A large percentage of leaders either expect declines or are uncertain regarding most engineering markets over the next 12 months, especially in the commercial (48%), hospitality (39%), and public buildings (29%) markets as well as transportation and education (28%).
The IMMUNE Building Standardhas been developed as a set of measures, technical solutions, and facility management practices to certify how built environments can withstand present and future health challenges and minimize the impact of a pandemic such as COVID-19 and other bacteriological or toxicological threats.
As the nation moves to restart the economy and in-person education, we must seriously consider and adopt effective engineering controls in public buildings in order to protect the health of employees and occupants.
Troy Byers, TBE, CxA, is the founder/partner of Commissioning Consultants, member of the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC), president of the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), and a member of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force. Recently, Byers sat down with Engineered Systems editor-in-chief, Herb Woerpel, to discuss the role of testing, adjusting, and balancing in the COVID-19 era; his participation in so many different organizations; the effectiveness of ASHRAE’s Building Readiness Guide; and more.
Early case reports and epidemiological studies of groups where SARS-CoV-2 has led to outbreaks of COVID-19 indicates that the primary means of disease transmission is the indoor spread of exhaled droplet aerosols.
The success of any filtration system depends upon its ability to capture the right contaminants in the right quantity whilst presenting the lowest resistance to the airflow.