Content area
Full Text
As a result of the coronavirus, air distribution codes, standards, and design guides have become more important than ever.
Engineering plays a definitive role when it comes to establishing the functional requirements of an occupied or unoccupied space's supply air methods and devices.
Multiple criteria must be considered based on these functional requirements. This is a timely discussion for any consulting firm to have with clients in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventilation is important in all facilities, especially health care facilities, where people with all sorts of illnesses are enclosed. While air distribution within a space is not often discussed in the media, it is a critical part of the social/physical separation when airborne particulates need to be effectively removed and displaced with appropriate ventilation air in accordance with the applicable codes and standards.
As a result of the coronavirus, the codes, standards, and design guides that cover air distribution will be discussed in greater detail than ever before by project teams integrating all disciplines of design. A great liability will now be thrust upon the professional engineers and firms that design new and retrofit projects. More than ever before, air distribution needs to become a top priority in facility design.
TERMINOLOGY
Consistency is of the utmost importance when considering engineering codes and standards terminology. For example, there may be terms in various ASHRAE Handbook chapters that are defined in those chapters but have not been included in the ASHRAE terminology database. Care must be taken to discover where the various terms are used and ensure consistency. The use of these terms may or may not be consistent. Consistency and clarity are part of diligent and prudent communication in contract documents. It may be wise to have a statement in contract documents that provides the source of the definitions of the terms that are used.
Here are a couple of terms, but there are many more in the ASHRAE terminology database related to air distribution:
* Air distribution: transportation of a specified airflow to or from the treated space by ducts or plenums. Air-treatment devices can be added to the distribution system for the purpose of treating the air (e.g., cleaning, heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, etc.)
* Air-diffusion performance index (ADPI): A...