Covid-19 Air Conditioning & Ventilation Advice
Covid-19 Air Conditioning & Ventilation Advice – As businesses start to bring staff back into work premises, we have been getting many clients asking questions regarding air conditioning and ventilation in relation to Covid-19.
Our advice below is intended to provide our clients and other business owners/managers with assistance in their preparation to re- open workplaces.
This advice is intended for non-domestic buildings excluding health care and hospital buildings where NHS and PHE guidance should be sought.
General
• Maximise the supply of outside air and air change rate as much as possible.
• Preventing contamination and potential spread of the virus is more important than thermal comfort.
• If a confirmed case or case(s) of Covid-19 has been identified from a building user then please consult current Government advice.
Ventilation Systems
• Understand your ventilation system, refer to drawings and O&M manuals to understand the layout, type and functions of your system.
• Switch AHU’s with recirculation to 100% fresh air.
• Run your ventilation at a higher volume flow rate; this may require changes to CO2 set
points (for both mechanical ventilation and automated windows)
• Avoid recirculation/transfer of air from one room to another unless this is the only way
of providing adequately high ventilation to all occupied rooms
• Thermal wheels should be switched off, but the pressure
difference will need to be maintained between supply and extract to minimise any leakage flow from the extract to supply side .
• Systems on a timer are recommended to be set to come on at nominal ventilation speeds at least 2 hours before building occupancy.
• Do not switch off ventilation systems in unoccupied buildings, leave operating at a reduced speed.
• In buildings without mechanical ventilation, opening windows is recommended.
• In buildings with mechanical ventilation, opening windows can also be used to improve ventilation.
• Grilles – check that ventilation grilles are not blocked or closed.
Air Conditioning Systems
• If the system serves single area or room occupied by one person with access to other persons prohibited, then the system is fine to operate normally.
• Recirculation of air within a single room where this is complemented by an adequate outdoor
air supply is acceptable.
• Split Systems – it is important to understand that they do not provide any outside air into the room and without a dedicated source of outside air supply they could be responsible for recirculating and spreading airborne viral particles into the path of socially distanced building users. Ensure that there is a source of outside air provision (either natural or mechanical ventilation) when these units are in operation.
• Systems that recirculate air from one room to another should be switched off.
• Ensure that systems are regularly cleaned and normal maintenance procedures are adhered to.
• It is recommended cleaning fluids used are proven to kill viruses.
The above advice is based on the best advice currently available at the time of writing.
If you have any questions or require advice on the above, then please contact ICE by calling 01928 568800 or email sales@ice-ltd.co.uk.