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ASHRAE updates reopening guide for schools and universities
The 41-page online guidance includes checklists to prepare educational buildings to resume occupancy such as starting up HVAC systems as well as checks and verifications to maintain during the academic school year.
July 22, 2020 By Energy Manager Canada
In the face of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has developed guidance on the operation of HVAC systems to help mitigate the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as schools prepare to reopen for the fall academic year.
The 41-page online guidance includes checklists to prepare educational buildings to resume occupancy such as starting up HVAC systems as well as checks and verifications to maintain during the academic school year.
The guide includes the following topics:
- Determining Building Readiness
- Equipment & System Specific Checks & Verifications During the Academic Year
- New/Modified Facility Design Recommendations
- Filtration Upgrades
- Operations of Occupied Facilities
- Controlling Infection Outbreak in School Facilities
- Higher Education Facilities Recommendations
Also included is guidance formulated to help designers retrofit and plan for the improvement of indoor air quality and to slow the transmission of viruses via the HVAC systems as well as new guidance on student health facilities, laboratories, athletic facilities, residence halls, and large assemblies, lectures and theatres.
“School and university officials are challenged with making very difficult decisions on how to best protect both students and staff as education facilities reopen, said Corey Metzger, ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Schools Team lead. “This guidance offers a solid framework on ventilation control, filtration and maintenance that can be applied to different climate zones, building types and HVAC systems.”
ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force school reopening guide
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