Can Your Ventilation strategies protect against coronavirus?

How HVAC Maintenance Supports Health and Wellbeing Indoors

The importance of maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to protect human health and well-being has been underscored this year, particularly as more workers return to offices and children head back to classrooms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the threat of airborne transmission of coronavirus, following substantial evidence that tiny virus-containing particles can remain suspended in the air for several hours.

These findings carry significant implications. Hand washing and face masks alone are insufficient to prevent the spread of coronavirus in poorly ventilated indoor environments. Properly maintained air conditioning systems can play a vital role in reducing transmission rates.

Facilities managers can take additional steps to further minimise the risk of transmission. Follow these key recommendations for managing building services during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Recommended Actions for Optimising HVAC Systems to Reduce Airborne Viral Transmission

Do:

• Increase air change rates to dilute airborne viral particles.
• Maximise the intake of fresh air into occupied spaces.
• Switch air handling systems to full fresh air mode if they currently recirculate air.
• Manually or electronically disable recirculation dampers to prevent air recirculation.
• Minimise return air from air handling units and carry out regular system purging.
• Run systems for longer periods at higher speeds, especially before and after occupancy.
• Operate systems at higher speeds two hours before occupation to ensure optimal airflow.
• Keep systems running at lower speeds overnight and at weekends to purge the building.
• Ensure toilet exhaust ventilation systems operate 24/7 for continuous air extraction.
• Use natural ventilation where mechanical systems are not available by opening windows.
• Encourage cross-ventilation by keeping windows open in different areas of the building.

Note: Opening windows may cause air to flow out rather than in, reducing the overall air supply to occupants.

Note: Outdoor air pollution may pose health risks in urban areas. Consider using air purification technologies where necessary.

 

• Assess the impact of new partition walls or relocated desks on ventilation efficiency, ensuring airflow is not compromised.
• Regularly inspect, clean, and replace filters to maintain system performance.

Note: Clogged filters reduce airflow but are not a source of contamination in this context.

• Ensure maintenance staff wear full PPE when servicing ventilation systems.

Consider:

• Using air purifiers with at least HEPA filter efficiency in specific areas.
• Electrostatic filtration devices (distinct from room ionisers) as effective air cleaning solutions.
• Introducing HVAC and interior fogging as part of your regular maintenance routine.
  Fogging sterilises surfaces and kills viruses, bacteria, and micro-organisms, including legionella and fungi.
• Incorporating duct cleaning into your routine maintenance to meet BS EN 15780 cleanliness standards.
  Duct cleaning removes dust and debris, while sanitisation prevents mould growth.
• Conducting duct and air sampling to ensure high air quality from HVAC units.
• Checking that toilet extract vent grilles are clear and free from obstructions.
• Setting up regular HVAC inspections every 12 to 24 months.
• Maintaining humidifiers to ensure relative humidity aligns with recommended levels for reducing airborne virus transmission.

Do Not:

• Increase humidification or indoor air temperatures, as these measures have no proven effect in eliminating coronavirus.

It is now more important than ever to ensure that mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems are operating as intended and are properly maintained.

However, effective maintenance strategies should not be limited to pandemic responses. There is a wider lesson to be learned about the role of building services maintenance in safeguarding the health and well-being of occupants at all times.

Public buildings, particularly schools, care homes, and healthcare facilities, present unique challenges. In these environments, air conditioning systems must be continuously monitored to ensure they provide the necessary conditions for occupant health and comfort. Regular maintenance is essential to keep these systems running reliably and efficiently, while also minimising operating costs.

A proactive maintenance approach is also key to extending the lifespan of critical HVAC assets, preventing expensive repairs, and avoiding system downtime. Regular maintenance activities, such as disinfection and chlorination, are vital for eliminating viruses and bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of airborne cross-contamination.

Daikin Applied Service offers a turnkey solution for the service and maintenance across ALL BRANDS of HVAC equipment, operating across the UK and Ireland. Our service and maintenance packagescan be tailored precisely for the type of facility in question combined with excellent air filter technology produced by our sister company AAF. This provides clean air solutions for critical and high occupancy areas.

Click here to find out more about how Daikin Applied Service can help you maintain your HVAC equipment (ALL brands of HVAC equipment)

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or call us on 0345 575 2700