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How COVID-19 Has Impacted the HVAC industry

October 21st, 2020

Last updated: October 7th, 2022

There is no denying that 2020 has not been the year that we expected. The coronavirus pandemic has caused us to think about everything differently, and we’re often wondering how different elements of our daily lives can relate to our exposure to the virus. With that in mind, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about HVAC and COVID-19 in this blog post.

General Ventilation

By law, every employer in Yorkshire and the rest of the UK needs to make certain that there is an adequate supply of fresh air in the working environment. This is something that has not changed in light of COVID-19.

Good ventilation is imperative in lowering the risk of the virus being spread, so focusing on improving general ventilation at your business is a good idea, preferably through mechanical or fresh air systems.

Where feasible, you should think about the different ways that the supply of fresh air can be maintained or increased, for example, by opening doors or windows, unless fire doors.

Moreover, think about whether the circulation of outside air can be improved, preventing pockets of stagnant air in occupied areas. You can do this through the use of desk fans and ceilings fans, for instance, so long as good ventilation is maintained.

The transmission risk through the use of desk and ceiling fans is extremely low, so long as the area in question has good ventilation.

Air Conditioning

The risk of COVID-19 being spread through air conditioning in the workplace is also incredibly low, providing there is an adequate supply of ventilation and fresh air.

You will be able to keep utilising the majority of air conditioning systems as you usually would. However, if you currently have a centralised ventilation system in place that gets rid of air and circulates it in different rooms, it is advisable to turn the recirculation off and use a fresh supply of air instead.

You are not going to need to alter an air conditioning system that will combine some of the air that has been extracted with fresh air and then return it to the room, as this boosts the rate of fresh air ventilation. Moreover, systems in individual rooms or portable units do not need to be adjusted, as they operate on 100 per cent recirculation. Nevertheless, a good supply of fresh air ventilation should still be maintained within the room.

So, there you have it: an insight into the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact that this is having on the HVAC industry. General ventilation and air conditioning are two areas that all employers need to consider carefully. If you are still feeling unsure as to whether you adhering to the health and safety regulations that are in place in this area, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us and we will make sure that you have a safe and efficient HVAC system in place at your business. We have made sure to stay operational and safe despite the pandemic and comply to all regulations.

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