Engineering Strategies for Airborne Diseases

H V A C S Y S T E M S T R A T E G I E S

INCREASED VENTILATION

• Outside air has high bacterial diversity and low average pathogenicity. • Indoor air has low bacterial diversity and high average pathogenicity. • Increased building ventilation rates will help dilute droplet concentration. • Required ventilation rate is not clear, however maintaining low level of CO2 level could be a good indicator. • Forced Air Systems with airside economizers will have more flexibility to provide increased ventilation. However systems without air side economizers including fan coil units and radiant systems will be limited with this approach. • Buildings located near pollutant sources and freeways should take additional measures on ventilation air with higher efficiency filtration systems. • Higher ventilation rates will increase building cooling and heating loads. Existing system capacity should be analyzed to avoid comfort issues. Considering lower occupant density in buildings, it is anticipated that majority of the systems could handle higher rates.

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