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Tag: covid-19
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‘Watching brief’ on airborne COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged growing concerns surrounding the airborne transmission of the coronavirus, following the publication of an open letter addressed to the Geneva-based agency, but says more evidence is still required. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the organisation has advised that the virus is primarily spread through large respiratory droplets […]
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COVID-19 likely to be airborne, claim 239 experts
More than 200 scientists from over 30 countries have signed an open letter urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to take the role of airborne spread of COVID-19 more seriously. Published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, the letter titled “It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19” challenges the view held by the […]
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Seven ways to celebrate World Refrigeration Day
On June 26, the global HVAC&R community will be rallying around a common cause in celebration of World Refrigeration Day (WRD 2020). This year, the scale and means of marking the occasion has been restricted by the pandemic, but WRD founder Stephen Gill says there is still plenty going on. “WRD 20 is going to […]
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Efficiency key to recovery
An online summit called Energy Efficiency and Australia’s Economic Recovery has been scheduled on July 1 to discuss how energy efficiency and energy management can help support Australia’s economic recovery post-COVID-19. The forum is being delivered by the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), the […]
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IWBI launches WELL Health-Safety Rating
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating for all building and facility types. The tool is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating system focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols and design strategies to address a post-COVID-19 environment. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is one of the earliest outcomes of IWBI’s Task Force […]
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Free webinars on re-opening buildings
AIRAH as part of its relationship with the ASHRAE Associate Society Alliance will offer three free webinars focused on mitigating potential health risks during re-opening of buildings closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As buildings begin to reopen after the COVID-19 closures, it is important to make sure that building readiness plans are in place for […]
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ACIF issues coronavirus recovery proposal
The Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) has issued a document proposing a number of key recommendations on guiding the construction industry out of the coronavirus disruption period. In the document entitled Construction’s Bridge to Recovery, the ACIF is calling on the government to assist with the economic recovery of the construction business through a list […]
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Chillventa 2020 cancelled
Chillventa 2020, a prominent Germany-based biennial event on the European HVAC&R calendar, has been cancelled. While a digital congress has now been scheduled to take place on the original dates (October 13-15), the next Chillventa will be held on October 11-13, 2022. For its tenth outing in 2018, the European event had surpassed 1,000 exhibitors […]
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US HVAC&R professionals weathering COVID-19 crisis
The results are in from a survey exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US HVAC&R professionals. The survey was conducted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). About 3,000 of its members replied to “ASHRAE’s Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on Members Professionally and Their Businesses”, which explored […]
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Apprentices hammered by COVID-19 crisis
Industry is calling for urgent government measures as Australian apprentice numbers plummet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Australian Apprenticeship Association (NAAA), about 5.5 per cent of apprentices and trainees have been suspended or cancelled since March 1. National employer association the Ai Group says that apprentice commencements are down 60 per […]
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AMCA advice on COVID-19 and HVAC
The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association (AMCA) has released a position statement on the role of HVAC systems in mitigating the risks of airborne transmission of COVID-19. In the statement, the AMCA recognises that ventilation and air filtration provided by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) can reduce the airborne concentration of COVID-19 […]
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IAQAA updates draft on COVID-19 guidelines
The Australian Chapter of Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) has released a new Draft Reference and Guidelines for Post Cleaning Validation of Buildings Contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. This is an updated version of the original Draft of guidelines, published in April, on the validation of post-cleaning work in buildings where a person infected with COVID-19 was […]
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Legionella on the rise in Sydney
As governments begin easing COVID-19 restrictions, the NSW Ministry of Health (NSW Health) has issued a reminder that building owners and occupiers have a legal obligation to ensure air conditioning cooling towers are properly maintained, to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. “There has been an increase in cases of Legionnaires’ disease across the Sydney […]
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ASHRAE announces virtual conference
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, ASHRAE has scheduled a four-day live virtual event. The 2020 ASHRAE Virtual Conference is structured to allow participants from all over the world to take advantage of the Society’s strong technical content. The virtual conference will include more than 90 technical sessions, updates from Society leaders, and virtual networking […]
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ASHRAE’s guide to reopening buildings
The ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has developed guidance on how to reduce potential health risks when buildings reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic. 2019–20 ASHRAE President Darryl Boyce says we have reached a time where planning for a safe return to normal activities has become a priority. “Safe operation of HVAC and building water management systems […]
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Rebound offers “once in a generation” opportunity
A new white paper is encouraging leaders from government and industry to use the COVID-19 recovery to transform our traditional construction processes. “The global construction industry cannot continue operating the way it does,” write co-authors Sumit Oberoi and Alain Waha in the paper, titled Industrialised Construction: The Rebound from COVID-19. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, […]
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Restarting hibernating HVAC systems
The Property Council of Australia, Facility Management Association (FMA) and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) have called on building owners and facilities managers to commence careful planning for the safe reopening of commercial buildings and workplaces across Australia. The advice comes as the national cabinet and state governments announce easing […]
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Experts call for indoor humidity guidelines
Leading members of the international scientific and medical community have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish global guidance on the minimum lower limit of air humidity in public buildings. Those behind the move have created a petition, which they say is aimed at increasing global public awareness about the crucial role indoor […]
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Opinion: Can HVAC systems spread COVID-19?
By Craig Roussac, M.AIRAH. All buildings are created for people, and building owners must ensure they are safe. But unfortunately, as with most things in life, there is no guidebook setting out the “ideal” way to achieve that outcome. This is especially true in a pandemic. Over recent days, research has been published in the journal Nature that […]
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Speculation rife on airborne COVID-19
New studies have fuelled speculation about COVID-19 spreading through the air, and emphasised the vital role that HVAC systems will play in controlling the virus. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the World Health Organization has advised that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets. When someone with […]