Resource Center: Building Operations During COVID-19

Rapidly evolving factors of COVID-19 create an unprecedented scenario for building owners, plant managers, and employees. Better Buildings will continue to bring together building experts and partners to discuss and provide updates on relevant resources, research and technologies. As building owners and operators adapt to changing demands, the following resources from Better Buildings partners, affiliates, and other organizations provide information and strategies for building operations and maintenance. These resources are cultivated to help identify best practices and are intended to help you make better decisions for your organization.

Resources are sorted by technology type; explore each below:


 

Click MORE to view all general COVID-19 resource guides.

ASHRAE Resources
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers
Resource Hub
This resource hub is a one-stop resource for all of ASHRAE's guidance on reopening, buildings, filtration & disinfection, and transportation.

Coronavirus Resource Center
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Resource Hub
Provides guidance documents produced by AIHA on a range of topics, including cleaning/disinfection, occupational safety, personal protective equipment, and engineering controls.

COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Facilities
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Resource Hub
ASHE provides guidance for healthcare facilities operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BOMA International COVID-19 Coronavirus Resource Center
Building Owners and Managers Association International
Resource Hub
A resource hub for BOMA webinars and guidance documents on building operations and re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Resource Hub
CDC's general resource hub for COVID-19 related guidance and resources. See additional resouces below for K-12 schools/child care programs and as well as guidance for cleaning your facility.

Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) - Frequently Asked Questions
Illuminating Engineering Society
Resource Hub
Guidance documents and facts about germicidal ultraviolet disinfection.

National Academies Virtual Workshop & Research Agenda
National Academies
Resource Hub
A two-day webinar series of scientific information related to airborne transmission of COVID-19. See an additional resource from National Academies below for a framework for understanding infectious disease transmission in the built environment.

Coronavirus Resources
National Association for State Community Services Programs
Resource Hub
General resource hub that is relevant to state community service programs.

COVID-19: FAQ for Residential Buildings
New York City Health
Guidance Document
New York City's guidance document for operators of residential buildings.

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Guidance Document
OSHA's guidance for workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Resources for Schools, Students, and Families
U.S. Department of Education
Resource Hub
The US Department of Education's resource hub for educational facilities.

Better Buildings Factsheets by Sector
U.S. Department of Energy
Guidance Documents
Better Buildings' fact sheets for hospitality, commercial buildings, retail, and grocery for building operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click MORE to view all energy resources.

Optimizing Sustainability & Wellness: A Guide for Managing Office Buildings During COVID-19
Institute for Market Transformation
Guidance Document
Checklists for increasing occupant health, reducing energy and operations expenses, expanding future opportunities, and increasing building performance.

COVID-19 White Paper
Taylor Engineering
Guidance Document
Discusses the effectiveness and energy impacts of HVAC transmission mitigation strategies.

Better Buildings Factsheets by Sector
U.S. Department of Energy
Guidance Documents
Better Buildings' fact sheets for hospitality, commercial buildings, retail, and grocery for building operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click MORE to view all HVAC resources.

ASHRAE Resources
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers
Resource Hub
This resource hub is a one-stop resource for all of ASHRAE's guidance on reopening, buildings, filtration & disinfection, and transportation. Press MORE to see additional ASHRAE resources such as sector-specific guidance and best practices for re-opening buildings.

COVID-19 (Corona Virus) and Air Filtration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
National Air Filtration Association
Guidance Document
FAQs on building filtration, including filter ratings, UV lamps, air purification, and portable filtration systems.

COVID-19: FAQ for Residential Buildings
New York City Health
Guidance Document
New York City's guidance document for operators of residential buildings.

COVID-19 Guidance Directory
REHVA Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations
Resource Hub
Visit this resource center for courses, webinars, guidance documents, and a calculator to estimate the effect of ventilation on COVID-19 airborne transmission.

COVID-19 White Paper
Taylor Engineering
Guidance Document
Discusses the effectiveness and energy impacts of HVAC transmission mitigation strategies.

