VENTILATION: THE KEY TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY

In the days of the global pandemic, building operators have one clear mandate: to protect their occupants’ health and safety. This has always been a priority, yet the need for hygienic environments has never been clearer.

The heightened demand for germ-free spaces is not lost on the HVAC industry. As such, HVAC professionals play a crucial role in ensuring operators have the means to mitigate the risks of COVID-19. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), that role is mainly focused on promoting the use of advanced and adaptable ventilation technologies to provide fresh, clean air.

“Ventilation and filtration provided by heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air,” ASHRAE states, noting, “Unconditioned spaces can cause thermal stress to people that may be directly life threatening and that may also lower resistance to infection.”

No doubt, proper air ventilation and filtration are key to reducing the risks of infection. To that end, ASHRAE released its Practical Guidance for Epidemic Operation of Energy Recovery on June 9th, outlining the practices, systems, and tools that can contribute to this goal.

“ASHRAE is talking a lot about what can be done to improve indoor environments in light of COVID-19 right now. One thing that comes through clearly is that ventilation systems play a crucial part in creating hygienic environments by making sure occupants aren’t constantly breathing the same air as the people they’re sharing a building with,” says Will Elaridi, a representative with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA)’s HVAC Division, Ventilation Products.

Going With The Flow

Improvements to indoor air quality have been on the industry’s radar long before the days of COVID-19. If anything, current health challenges have only accelerated the development and production of ventilation systems and technologies that can handle today’s challenges.

MESCA is among the companies leading the way for cleaner environments. Its line of Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) has proven critical in improving the quality of incoming air, boosting the efficiency of air conditioning systems, facilitating the removal of harmful indoor pollutants, using less energy and providing greater efficiency than traditional HRV systems

“It’s more important than ever to have ventilation systems that can adapt to a building’s specific occupancy demands, cycle in the appropriate amount of clean and treated air, and do so without being a drain on an asset’s energy,” says Elaridi.

MESCA’s line of ventilation systems have been designed to do just that, he adds. It includes ERVs for commercial and residential buildings, Lossnay®’s line of energy-recovery ventilator models, and The Mitsubishi Premisys® Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS), an integrated heating and air conditioning solution for commercial buildings.

“The DOAS is an all-in-one system with an ERV device that provides heating, cooling, and humidification in one dedicated unit,” Elaridi explains. “In a condo, for example, the DOAS unit pumps tempered air into the hallways on every single floor, pressurizing the corridors so each suite is getting fresh air while having their own heating and cooling system.”
Advanced filtration is equally important to improving air hygiene. To that end, MESCA has also increased the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of its ventilation system filters to upwards of MERV 16, well beyond current standards.
“Overall, these products are more important than ever now and should be enforced to use in new construction and retrofit projects,” insists Elaridi, adding, “Improving indoor air quality by increasing ventilation and filtration are essential, and we are committed to promoting those solutions.

Building awareness

Though the number of active cases of COVID-19 in Canada may be on the decline, the risks of the pandemic are far from extinct. To that end, stakeholders like ASHRAE, MESCA, and industry professionals are united in raising awareness for the HVAC technologies and practices that promote consistently clean indoor environments. The good news is that industry players such as Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada are introducing a wider range of heat pump technologies and formats to support industry taking the required steps.

“For us, it’s a matter of getting the word out there through educational programs and training sessions with our clients,” says Elaridi. “The idea is to get everyone thinking about the best ways of protecting occupant health, and ventilation solutions are an important part of the discussion.”

Click to learn more about Mitsubishi Electric’s ventilation product solutions: https://mitsubishielectric.ca/en/hvac/home-owners/energy-recovery-ventilator

Download the Full Article

FAQ's

How does ventilation help reduce airborne contaminants inside a building?

Ventilation brings fresh outdoor air in and removes stale indoor air, helping reduce the concentration of pollutants, particles, and airborne contaminants.

What guidance did ASHRAE provide for safer indoor environments?

ASHRAE emphasized that better ventilation and filtration can help reduce airborne virus concentrations and support safer indoor spaces.

What role do HVAC systems play in creating healthier indoor environments?

HVAC systems help manage fresh air, filtration, temperature, and humidity to support cleaner, more comfortable indoor environments.

How do Energy Recovery Ventilators improve incoming air quality?

ERVs bring in fresh outdoor air, help remove indoor pollutants, and recover energy from outgoing air to support efficient ventilation.

Resources & Further Reading