Optimal HVAC Systems Could Help Prevent Spread of COVID-19

A USA Today (2020) article presented concerns on building heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and their link to spreading COVID-19. Instead of the viral spread tapering off in the summer months like scientists believed would happen, there has been an increase in cases, and scientists think this may be because of HVAC systems distributing the infectious droplets throughout a building. 

In the article, William Bahnfleth, professor at Penn State University and chair of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) Epidemic Task Force stated that “the main way (air conditioning) can contribute to spreading coronavirus is by creating strong air currents that can move the droplets...and contribute to increase risk.”

The USA Today article also went on to discuss how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published findings that an outbreak that had happened at a restaurant in Guangzhou, China was linked to airflow in the building. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that aerosolized transmission was a likely mode of spread for the virus after over 200 scientists wrote to the organization to change the WHO’s statement that previously discounted aerosolized transmission. 

Although increased ventilation is key, filtration is the next big step to improving air quality in a building. Some buildings will have a difficult time to upgrade to the higher-performing filters in their existing HVAC systems due to reduced airflow problems, but the HVAC system should be assessed nonetheless. 

ASHRAE highly recommends that all businesses assess their HVAC system to see if they go above the minimum recommendations.