Open Education Webinar: Cleaning Air Solutions During a Global Pandemic
Cleaning Air Solutions During a Global Pandemic 8:00-10:00 am, ET, Feb.23, 2021, Zoom Online
8:00a-8:50a, Air Filtration in Response to COVID-19, by Dr. Thomas Caesar
There has never been as much public focus on Air Filtration as a safety requirement as it is today during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus can spread from one person to another by different routes. Also, there are numerous variants of the virus that have surfaced with even more contamination avenues, making the challenge of control much greater.
Science: there is a strong indication that the coronavirus can spread as aerosols via the air.
Good News: the risk of infection by these direct routes can be reduced through social distancing, hygiene practices, and wearing face masks. There are many questions that you should ask yourself when selecting a mask.
Should everyone wear N95/FFP2/medical facemasks? What type of face mask should I wear, and what should I look for when looking when purchasing?
Will it stop all of the sneezing drops and coughing droplets from being inhaled?
Risk mitigation should always be at the forefront of our minds as we move through this challenging time as aerosols containing viruses can distribute with the air throughout a room and infect people even in more distance. Air handling units using high-quality and efficient fine filters based on specific guidelines given for the pandemic times can reduce the virus concentration in buildings to effective levels and minimize the risk. The key to minimizing the related infection indoors risk is the fast dilution of the contaminated room air to reduce the virus concentration, minimizing contact with hosts. But handling indoor air in the pandemic is a bit more complicated:
How should I design the air filtration systems? What is recommended for restaurants versus hospitals during the current pandemic?
What should we use for schools versus commercial buildings while the virus is aerosolized? Do we need a mask in the building?
Learning there are different ways coronaviruses can be transferred from one person to another, and no single measure on its own will give sufficient protection. A combination of all measures like social distancing, handwashing, wearing face masks, ensuring sufficient and high-quality ventilation of rooms, etc., gives a sufficient level of protection and minimizes infection risk. We will address these issues during this webinar.
Dr. Caesar is a well-known leading expert in the global filtration industry. He has been working in the filtration industry with extensive experience for over 20 years. Dr. Caesar is now working at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies SE & Co. KG, Germany, responsible for global product development, product & application engineering, and laboratory activities in the business unit Industrial Filtration. He serves as Convenor of ISO/TC142/WG12 “Sustainability of air filters”, Chairman of EHEDG working group “Air handling”, Chairman of Eurovent Certification Compliance Committee Air Filters, Expert in several working groups at VDI, DIN, EHEDG, Eurovent, CEN, and ISO.
8:50a-9:00a, Bio Break
9:00a-9:45a, HVAC Air Filter Inspection, Installation and Verification for updated CDC COVID-19 Guidelines, by Mr. Stephen Nicholas
With the advanced filtration technologies and air cleaning solutions, it is essential to know how to select the right filters for your HVAC systems to comply with ASHRAE, ASHE, JCAHO updated requirements and the latest CDC COVID-19 Guidelines and to ensure proper inspection, installation, and maintenance of the air filtration system for a safe and healthy indoor environment.
Mr. Nicholas will highlight and update the air filtration requirements associated with COVID-19 for actual field applications, such as hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, etc. We will discuss guidelines and examples on selecting air filters, scheduling filter change-out, and selecting proper air filter clips, latches, and gaskets to ensure an airtight filter seal. Three T’s (Technical Tips – Tricks of the Trade and Traps to Avoid) and 3M’s (Measure, Monitor, and Manage) to secure an effective air cleaning will also be discussed.
You Will Learn:
Properly Select HVAC air filters based on CDC Guidelines
Select the proper airflow resistance gage to measure static pressure accurately
Proper Inspection and Installation
Utilize the Three T’s … Technical Tips - Tricks of the Trade - Traps to Avoid
Select proper air filters, clips, latches, and gaskets to ensure an airtight filter seal
Using a handheld particle counter to verify MERV 13 or 14 performance.
Consider the Three M’s … Measure - Monitor and Manage your HVAC air filtration system
Comply with ASHRAE, ASHE, JCAHO requirements, and the latest CDC COVID-19 Guidelines
Mr. Stephen Nicholas is the past President of The National Air Filtration Association and has been involved with the HVAC air filtration industry since 1984. He specializes in Hospitals and Health Care Facilities’ applications and attended the Harvard School of Public Health for certifying In-Place HEPA filters for nuclear and non-nuclear applications. He is also a Level II certified filter technician for HEPA Filter Bag In/Bag Out Installations and a certified air filtration specialist. Steve has been certified for Testing Adjusting and Balancing Commercial Building HVAC systems. He is also a Life Member of ASHRAE and has served on several National Committees. One of Steve’s main responsibilities is training and educating health care facility engineers, building operators, and maintenance technicians with the proper selection, installation and maintenance of HVAC air filtration systems.
9:45a-10:00a, Questions & Answers (speakers and panelists)
REGISTER FOR THE FREE WEBINAR HERE
To register WFI 2021 Certified Filtration & Separation Specialist Education Program (CFSS 2021), click HERE