Climate-informed HVAC increases in relative humidity may fight pandemic viruses

Humidification as a Unique HVAC Objective Other HVAC design aspects-ventilation, filtration, air movement, space pressure relationships, temperature and purification-can help reduce contagion, and each is important (Wang, et al., 2020). Humidification's Relationship with Building Envelopes Whil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBuilding Design & Construction
Main Author George Karidis and Rob Thompson
Format Trade Publication Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Arlington Heights SGC Horizon Building & Construction Group 07.04.2020
Subjects
Air conditioning
Atomizing
Building envelopes
Climate
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Disease transmission
Epidemics
Humidification
Humidity
HVAC
Influenza
Pandemics
Relative humidity
Seasons
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Viral infections
Winter
New York
Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
United States > US
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Summary:Humidification as a Unique HVAC Objective Other HVAC design aspects-ventilation, filtration, air movement, space pressure relationships, temperature and purification-can help reduce contagion, and each is important (Wang, et al., 2020). Humidification's Relationship with Building Envelopes While climate visualizations indicate representative areas for building envelope caution (gray boxes) and data to aid seasonal adjustments in RH setpoints (orange and white colors), we strongly urge facility managers to have their individual building envelopes evaluated for suitability with higher RH, using moisture migration programs or other means. For temporary medical facilities and alternate care sites, consider how to get to 40% RH, even with novel means in an emergency model: e.g., RO/UV-treated water feeding atomizing-mist evaporative fans.
ISSN:0007-3407