Improving Indoor Air Quality in California Schools
UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center
Guidance Document
Guidance for ventilation and filtration in educational facilities.

Potential application of air-cleaning devices and personal decontamination to manage transmission of COVID-19
United Kingdom Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies
Guidance Document
Discusses potential application of air-cleaning devices to reduce coronavirus transmission.

Better Buildings Factsheets by Sector
U.S. Department of Energy
Guidance Documents
Better Buildings' fact sheets for hospitality, commercial buildings, retail, and grocery for building operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Click MORE for all waste system and plumbing resources.

    Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    American Water Works Association
    Resource Hub
    AWWA's resources for reducing risks from water stagnation in under-occupied buildings.

    ASHRAE Guidelines and Standards
    American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers
    Guidance Document
    ASHRAE's general guidance for reducing Legionella risks on building water systems. See an additional ASHRAE resource on standards for reducing Legionella risks on building water systems below.

    Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation
    Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
    Guidance Document
    CDC's guidance to reduce the risks of mold, legionella, and lead and copper contamination after temporary shutdowns of buildings.

    Information on Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Guidance Document
    EPA's guidance for reducing risks associated with water stagnation in under-occupied buildings.

     

    COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS AND WEBINARS

    The webinars below bring together building experts and partners who discuss and provide updates on relevant resources, research and technologies.

    Upcoming Events:

    Fault Detection and Diagnostics in the Age of COVID-19
    Thursday, January 14, 2021 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
    Fault detection and diagnostics is the process of using building operational data to identify system and equipment faults and optimization opportunities by using algorithms specific to the building systems. What strategies can be applied to support a healthy efficient building operation under “pandemic-mode” & what are the consequences?

    Minimizing Infectious Disease Spread in Buildings: How HVAC Guidance has Evolved
    Monday, January 25, 2021 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
    Guidance on how to best manage HVAC systems to minimize the spread of infectious diseases has evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. William Bahnfleth will revisit his previous presentation on Managing HVAC Systems to Reduce Infectious Disease Transmission and discuss what has changed since May.

    Recorded Webinars:

    Learning From Building Operations During COVID-19
    As the pandemic continues to evolve, building managers are considering modifying building operations to minimize the risk of disease transmission. This discussion provided updates on relevant outcomes in research, highlighted sanitation best practices, and identified investments that can enhance energy efficiency to produce healthier buildings.

    Better Plants Online Learning Series: Energy Management During a Pandemic
    The pandemic has had wide-ranging impacts on how we manage energy, find opportunities and implement projects. This webinar highlighted how various companies are strategically modifying their industrial energy management programs and systems to be successful going forward.

    Building-to-Grid Integration in the Context of COVID
    The Better Buildings Alliance Renewables Integration Team focused its team call on building-to-grid integration in the context of COVID and how the pandemic is accelerating the transition to grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs).
     

    Getting Ready for Re-opening: Commissioning Experts Discuss Essential System Checks
    Commissioning experts Geremy Wolff and Jesse Sycuro of McKinstry discussed recent activity and lessons learned from the buildings they are helping to re-open.
     

    Lighting & Electrical Technology Research Team Webinar – Germicidal UV Lighting
    UV lighting has become a hot topic with the pandemic as a means to disinfect buildings and surfaces from viruses and bacteria. Mark Lien, Industry Relations Manager of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), will present on germicidal ultraviolet (UV) lighting.

    Managing Buildings During a Shutdown and Bringing Them Back Online
    In this presentation, the speakers discussed their experiences reoccupying building with attention to climate considerations and building use.
     

    Managing HVAC Systems to Reduce Infectious Disease Transmission
    Dr. Bahnfleth provided a critical review of guidance published by ASHRAE and other built environment organizations and discussed their relationship to recommendations of science and health-focused organizations like WHO. Dr. Bahnfleth provided expert insight based on the best research for operations to help mitigate risks.

     

    Featured Blogs on COVID-19:

    Visit the  Beat Blog to learn more about how Better Buildings Partners are approaching COVID-19 safety.

     

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