Back to School? How Facility Managers are Prepared for Multiple Scenarios
As the nation considers an array of options to handle a new school year while battling COVID-19, ASHRAE has updated reopening guide for schools and universities. The guide contains the following topics:
- Determining Building Readiness
- Equipment & System Specific Checks & Verifications During the Academic Year
- New/Modified Facility Design Recommendations
- Filtration Upgrades
- Operations of Occupied Facilities
- Controlling Infection Outbreak in School Facilities
- Higher Education Facilities Recommendations
One area many educational facilities are looking at is how airflow and ventilation impact indoor air quality. Duct sealing is a cost-effective way to eliminate duct leakage. This ensures outdoor air doesn’t infiltrate the school and introduce contaminants into the air. It also ensures any contaminated air isn’t re-distributed through a building. It also has a huge impact on energy savings.
Here are a few schools that are providing cleaner, healthier air while saving energy.
K-12
Comfort and efficiency were the primary goals engineers replaced the 30-year-old HVAC equipment and sealed the ductwork with Aeroseal. This ensured the facility to meet building codes and the elimination of 2,772 CFM of leakage.
When a renovation project revealed substantial leakage in the ductwork, the facility began to look at energy-saving strategies. Aeroseal’s goal was to meet duct sealing codes and improve energy efficiency. The sealed ductwork led to a 92 percent leakage reduction.
Reducing energy costs and fixing uneven heating was a top priority. 50 percent of treated air was lost due to leaks and utility bills soared higher than normal. After Aeroseal, leakage was reduced by 27,350+ CFM and the energy bill was cut $45,000 a year. The project also eliminated uneven heating issues.
Universities
- Cox Science Building – University of Miami (Florida)
Leaks in the connecting duct and ventilation shafts caused fume hoods in their laboratories to provide sufficient exhaust. Aeroseal’s goal was to reduce duct leakage and getting all hoods working under code requirements. Results showed an 80 percent reduction of leakage and all hoods met safety requirements.
Almost immediately after installation, Harvard University’s new HVAC equipment was not providing adequate airflow. Aeroseal reduced duct leakage by 98 percent and lowered the fan speed by 60 percent. The building now feels comfortable since the HVAC system can perform at full capacity.
Upon opening, the William Hall dormitory’s ventilation system failed to pass the crucial pressure tests needed to meet the fire code regulation and LEED requirements. Aeroseal eliminated leaks in 19 shafts to, pass code requirements, and achieve the LEED Silver certification. All shafts were sealed in less than two weeks.
Reopening plans are evaluated in the best interest of the students, faculty, and staff. With the resurgence of coronavirus cases across the nation, duct sealing can help schools reach these goals by providing cleaner and healthier air to deliver throughout buildings, while saving money in the process.
Click here for more information on Aeroseal’s commercial duct sealing capabilities.