As Colleges and Universities across the nation are beginning to re-open to students on their campuses, a variety of experiences are being realized, with some glaring occurrences of hotspot infections from the Covid-19 virus.
Read MoreApplication of Commercial Principals to Residential Systems
Throughout this blog, we have addressed filtration and operation of commercial HVAC systems in several areas. However, we’ve always stopped short of recommending practices involving residential grade or residential sized equipment.
Read MoreTemperature and humidity play a significant role in the health of a facility and the comfort of the occupants.
If occupants aren’t comfortable, not only will they complain, be less productive, or avoid the space when possible, it will also exacerbate the problem of face coverings. While 75 degrees and 50% relative humidity may be fine for traditional attire, adding a face covering can make it unbearable.
Read MoreBest Course of Action
The fast-evolving landscape on the COVID 19 building front produced some new and revised information this week.
Read MoreUniversal Face Coverings
As of July 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released an executive Order that requires university face coverings and defines a face shield as a face covering.
Please note, this is a Public Health directive, but it is applicable to businesses. Some health programs and be and are not fully applicable to private entities.
Read More“Schools Beat Earlier Plagues With Outdoor Classes. We Should, Too.”
A July 17, 2020 article from the New York Times discusses how outdoor learning and classroom space during the tuberculous outbreak in 1907 helped mitigate transmission, and how those same principals can be applied to today’s world.
Read MoreCOVID-19 Preparedness Webinar
The release of this new Blog was kicked off by the highly attended and well-recieved AICUP Webinar ‘COVID-19 Preparedness: Planning, Design & Engineering for Health, Safety & Success on Campus and in the Classroom’ on May 22nd.
Read MoreMask Down, Risk Up
This week the pride I shared with many of the groups we support, the pride of ZERO workplace spread of SARS CoV-2 resulting in COVID-19 infections was shaken – and the gnarling feeling of doubt churned in my gut. Are the people impacted OK? What about their families? How disruptive was this to the workplace? What happened? What, why, when, where, who, how… ?
Read MoreVentilation: Mechanical, Windows, Fans, Human Movement
Many older buildings do not have modern HVAC systems that incorporate mechanical ventilation. Some facilities may be heating only, some may have fan-coil units or console units with no means of connecting to outside air. The problem is that most institutions can’t afford to allow those spaces to go empty for the upcoming fall term. Right now, that space is needed more than ever to allow classes to socially distance. Most Universities and Colleges are doing some form of class size reduction, longer days to spread out occupancy or other strategies that require the use of as many spaces as possible to spread out occupants. The question is whether or not those spaces can and should be used safely.
Read MoreNo Special Sauce!
AICUP Member School University of Pennsylvania just published, in the Thursday June 25th edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal, their plans for students returning to Campus and the precautions and protocols they will implement to prepare and to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty and others.
As the largest AICUP Member School, with an enrollment of 27,000, it is informative to note that most of the measures being taken are the same or variations to those being taken by smaller schools with enrollments 10% as large.
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