Rebooting HVAC Systems for Post Pandemic Revival

Khalid Syed
A s s is t a n t P r o f e s s o r – F a c i l i t i e s M a n a g e m e n t

Why are we likely to overlook blind risks in our ventilation

environment?

Today as we exit the second phase of this contagion, hospitality

related buildings that had their HVAC systems closed during the
lockdown, face the impending peril of biohazards,
contamination and several hygiene concerns. With hotels,
resorts and institutions preparing to re-open their operations, a
key exercise to be executed, is the preventive maintenance of
mechanical systems. Of particular importance is the
environment in which guests and staff breathe for survival.
Traditionally designed HVAC systems have not changed much
over three decades, with ventilation ducts remaining closed for
more than 6 months without cleaning. There are risks of
multiple formations like molds, fungus, rodent excreta and even
a plethora of insects housed inside the ducts. These systems re-
circulate the same air giving birth to the conspicuous menace of
How can we create a safe and sustainable breathing
spreading air borne viruses. Primordial systems have rustic
environment in buildings?
accessories as well, such as ducts with conventional cloth filters
that are only 30-40% efficient in filtering the air being supplied
to rooms.
The affordability of these newer systems will become a definite
necessity, as the price of technology gets optimised with time.
Accommodation professionals need to follow protocols set by
What can we do to protect critical ventilation zones using
ISHRAE (Indian Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air
technology solutions?
conditioning Engineers) which administers ambient well-being
and contains the spread of air borne viruses. Engineering
First things first - all ducts need to be cleaned out and sanitized
professionals in the hospitality industry need to coordinate with
completely to make them free of filth and biohazards. A
the construction and mechanical domain in order to accomplish
pioneering substitute for cleaner air could be swapping the
required outcomes.
primitive air filters with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air)
filters which have a competence of 95-96% in the purification of
air being supplied. Fresh air could be introduced by adding an
Detailed planning is required by performing checks and
external duct through the wall intersecting with existing supply
balances during the commencement of the project right from
ducts. The return duct should have an output to the outside so
grass root level adoption to post project implementation.
that used air is expelled completely instead of being trapped in
Routine maintenance cannot be compromised for optimal
the false ceiling cavity. All future designs for hotels should
system performance. In conclusion, here are the top five actions
comprise every counteractive measure for pandemics, such as
that need to be carried out as a check list to save human lives
“Treated Fresh Air” (TFA). The complete air conditioning system
from being exposed to a toxic ventilation environment before
can be fragmented into numerous mini systems, which can
rebooting operations.
handle diverse sections of the building.

Rooms must have a 100% exhaust into the atmosphere using
smart and self-governing return technologies. This can be
introduced through air cooled chillers where colossal designs
consisting of cooling towers for coils to be water cooled need
not be used. All private and public areas need to have
automated Room Management Systems (RMS) and Building
Management Systems (BMS) to have self-regulating automatic
flow control valves called “Pressure Independent Control Valves”
(PICV). This controls the flow of air and water as per the cooling
requirement inside the room, duly communicated through the
thermostat. Pumps with Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) are
required instead of constant speed ones to avoid huge energy
losses and optimization of the HVAC system. Self-cleaning ducts
with aseptic bots could be a possibility in the near future.
1. The annual maintenance contract (AMC) which includes the
cleaning and sanitization of ducts every 3 months of
operation, should be immediately re-instated.
2. Ordinary cloth filters must be replaced with HEPA filters and
cleaned every 2 months for effective filtration, irrespective of
the initial cost incurred.
3. Avoid recirculation of air, use 100% treated fresh air (TFA) and
maintain the environmental balance through natural
temperature exchanges.
4. New designs must include treatment of air at multiple
stages to avoid contamination and to increase the
effectiveness of air conditioning.
5. Return or stale air must be expelled by using a proper return
duct, which is connected with the natural atmosphere
external to the building.