Air conditioner units (HVAC) on a roof of industrial building with blue sky and clouds in the background.

The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association and the Naval Medicine Readiness and Training Command have created a new document that provides a current literature review of recommended practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force and ASHE resources on HVAC controls for health care facilities treating COVID-19 patients.

The resource seeks to fill a knowledge gap in the field as there are no defined and definitive recommendations for environmental controls when handling COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the guidelines address design and implementation of controls to limit potential exposure to staff and others through HVAC systems.

“With the numerous recommendations being offered by a variety of experts, several ASHE members requested a summary of the ventilation recommendations which prompted the task force to develop this document. Bringing all of these recommendations together into a single document provides a ‘one stop shop’ for health care facility managers.” said Jonathan Flannery, MHSA, FASHE, FACHE, senior associate director of advocacy for ASHE.

These guidelines are open to the public and can be accessed through the ASHE website.