A Starting Point For Improving Your Facility’s Indoor Air Quality
Now that the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released Standard 241 for infectious aerosol control in commercial buildings, many industries that previously had not considered indoor air quality (IAQ) are wondering how to adopt these guidelines.
Even without the new standard, improving indoor air quality is an important goal. Researchers who study IAQ cite a better quality of life, improved mental and physical health, and higher levels of learning and productivity.
Of course, the biggest factor for adopting IAQ-based infection control measures is the business case. Dr. Marwa Zaatari, an ASHRAE 241 committee member, explains in ACHR News that every $1 you invest in IAQ can yield $47 in productivity and health-related costs.
As your stakeholders decide whether IAQ is worth the investment, it may be important to know precisely what you’re investing in. Keep this checklist available for conversations about your facility’s commercial HVAC needs, so you can inform the discussion about which air distribution products may improve your facility’s safety, productivity, and bottom line.
Air Filtration and Air Distribution Checklist to Enhance IAQ
Air filtration refers to methods to eliminate particles from the air, and air distribution refers to methods for moving air into and out of a particular space. For effective indoor air quality measures, your facility will require both air distribution and air filtration components.
These commercial air distribution systems and products are essential for any commercial space with a goal of meeting IAQ standards at ASHRAE’s baseline or higher:
- Ceiling diffusers: Diffuser are vents installed in ceilings or walls that deliver air into a room in a variety of directions and volumes, depending on their design. Diffusers are typically used for highly targeted air distribution in large volumes.
- Grilles: Supply grilles control air volume and direction on a smaller scale than diffusers. Return grilles are responsible for volume control as air moves out of the room and into the return vents. Grilles can also be outfitted with filters, making them important air filtration components.
- Extractors: These components move air from main ducts to branch ducts, which allows for air diversion as needed.
- Dampers: These products are adjustable by hand, providing maximum control over airflow coming through a supply vent.
- Louvers: A special kind of supply grille, louvers allow for “longer throws,” meaning they can help supply air into larger spaces and distances.
These air filtration systems and products build on infrastructure by providing protection from contaminants, including infectious virus particles, bacteria, mold, smoke, pollen, and more:
- Fan filter units: Installed in the ceiling, these products use a motorized fan to blow filtered air to a targeted location.
- ULPA and HEPA air filtration: These products are made of woven fibers which “catch” viruses and other harmful particles, preventing them from entering or exiting a room.
- Ceiling grids: These systems create a structure below the existing ceiling for the installation of diffusers, fan filter units, and other air distribution products and filtration components.
More Information On the Benefits Of Indoor Air Quality In Your Facility
ASHRAE’s mission is to reach industries that can benefit from air distribution data, education, guidance, technical resources, and more. This assistance includes Standard 241 for air quality in new and existing buildings and the more stringent Standard 170 for healthcare facilities (Standard 170).
ASHRAE Standard 241 is a comprehensive guide for facility stakeholders and covers the most important phases of air distribution and filtration adoption:
- Baseline requirements and metrics for clean airflow
- Requirements for adopting cost-effective air filtration products
- Information on how to commission air distribution products, including HEPA air filtration
- Plans for readiness in the event of “increased disease,” such as a pandemic.
Facilities can now decide whether to commission in advance of a dire need and benefit daily from ASHRAE IAQ standards or quickly act to provide a safe commercial environment. Regardless of whether you want to begin the process of acquiring products now or simply remain informed, review and bookmark these resources:
- Purchase ASHRAE Standard 241.
- Listen to the ASHRAE podcast on this standard.
- Follow HVACR news sources like ACHR News.
Engineers and manufacturers that develop custom HVAC products are also excellent resources to help you navigate a new initiative or find out how to improve existing infrastructure. You will find that a community of support awaits any facility that is ready to enhance their commercial air distribution system. Why? Because those experts in high-quality air distribution and filtration know that the benefits are measurable, transformative, and lasting.