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Tag: covid-19
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ARBS moves to August 2022 amid COVID-19 concerns
ARBS 2022, originally scheduled for April, 27–29 2022, will be moved to August 16–18, 2022 with consideration to the ongoing implications of COVID-19. “Given the current COVID-19 situation in Australia combined with the difficulty in predicting the outlook for early 2022, it was felt a short delay would bring about more certainty allowing ARBS to […]
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Pacific Ventilation introduces virucidal AHU air filters
Pacific Ventilation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Systemair AB Group Sweden, a global ventilation company, and Deltrian, a leading Belgian filter manufacturer, have joined forces to launch a new generation of virucidal filters for air handling units (AHUs). Pacific Ventilation says the DELTRI+ filters are Eurovent certified and contain advanced plasma technology capable of neutralising […]
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Ventilation as important as vaccination say experts
As Australia ponders the challenge of reopening with COVID-19 still present in our communities, the discourse from government has focused on vaccination targets. But increasingly, the public is demanding a more thorough response to the pandemic, incorporating other critical measures. Over the past weeks, one measure in particular has become front-page news: ventilation. “Vaccination is […]
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A.G. Coombs shares suite of COVID-19 resources
Building services specialist A. G. Coombs has created a new web page answering commonly asked questions about COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, A.G. Coombs has been responding to requests from building owners and managers about restricting the spread of COVID-19 with the help of building services, especially HVAC systems. Over that time, the […]
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Be Summit aims to reunite built environment industry
One of Australia’s leading built environment events, the Be Summit, is back this year, with Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas MP, announced as opening speaker. Following this year’s Federal Budget announcement and the $15 million injection into the nation’s infrastructure, Pallas will be speaking on industry recovery since the pandemic and what we can expect moving […]
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Dr Normand Brais to present on UVGI technology
The Opira Group is organising an opportunity to be educated on ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) by the founder and owner of Sanuvox, Dr Normand Brais, on August 20. As a result of the current global pandemic, building owners and operators are looking for ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in offices, hotels, hospitals, schools […]
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AIRAH updates 2021 conference schedule
Continuing precautions and restrictions around COVID-19 have led to AIRAH adjusting its 2021 conference schedule. Still slated for Sydney, AIRAH’s The Future of HVAC Conference 2021 will be moved from its originally scheduled dates of September 8–9 to November 29–30. It will also be live-streamed. AIRAH’s Building Physics Forum, originally scheduled to be held in […]
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Aeris Environmental develops filter treatment spray
Australian company Aeris Environmental has developed a new polymer coating for HVAC filters designed to prevent the spread of airborne viruses, including COVID-19. Aeris Guard Bioactive Filter Treatment contains a readily biodegradable active biocide that the company says kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria and viruses including SARS-CoV-2 on the polymer coating. “A single application […]
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Update on COVID-19 restrictions for NSW workers
The New South Wales government has responded to requests to clarify the rules for HVAC&R workers in the state. Although some information has already been shared, restrictions continue to change. The update below was received by AIRAH on Monday, August 2 from the NSW Treasury Taskforce. These directions are subject to amendment at any time. […]
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COVID-19 restrictions clarified for HVAC&R workers
Since new COVID-19 restrictions came into force in New South Wales, those employed in the HVAC&R industry have been seeking clarity on whether they can continue working. Although considered by many as an essential service, HVAC&R is not explicitly referred to in the rules. The NSW government guidance for critical repairs, maintenance and cleaning states […]
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Samsung launches management system for air purifiers
Samsung Electronics Australia has announced the local launch of its Building Internet of Things Cloud (b.IoT Cloud), which enables air purifiers to be remotely managed on a large scale from one device. Up to 255 air purifiers can be remotely controlled through the b.IoT Cloud. This makes the system suitable for settings where it is […]
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Purpose-built quarantine facilities a must for every state
Australian governments must construct purpose-built COVID-19 quarantine facilities in every state regardless of the nation’s progress with vaccinations. So argues leading epidemiologist at UNSW Sydney, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, who says the buildings could be constructed relatively quickly and cheaply as modular structures using prefabricated components. Although the federal government has now agreed to fund a […]
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Hotel quarantine ventilation back in the spotlight
The most recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria has brought renewed attention to ventilation systems in hotel quarantine. The new wave of cases began when a Victorian man returned to Melbourne after spending 14 days in the Playford medi-hotel in Adelaide. Although he initially returned a negative result, he later tested positive, and it has […]
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NCC the key to making buildings COVID-safe?
Last week, an international group of scientists and indoor air quality (IAQ) experts called for a “paradigm shift” in combating airborne pathogens such as COVID-19 by improving indoor ventilation systems. They say that the potential benefit to public health is comparable to that achieved in the 1800s when cities started organising clean water supplies and […]
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Time for ‘paradigm shift’ on indoor air quality
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) air-quality expert Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska is leading an international call for a “paradigm shift” in combating airborne pathogens such as COVID-19 by improving indoor ventilation systems. Professor Morawska led a group of almost 40 researchers from 14 countries in a call published in Science for a shift in standards […]
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Australian schools failing on indoor air quality
Australian schools need better ventilation to improve student health and productivity, according to new research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). A team from the UNSW Sydney’s School of Built Environment found concentrations of CO₂ in classrooms peaked significantly higher than the 850ppm threshold prescribed by the National Construction Code due to a […]
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Ziehl-Abegg reports growth despite pandemic
Global electric motor and fan manufacturer Ziehl-Abegg has reported sales of €639 million (AU$995 million) in 2020 – an increase of around 1 per cent over 2019 – and is expecting continued growth in 2021. “The year 2020 was like a rollercoaster ride,” says Ziehl-Abegg CEO Peter Fenkl, “alternating suddenly and rapidly between border closures, […]
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New modelling of aerosol movement in HVAC systems
A new Australian study published in the latest issue of Ecolibrium has sought to determine the potential for droplets expelled from people when sneezing or coughing to propagate through a typical HVAC system. “The current pandemic has forced the HVAC community to look closely at the systems we use in buildings,” says co-author and LCI […]
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SAN-AIR scores Purple Tick accreditation
The SAN-AIR technology has been awarded the Purple Tick accreditation, having satisfied the criteria for businesses that offer products or services that deliver high levels of performance in indoor public spaces. An independent organisation, the Purple Tick aims to build consumer and community confidence by promoting the safety and cleanliness of air conditioning systems. According […]
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Quarantine restart: What have we learnt?
This week, international travellers began arriving in Melbourne again, and are re-entering Victoria’s revised hotel quarantine facilities. Numbers have been capped at 800 per week and will increase to 1,120 per week on April 15 provided that key recommendations are addressed – including many relating to ventilation. Focus on airborne transmission It has been almost […]