Indoor Air Quality System Approach for a Post-Covid Future

Indoor Air Quality System Approach for a Post-Covid Future

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) System Approach for a Post-Covid Future

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JOSEPH McCABE, PE, LEED AP Principal - Mechanical EI, a DPIS Builder Services company AARON HOLDEN, EIT-BSME Director of Engineering EI, a DPIS Builder Services company

TED KONECHNE President, East Region DPIS Builder Services

DATE ISSUED: FEBRUARY 2021

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Indoor Air Quality

Contents INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 FILTRATION............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3-4 ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT.................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 HYDRO-PEROXIDES. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 CONCLUSION. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

About The Authors Joseph McCabe, PE, LEED AP Joe works at Ei and is a licensed Profes- sional Engineer with a broad range of ex- perience on new development, renovation, and expansion projects. He possesses specialized training and experience in the mechanical design of HVAC and plumbing systems for a wide range of residential and commercial projects. His primary strengths include project management, design and engineering, and consult- ing for both HVAC systems and plumb- ing design with additional skills in LEED design compliance, performance-based solutions, fire protection and life safety, design development and implementation, as-built documentation, progress report- ing, feasibility studies, and cost bid evalu- ations. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Aaron Holden, EIT-BSME Aaron Holden is the Director of Engineering for Ei. He works with home builders, archi- tects, and developers, and coordinates the team of over 50 engineers, designers, and project managers to provide mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy compli- ance construction documents with engi- neering calculations for new residential and commercial construction. Aaron has been asked to present at national indus- try events including the EEBA (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance) Confer- ence, the Energy Star Partner Meeting, the Housing Innovation Alliance Summit and the RESNET Annual Conference. He is also an advisor for the ENERGY STAR® for New Homes program. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering at Montana State University.

Ted Konechne Ted is the President of the East Region of DPIS and served as the Vice President of Engineering at Ei. Ted has been in the Residential New Construction business for decades beginning with working for Konechne Building, his family’s business, after serving in the US Air Force. Ted worked with the NAHB (National Associa- tion of Home Builders), Pulte Homes, and Beazer Homes before changing careers and entering the HVAC business where he developed a full-scale multi-location HVAC design and installation business within an existing residential new construction plumbing and electrical contracting com- pany in Texas. He also served in an execu- tive operations leadership role with a large single market HVAC design and installation business located in Dallas. Ted has worked closely with the EPA and ENERGY STAR® for Homes programs and has presented at ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America), EEBA (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance), and RESNET events na- tionwide.

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MERV Air Filtration

Introduction Since the invention of modern air conditioning in 1902 we have been focused on controlling our indoor environment. The original need for air conditioning was focused on Latent loads (grains of moisture in the air) in a printing factory. Dry paper absorbs ink better than damp paper, and so keeping the air dry was the goal. A secondary benefit of the invention was sensible temperature management (the room was cooler when it was drier). In the years that followed, the advancement of controlling the sensible temperature (air temperature in a space) became a primary focus. The V in the acronym “HVAC” represents ventilation, and it is in ventilation where indoor air quality is managed.

Filtration

Historically, ventilation is focused on moving air through the system and the filtration media installed on the machine to manage the quality of the indoor air. It may also mean using an outdoor air source to dilute the indoor air (referred to as a fresh air system). However, prior to the expanded enforcement of ASHRAE 62.2 in residential construction over the last 10 years, the primary job of the filter was to protect the equipment from pollutants in the home and provide some level of air cleaning and filtration.

It is widely accepted that the establishment of the MERV rating scale was a significant advancement for improved health, cost management and design efficiencies. Keep in mind that with higher MERV ratings of the filter, the design will have to allow for larger pressure drops to ensure that the system is able to keep operating static low and maintain the required airflow for cooling and dehumidification of the space it serves. In short, higher MERV ratings will result in lower air delivery if not designed properly (Wikipedia contributors, 2021).

In 1987, ASHRAE developed the MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), the rating scale that is used to measure effectiveness of the selected filtration. Minimum MERV is codified State by State and is mandated in many above code programs such as ENERGY STAR® and LEED. The California 2019 Title 24, Part 6 Energy Code Section 120.1 requires MERV 13 minimum filters be installed in all new home HVAC systems beginning January 1, 2020 (California Energy Commission, 2018). In base code home designs in states other than California, one can expect a minimum of MERV 8 filtration in residential homes and in some cases MERV 11 could be added as an upgrade. In this range, the particulates captured are 1.0–3.0 microns. In advanced designs you may find filtration in the MERV 13 to 16 range, which captures particulates 0.3–1.0 microns (Covid-19 is approximately 0.12 microns in size).

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HEPA & UV

as defined by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) standard adopted by most American industries, remove at least 99.97% of airborne particulates 0.3 micrometers (μm) in diameter (United States Department of Energy, 2021). The primary concerns in designing a system with this type of filtration is its impact on system performance with regard to operating static pressure, in addition to the fact that the HEPA filter requires intense maintenance and monitoring to keep the systems running and performing well.

