Episode 1: 'If You Were Waiting for the Opportune Moment, This Is It.'

Epidemic Task Force Chair William Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Presidential/Fellow ASHRAE, and Jason DeGraw, Ph.D., Member ASHRAE, discuss the task force’s guidance, including its Core Recommendations, and how the COVID-19 pandemic could create long-lasting change in the HVAC&R industry.

In this episode Bill and Jason discuss the origins of ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force’s Core Recommendations (3:18), which were created to help various stakeholders stay on the same page and provide an entry point into the task force’s more than 400 pages of guidance. They skim key points of the Core Recommendations (8:20), including: ventilation (8:22), filtration, air cleaning (9:50), air distribution (11:05) and air mixing (12:30). 

Then, they dive into the ETF’s HVAC system operation guidance, focusing on maintaining temperature and humidity design set points (16:50), maintain equivalent clean air supply (17:16) and space flushing (18:08).

Bill and Jason also talk about how the guidance is not a checklist but require engineers to look specifically at their buildings before thinking about how to apply this information (15:18). 

Looking ahead, Bill and Jason share their thoughts on possible projects that could keep the ETF busy in the future (24:25), such as studying the effectiveness of ventilation and air distribution as well as developing and updating standards that reflect emerging technologies. They also touch on lessons they have learned at this point in the pandemic and their hopes of how the HVAC&R industry will follow through on these advancements and not forget its progress (25:20).

To explore the ETF’s COVID-19 resources and guidance, visit ashrae.org/covid19.

Seeking a job in the engineering field, or searching for the most qualified engineers? The ASHRAE career center connects opportunities and candidates. Go to jobs.ashrae.org.