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GUIDANCE FOR THE RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS

ASHRAE is a global professional society of over 55,000 members committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields. ASHRAE has established a Task Force to help deploy technical resources to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible future epidemics as it relates to the effects of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems on disease transmission. Guidance and building readiness information for different operational conditions has been developed for several building types, including commercial; residential; schools and universities; and healthcare facilities.

Protecting the health, safety and welfare of the world’s students, faculty, and administrators from the spread of SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease) is essential to protecting the entire population.

ASHRAE’s guidance for schools provides practical information and checklists to help minimize the chance of spreading SARS-CoV-2. A summary of key general recommendations related to HVAC and water supply systems appears below. Many different HVAC system types are used in educational facilities, so adaptation of these guidelines to specific cases is necessary. Please consult the full guidance for important details and consider reaching out to qualified design professionals for detailed analysis as needed.

• Inspection and Maintenance: Consider assessing the condition of systems and making necessary All building owners and service professionals should follow ASHRAE Standard 180-2018 “Standard Practice for the Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial HVAC Systems.”
• Ventilation: A good supply of outside air, in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 1-2019, to dilute indoor contaminants is a first line of defense against aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Pre- and post-occupancy purge cycles are recommended to flush the building with clean air.
• Filtration: Use of at least MERV-13 rated filters is recommended if it does not adversely impact system If MERV-13 filters cannot be used, including when there is no mechanical ventilation of a space, portable HEPA air cleaners in occupied spaces may be considered.
• Air Cleaning: Air cleaners including germicidal ultraviolet air disinfection and electronic air cleaners may also be considered to supplement ventilation and Technologies and specific equipment should be evaluated to ensure they will effectively clean space air without generating additional contaminants or negatively impacting space air distribution.
• Energy Use Considerations: In selecting mitigation strategies, consideration should be given to energy use as there may be multiple ways to achieve performance goals that have greatly different energy use Control changes and use of energy recovery to limit or offset the effect of changes in outdoor air ventilation rate and filter efficiency may reduce or offset energy and operating cost penalties.
• Water System Precautions: Buildings that have been unoccupied could have stagnant water, and water systems should be flushed to remove potential contaminants. Utilizing ASHRAE Standard 188 and Guideline 12 can help minimize the risk of water-borne pathogens such as

HVAC&R systems play an important role in minimizing the spread of harmful pathogens, and ASHRAE is ready to provide technical resources and answer questions.

 

The most up-to-date information for schools and universities can be found here.

The most up to date information for Building Readiness for re-opening can be found here.

For further assistance, please contact GovAffairs@ashrae.org.

The information above is provided as a service to the public. While every effort is made to provide accurate and reliable information, this is advisory, and is provided for informational purposes only.  They are not intended and should not be relied upon as official statements of ASHRAE.

 

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Mechanical Products SW, Inc. is proud to offer products to aid in the Reduction of Microbial Transmission in shared spaces.

IAQ PRODUCT BULLETIN

Plasma Pure

Bipolar ionizers neutralize viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores

Agglomerates small particles, making them easier to filter

Installs at fan inlets or in the air stream

Low first cost, low installation cost, low operating cost

Little to no maintenance and very low power usage

 

 

Amercian Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet bulbs emit targeted UV-C wavelength radiation to destroy the genetic material inside viruses and other microbes

UVGI is ASHRAE-endorsed with decades of proven effectiveness

Simple to integrate in any HVAC system

 

 

 

enVerid

HEPA fan filter unit with optional integrated UV-C treatment

3rd-party lab certification for 99.99% virus removal

Standalone installation in either exposed or above ceiling concealed arrangement

Does not require integration into existing mechanical system

 

 

 

 

Mechanical Products SW, Inc. Welcomes RCS to our Line of Products

VRF/VRV custom mechanical fitting kits

Couplings, Reducers, End Caps

H55 Copper through 1 5/8″ bendable

Press tools and digital tube benders

 

Mechanical Products SW, Inc. Welcomes BasX Solutions to our

line of Products

• • • BasX air handlers are custom designed and built to improve overall facility performance. 
    • BasX air handlers provide better energy savings, improved air quality, maximal comfort for your occupants.

 

Mechanical Products SW, Inc. is pleased to announce we are now the Arizona Representative for

• • • Yaskawa drives offer the quality performance you need for your assets from the air handlers and cooling towers on the roof to the secondary chilled water pumps in the basement. 
    • The Z1000 drive for example, is a variable speed drive that is designed for building automation applications such as fans, pumps, and cooling towers through 500HP.  The Z1000 features an easy-to-read LCD keypad that provides a hands-off-auto interface and a real time clock.  These features make the Z1000 perfect for many building automation applications that require reliable motor control.

For additional information please contact your local sales representative or call us direct

602-288-4920