If a HEPA filtration system is specified in residential design, it should be independent of the primary system. Modern furnaces and fan coils in residential applications assume a design of 0.5 inches of water column as a maximum total external static. Many HEPA systems installed in line with the duct system would present a higher operating static than supported by most manufacturers. However, commercial systems can be ordered and designed including HEPA filtration in its core function (Wikipedia contributors, 2021).

In commercial projects where you have larger volumes of air and very different building uses you will hear the term HEPA filtration. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter which works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke. These systems are not often used in residential design as they are a high-cost item. Where you will see HEPA filters used most effectively is in hospitals, computer “clean rooms” or anywhere small particles need to be removed (Hudson, 2020) 1 (Wedekind, 2020) i . HEPA filters,

Ultraviolet Light

If we agree filtration is the first factor in high quality HVAC sys- tem IAQ design, then we must consider two other principles of design in order to mount an effective defense against poor air quality and ensure mitigation of viruses and other VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) found in modern building systems. Many equipment manufacturers and retail HVAC replacement companies offer UV lights to be installed inside of HVAC systems

to kill viruses and VOC on the indoor coil surface. There are many studies that explain the usefulness of UV light in specific- ity so we will not dive into that technology however we must agree that UV light kills what it can shine on. An improperly installed UV light that does not cover the entire coil surface will not be effective in the elimination of mold or viruses present on the coil surface (Ultraviolet Lamp Systems, 2016).

1 Designers and engineers should reference Standards 62.1 and 170 for information on required filters. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) level filtration is required for some hospital applications such as surgical suites. HEPA filters can remove submicron particles, including some bacteria and viruses, from the airstream. Unfortunately, the better the filters are at removing particulates, the greater the pressure drops across them and therefore the more fan energy is required to move the required air volume through them.

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Active Air Purifiers

Hydro-Peroxides

The third element of an effective indoor air quality strategy is relatively new in the landscape. Commonly referred to as hydro- peroxides, these products act as a whole home active air purifier. Studies have shown that they are highly effective at eliminating mold and pollen; bacteria and fungi; dust and pet dander; including airborne mold spores, viruses, odors, volatile organic compounds, airborne household dust and allergens (Ellis, Fink, & Marsden, 2012). (Please note that hydro-peroxides have not been tested on Covid-19). Some common brand names of this technology are Air Knight IPG, REME HALO, and Air Scrubber. 2 Generally, hydro-peroxide technology works by generating the same ions electronically that are found in nature during

a lightning storm. It is proposed that this is the best way of cleansing the air naturally and creating a healthy environment. “If an electron deficient ion like an oxygen or nitrogen atom is in close proximity to a virus, bacteria, mold spore, etc., it will bond with, and remove, the hydrogen molecule from that virus, bacteria, or mold spore, rendering it incapable of replicating,” (Air Knight, 2020). In short, this technology changes the bacteria, virus, or mold spore on a molecular level effectively ending its ability to reproduce and thus leads to its death.

Photo Credit: Carrier Enterprise

Photo Credit: RGF Environmental Group, Inc.

2 Interested parties may access the individual products named via manufacturers’ websites: https://www.airknightiaq.com/wp-content/uploads/21546200_ ak_brochrure_r3c.pdf, https://www.rgf.com/products/air/reme-halo/, https://www.airscrubberbyaerusca.com/assets/airscrubberaerus_sellsheet.pdf

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IAQ System Approach

Conclusion Ei/DPIS believes in a system approach to IAQ and system de- sign. Therefore, it is our opinion that any IAQ strategy MUST include elements of all three of the components discussed here to be effective in commercial and residential spaces in combat- ting viruses. There is no silver bullet. Any one of the products discussed here will improve air quality but would be far from a systemic solution. To be clear, no company to date has received any type of “Co- vid” certification. It is unclear what will be certified or if the three-layer approach will be recommended. However, without high filtration to remove the particles, and without the ability to kill small airborne particles nor a solution for growth inside the HVAC system and components, it is unlikely that a single ap- proach to IAQ will be successful in providing protection against viruses (ASHRAE, 2021). The limitations of a multi-layer design strategy are that these systems will require a robust maintenance schedule. UV bulbs need to be changed annually, many filters have service lives and depending on the building occupancy may need to be changed every 30 days to maintain optimal effectiveness. Long term hydro-peroxide production will require regular inspection of the device for proper operation. We cannot understate the end user’s role in maintaining the components of any IAQ strategy. Final Thoughts The good news is that all the elements in this strategy exist to- day. The components are in production now and manufactures are improving the quality and ability every day. We as an indus- try are focused on the solutions for long term health and safety of the United States housing market and its population for the years ahead.

