how proper maintenance of an HVAC system can help slow COVID-19 spread in a commercial building. “Inside air quality is really important in slowing the spread of viruses in commercial facilities.
“Utilica FM takes various Measures to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in Commercial Buildings”
- Run Exhaust Systems : A key method to slow the spread of COVID-19 in commercial buildings is to bring outdoor air in. Running exhaust fans can produce a negative air pressure for a building and therefore promotes outside air to be brought inside and circulated throughout. Bringing fresh air from the outdoors into a building is important because a consistent air circulation prevents air particles, such as viruses, from staying in one place (See Appendix section at the end of this article for more information on how this is done).
- Flush the Air : Flushing a facility’s air also promotes optimal air flow and is an important step in removing virus particles from a building. For a facility to be flushed, an HVAC professional technician must open the building’s dampers based on manufacturer recommendations. Please note that when flushing air, outside air temperature and humidity should be taken into consideration.
- Clean Coils, Grills, Registers, and Inside Air Handling Unit (AHU) Cabinets : Ensuring proper sanitation throughout an HVAC system is important. If COVID-19 particles are present anywhere within an HVAC system, taking measures to keep each part of the system clean can slow the spread of the virus.
- Change Filters : First and foremost, a filter will not catch or filter COVID-19 in the air. Even High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters will only catch partials as small as 0.3 microns. COVID-19 virus particles are 0.1 microns. However, filters may aid in catching the virus if it is “riding” a particle of dust or moisture from a sneeze. Therefore, frequently changing filters as a precautionary may help prevent transmission to a degree.
Neque Porro Quisquam
Benefits of improved indoor air quality include:
- Better efficiency and energy cost savings
- Improved employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention
- 78.56% average ROI of IAQ improvement program
Utilica Facility Management Service is always there at your doorstep, please contact us at info@utilicafm.com
