COVID-19 Spotlight Falls on HVAC Systems

One mitigation strategy involves ensuring adequate ventilation in indoor spaces


Much of the focus of stopping the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has fallen on research laboratories and hospital emergency rooms and ICUs, and that’s understandable. Those areas of facilities are the front lines of the battle. Further behind the scenes, though, are components and equipment that are essential to the new phase of the effort — HVAC systems.

With multiple vaccines now being rolled out, real hope exists that the world will gain the upper hand on the pandemic in 2021. To make that happen, the HVAC industry will play a key role, according to Hydrocarbons 21. In particular, it will provide the fridges needed to keep some of the vaccines at their required ultra-low temperatures. 

While vaccines are being distributed, mitigation measures to limit COVID-19 infections will continue to be needed in 2021. One of those is ensuring adequate ventilation in indoor spaces, such as adjusting centralized HVAC systems to pull in more outdoor air, and inserting MERV (13 and above) or HEPA air filters into HVAC units, or using standalone HEPA units. Another strategy is to keep the relative humidity in a room at 40-60 percent, particularly during the winter when indoor humidity drops.

 

Click here to read the article.



January 7, 2021


Topic Area: HVAC


Recent Posts

Making the Energy Efficiency Case to the C-Suite

Hospital executives often wrestle with energy decisions made today that either free up budget for patient care or drain resources that could go elsewhere.


How to Avoid HAIs This Flu Season

There are risks surrounding hospitalizations. Here’s how to avoid them.


Design Phase Set to Begin for Hospital Annex at SUNY Upstate Medical

The design will feature a new, expanded emergency department and burn unit to serve the Central New York Region.


Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather

Expert Jennifer Mahan discusses the vulnerabilities healthcare facilities face during disasters and the infrastructure strategies that keep operations running.


Ennoble Care Falls Victim to Data Breach

Their investigation into the incident is still ongoing.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.