Humidity Control - Using HVAC to Help Reduce Infection Spread

March 26, 2021

COVID-19’s substantial impact on our lives has caused us to reconsider how building HVAC systems can assist to reduce airborne transmission of viruses and bacteria. It has been long understood that humidity levels in acute healthcare environments can play a key role in infection control and this knowledge is now being applied more broadly.

In the latest Autumn 2021 edition of IHEA Healthcare Facilities magazine, Rob Dagnall, Manager A.G. Coombs Advisory explores the airborne transmission of viruses and bacteria and how improving humidity control through HVAC systems can play a role to reduce infection spread.

Most building air conditioning systems are designed and controlled to provide temperature control for human comfort. HVAC systems for many buildings are not always designed to meet specific humidity targets. However, air conditioning systems are typically used effectively to precisely control humidity in specialist facilities spaces including laboratories and specialist healthcare, museums and art galleries and high technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Modifications to existing HVAC systems can be made to improve the ability to regulate the space humidity.


View the Full Article here.

Read the latest edition of Healthcare Facilities here.

For more information on COVID-19 and HVAC, visit the A.G. Coombs COVID-19 Building Services Resources page.

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