The global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS-Cov-2, commonly known as COVID-19 or Corona virus, has caused serious damages to public health, community, and the global economy.  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as Pandemic causing respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, difficulty breathing, body ache, etc. As per the current knowledge and definition of modes of transmission by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is the possibility that the spread of COVID-19 may occur through airborne particles in indoor environments. The residual droplets containing SARS-Corona viruses can travel through air currents caused by Central Air-conditioning System ducts, where all or some air in the building is circulated and can contribute to the spread of the disease to other patients, workers and visitors in a healthcare facility. The CDC has thus recommended to keep the suspected Corona patients in a specially designed ventilated rooms referred to as Isolation Rooms. The most important approach to lowering the concentrations of airborne contaminants including any viruses is to increase ventilation, maintain pressure gradients and high level filtration. This 6-hr course focuses on the design of ventilation, filtration, air recirculation system and associated engineering controls in Healthcare Isolation Rooms based on an industry wide consensus and guidelines published by (CDC, ASHRAE, WHO, AIA and FGI). The intended audience for this course includes building owners, architects, HVAC engineers & designers, facility operators, service and maintenance personnel, infection control specialists, EH&S professionals and anyone having an interest in pandemic control.

Learning Objectives

• HVAC services that deliver the anticipated levels of comfort and functionality
• A zero-tolerance approach to patient safety and infection control
• Types of Isolation rooms and their functions
• Role of ventilation, air changes and pressure gradients
• Appropriate pressure differentials between isolation rooms and the adjacent spaces.
• HEPA Filtration concepts to isolation facilities
• Air distribution concepts and pressure monitoring
• Up gradation of general purpose healthcare rooms to temporary isolation centers
• Challenges and compliance with the applicable codes and standards
• Safe infection control practices other than HVAC services