ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, has created an epidemic task force to respond to the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and provide guidance on how to ensure that buildings are prepared for current and future epidemics. The ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has been established to deploy ASHRAE’s technical resources to address the impact of HVAC systems on disease transmission in healthcare facilities, workplaces, homes, public spaces, and recreational environments. The primary role of the task force is to facilitate communication between members, industry partners, building owners, facility operators, government agencies, and the public. The task force will also provide recommendations for the establishment of temporary field hospitals in convention centers, arenas, and indoor stadia to deal with surges. Specific responsibilities include:
- Serving as a clearinghouse to review all technical questions and requests for guidance submitted to ASHRAE.
- Coordinating activities of ASHRAE’s internal resources.
- Partnering with and monitoring the activities of external organizations, including the ASHRAE Associate Society Alliance (AASA).
- Reviewing, organizing, consolidating, and publishing clear and concise summaries with citations of the most relevant information available to the built environment.
For more information, visit ASHRAE.
