By By Dan Hounsell

First, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted healthcare facilities to ramp up sanitization of surfaces and touchpoints to curtail the spread of the illness. Then efforts to stop its spread quickly turned to air filters and outside air exchanges. Now, experts are turning their attention to the role that HVAC system controls can play in curtailing the pandemic.

A new document reviews the current literature on recommended practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force and the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) related to HVAC controls for healthcare facilities treating COVID-19 patients.

The resource seeks to fill a knowledge gap in the field because there are no defined and definitive recommendations for environmental controls when handling COVID-19 patients. The guidelines also address design and implementation of controls to limit potential exposure to staff and others through HVAC systems. These guidelines are open to the public and can be accessed through the ASHE website.

Click here to download the document.