Page 31 - OHS, April/May 2024

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ASHRAE formed its Epidemic Task Force (ETF) after realizing just how ill-prepared the industry was in mitigating COVID-19 and other airborne virus transmissions.
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ral transmission in any given space. Stan-
dard 241 was created to ensure that the sys- tems that provide the air we breathe at work or where we live can effectively reduce the risk of airborne disease while considering factors such as energy usage and fresh air supply. The Standard has set requirements for air-cleaning systems, filtration systems, building operations, maintenance, building renovations, and pre-building equipment. We encourage industry colleagues to read the Standard, but below are key takeaways:
Testing Procedures
Standard 241 requires a third-party inde- pendent testing laboratory to complete all testing of the effectiveness and safety of ventilation and air-cleaning devices. While some procedures will be applied immedi- ately, others will take longer, such as testing for air cleaner effectiveness.
These tests include sampling equip- ment, filtering particles, using mathemati- cal/scientific calculations, and documenta- tion of testing safety. The laboratory will conduct various tests to ensure safety and health standards are up to Standard and prepare a test report that details such. The manufacturer will then review the final re- port and certify its effectiveness.
Mathematical and
Scientific Calculations
The Standard has created multiple math- ematical equations specifically designed to test air quality rates in the face of infection. These calculations detail testing for clean airflow rate, air distribution, chemical reac- tions, ventilation, and individuals’ breath- ing capacity versus the size of buildings. Such calculations also serve as guidelines for industry individuals to consider when designing systems for both new construc- tion and renovation projects.
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Standard 241 provides operations and main- tenance standards for industry workers. It details information regarding cleanliness, up-to-date engineering and technical sys- tems, inventory details, and facility supplies. Industry workers must check and replace air-cleaning controls or filters when neces- sary and ensure the accuracy of air delivery sensors.
The operations and maintenance stan- dards include a Building Readiness Plan, for which a template is available. The Building Readiness Plan or BRP, modeled after one created by the ETF, will be drafted to assess necessary engineering and non-engineering controls of a given building (existing or not), allowing for clean airflow. A physical copy of the BRP must remain onsite and updated annually or during changes to the building’s controls.
Though ASHRAE’s Standard 241 was created out of the havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation demanded new health and safety measures. Rather than companies guessing whether a technol- ogy is effective in mitigating infection, en- gineers now have set guidelines they can follow detailing specific design instruc- tions that also balance infection control. While the Standard is not a requirement, it is strongly encouraged to be adopted widely by the industry. In the face of other impending health crises, Standard 241 will protect us better from respiratory viruses.
M. Elaine Dasti, PE, serves as Vice President and MEP Practice Leader, while Tom Burgess, MS, CSP, CIH, serves as Technical Leader, Industrial Hygiene and Safety for T&M Asso- ciates, a leading national consulting, environ- mental, engineering, technical services, and construction management company.
e and Building Readiness Plan
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APRIL/MAY 2024 | Occupational Health & Safety 31