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Works Cited

References

Air Knight. (2020). Air Knight IPG with PX5 technology. Retrieved January 2021, from Servicebeaver.com: https://www.servicebeaver. com/product/air-knight-ipg-with-px5-technology/ Allen, J. G. (2017, March 21). Research: Stale Office Air Is Making You Less Productive. United States of America: Harvard Business School Publishing. Retrieved January 2021, from https://hbr.org/2017/03/research-stale-office-air-is-making-you-less-productive ASHRAE. (2021). Technical Resources. Peachtree Corners, Georgia, United States of America. Retrieved January 2021, from https:// www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources California Energy Commission. (2018, December). In 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings, Title 24, Part 6 and Associated Administrative Regulations in Part 1 (pp. 134-145). California, United States of America: California Energy Commission. Retrieved February 4, 2021, from https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/2018publications/CEC- 400-2018-020/CEC-400-2018-020-CMF.pdf Ellis, W. B., Fink, R. G., & Marsden, D. J. (2012). Hydro-Peroxide for Indoor Air Quality. Riviera Beach, Florida, United States of America: RGF Environmental Group, Inc. Retrieved January 2021, from https://www.rgf.com/article/hydro-peroxide-for-iaq/ Hudson, G. P. (2020, May 2). Ventilation Strategies for Healthcare Facilities. HPAC Engineering. Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved January 2021, from https://www.hpac.com/columns/managing-facilities/article/20929501/ventilation-strategies-for- healthcare-facilities Ultraviolet Lamp Systems. (2016). In R. a.-C. American Society of Heating, The 2016 ASHRAE Handbook--HVAC Systems and Equipment (Har/Cdr ed.). United States Department of Energy. (2021, January). High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter Test Facility (FTF). Retrieved from Energy.gov: https://www.energy.gov/ehss/high-efficiency-particulate-air-hepa-filter-test-facility-ftf Wedekind, S. (2020, June 10). Covid-19 Catapults Indoor Air Quality To Top Of The List. Forbes. Retrieved January 2021, from https://www. forbes.com/sites/pikeresearch/2020/06/10/covid-19-catapults-indoor-air-quality-to-top-of-the-list/?sh=7431884d52cd Wikipedia contributors. (2021, January 7). HEPA. Retrieved January 2021, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/HEPA Wikipedia contributors. (2021, January 25). Minimum efficiency reporting value. Retrieved January 2021, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_efficiency_reporting_value

i Many buildings, while coming short of Sick Building Syndrome, might be inadvertently creating less than optimal environments for occupants by limiting ventilation. Recent research has demonstrated that poor indoor air quality has effects on productivity, decision-making, and well-being (Allen, 2017). Buildings are home to many sources of air contamination, including volatile organic compounds (from cleaning agents, furniture, and other materials), and bacteria, mold, and viruses. Poor ventilation exacerbates the presence of these contaminants. Inadequate ventilation in buildings has a long history in the United States and stems from long-held energy conservation standards focused on airtight buildings with minimal airflow. Luckily, the definitions of green buildings are evolving. New technologies are enabling greener buildings to reduce energy consumption and support occupant health and comfort.

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About Ei Ei offers a full suite of engineering, building performance, and quality assurance services to the construction industry for single- and multi-family residential and commercial buildings. Ei is part of DPIS Builder Services (Houston, TX). The combined company is the largest HERS rater and Energy Star provider in the United States, touching over 100,000 homes annually with locations and engineering licensing spanning nearly 20 states from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Together, the combined company offers a full range of third-party engineering services (structural, mechanical, plumb- ing, electrical, fire sprinkler, solar, etc.), energy and sustainability consulting (LEED, Energy Star, 45L tax credits, utility incentives, green building programs, etc.), building performance and inspections and commissioning (energy and water efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, etc), and con- struction quality assurance services (plan review, observations, risk audits, etc.). We are the single source solution in the industry from concept and planning through inspections, certifications and commissioning for code and above-code construction. Ei has the breadth of skills, the depth of experience, and the team capacity to partner with our clients through every aspect of the construction process. With nearly three decades of experience, we have certified more Energy Star homes than anyone on the globe. We are also the largest energy rater in California, certifying more Title 24 homes than any company in the state. We work with nearly all of the top 20 builders in the United States and believe that successful projects are the outcome of maintaining good, long-lasting relationships with clients, providing services that exceed their expectations. At Ei, we partner with our clients to make them successful by reducing risk, cost, and time in construction and help them make high-performance homes durable and affordable. For information contact [email protected]. OUR MISSION Ei Companies Las Vegas, Nevada Ei companies include: • Energy Inspectors, LLC • Ei Engineering, LLC • Ei Risk Management, LLC • ABCO Construction Services, LLC

Our mission is to advance the growth and prosperity of the American building industry by partnering with our clients in meaningful ways. Our goal is to positively impact our clients’ building practices; enhance their financial outcome; and de- liver scalable, repeatable results that will accelerate their busi- nesses. We accomplish this through: • Driving innovation to elevate all aspects of our clients’ expectations. • Committing to achieving the aspirations and objectives of our clients and employees. • Being dedicated to the pursuit of excellence for our clients, our company, and our industry. ENGINEERING CERTIFICATIONS

AWARDS & CREDIBILITY

Ei is a 14 consecutive time and current holder of the ENERGY STAR® Partner Of The Year award. Our company is recognized by the EPA for pioneering efforts, winning the National Leadership Award for Indoor Air Quality seven times, and we have been awarded the WaterSense® Partner of the Year award for overall excellence in promoting water-efficiency six times. Ei is also one of a select group of companies chosen by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to fill the role of LEED™ for Homes Provider.

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