THOMPSON’S TAKE: Preparing the Built Environment Post COVID-19 Quarantine
Facility managers in higher education and corporate America are gearing up to welcome students and employees back to campus buildings and office workplaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shift in thinking regarding how the built environment will impact students and employees upon their return. Since the virus is spread primarily through the air, consideration must be given to HVAC systems and what modifications might be necessary to help mitigate the spread of the virus. Facility managers will need to pay close attention to the findings of researchers and scientists regarding this new virus and its impact not only on humans but also the built environment. A vaccine will help immunize the general population, but since HVAC systems generally recirculate 80% to 90% of building air, facility professionals will need to review current operating procedures to determine if adjustments need to be made or if major capital improvements are required to make buildings safer for occupants.
Recirculating high percentages of building air and modulating fan speeds between occupied and unoccupied modes is done primarily for energy conservation. Organizations regulating HVAC systems such as ASHRAE, SMACNA, ACCA and the Uniform Mechanical code, to name a few, must review current building codes and regulations to allow building systems to be modified to mitigate the spread of airborne diseases. Scientists predict the COVID-19 virus is just one of many airborne viruses that result in serious respiratory ailments. Changes in the volume of outside air, air changes per hour and fan speeds in building systems will likely be part of an overall mitigation plan. These decisions not only impact re-occupancy safety plans but will also impact energy consumption and facility budgets. New regulatory requirements may also result in unforeseen and unplanned capital improvements.
This situation complicates the planning process for capital projects and expenditures. Tight budgets and a sluggish national economy will cause facility managers and building owners to re-think and revise priorities for capital projects. Facility managers will be faced with finding innovative ways to stretch scarce capital improvement funds to address these important health issues.
