Operating A Pharmaceutical HVAC System In A Post COVID-19 Environment

By Louis Bruno, P.E., IPS

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced pharmaceutical companies and other life sciences organizations to be extra vigilant in the sanitization of their facilities, specifically, in mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in interior spaces — research laboratories, production facilities, office spaces, and more.

A vital aspect of this mitigation is the building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Proper air circulation, particulate filtration, and humidity control all contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for employees and prevent sterile surfaces and materials in the building from being compromised.

This article examines how existing HVAC systems can be retrofitted – or new systems designed – to mitigate the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens.