More and more regions are allowing businesses to re-open despite a very contagious virus to offset the mounting financial losses of tenant companies, building owners, and employees. The intention, of course, is to allow commerce and other activities, while minimizing any new increase in COVID-19 cases or at least being better prepared to handle a spike in hospital admissions. This balance is the “new normal”.
But even with more businesses opening, the public is wary. Will they have the confidence to come out to shop, eat, work, etc. in your building? It is impossible to bring the risk of infection within a space to zero. But what can building managers do to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection of staff and customers?

Low-cost building upgrades and policies.

1. Communication. Signage, messages of CDC guidelines for people to see

2. Show safe movement. Map travel patterns within tenant, common space

3. Personal limits. Limit capacity of key places, such as conference rooms, kitchenettes

4. Change cleaning procedures. Increase disinfection frequency of high-touch surfaces

5. Provide personal disinfectants. Wipes and hand sanitizer stations

6. New seating arrangements, including installing shields between open desks

7. Automatic, non-touch equipment in restrooms.

8. Take temperature of all employees daily and of guests.

Technical guidance on changes to HVAC systems

Currently, information from major professional organizations focuses on person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus as the primary public health concern, ahead of HVAC operation, where airborne transmission is possible, but not considered high risk. However, changes in HVAC operations can reduce the risk of potential virus exposure. ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force recommends:

1. Increase outdoor ventilation (as much as possible) by enabling outside air economizers more often and by opening dampers.

2. Improve filtration to MERV-13 or highest efficiency level feasible. Often not noted is the importance of sealing filters properly to prevent bypass.

3. Provide additional outside air both before and after occupancy daily.

Of course, these changes to the HVAC system comes at a cost: increased energy usage and cost. An evaluation of additional energy use of extending HVAC use hours, upgrading to MERV 13 from MERV 8 filters, and letting in an additional 50% outside air above minimum found that overall these changes together would cause an increase of 3-5% in building energy usage for a typical office building, depending on climate region.

CCES has the experts to help your firm plan for your re-entry into your facility and do so in a safe and economical way. Be safe and do the right thing. We can help. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.