Dear Colleagues,
The F&S Health and Safety Response Team (HSRT) reviewed the recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for the operation of HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a proactive measure based on the guidance, team members outlined the following considerations for campus building HVAC systems from this information.
F&S staff will continue to research and monitor the latest engineering, science and health data related to the operation of HVAC systems. F&S will also continue performing preventive maintenance activities and updating run times to better coordinate with current occupancy scheduling.
The HSRT has also prepared COVID-19 Return-to-Work Health and Safety Awareness Training for campus employees transitioning back on-site. The training provides general information on COVID-19, efforts the university is taking to protect employees, steps employees can take to protect themselves and their co-workers, and answers frequently asked questions. A NetID, password, and two-factor authentication are required to access the training.
To find out more about the HVAC system in your facility or if you have questions about the training, please contact covid19fsconsulting@illinois.edu. We remain focused on providing innovative service delivery across our organization that helps to prevent the potential community spread of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases on campus.
Cordially,
Dr. Mohamed Attalla, MBA, P.Eng.
Executive Director, Facilities & Services