Air-Conditioning & COVID 19 Pandemic- AC usage During COVID 19, AC Temperature during COVID-19

COVID 19 Pandemic

The COVID 19 pandemic, commonly known as CORONA, has engulfed the world and India is no exception. The first infection was reported in December 2019 and within a span of three months almost all countries got affected. The COVID-19 virus belongs to the CORONA family to which SARS epidemic 2002 and MERS 2012 also belong and was taken as reference for the study. As of today, we continue to get information from the research made by many countries. The COVID19 virus affects the respiratory track and starts with symptoms like the common flu. This virus is a mutated strain and as of today no vaccine is available.

From the study data available as of today, the virus is not airborne and spreads through coughing and sneezing in form of droplets. Recent study has also indicated that the virus spreads thru speaking. Humidity has an effect on the spreading of virus. At a lower humidity, the droplets evaporate fast get reduced in size and travel longer distance. The virus becomes inactive at 56°C after 30 min exposure time.

Room Air conditioning

The end user in the residential use is known, constant and identifiable, unlike in offices and public spaces like malls and theaters where the end user is moving and is a temporary occupant. The guidelines for comfort, which are evolved over years are 24 to 30°C, RH of 40 to 60 and adequate fresh air.

Room air-conditioners are installed for a single room application, usually bedroom and at times in living room. It is a private space of one or two individuals extended to a family. The users are constant, and the health history and behavior are known, predictable and controllable and there is remote to negligible possibility of COVID 19 virus contamination.

In the summer, the users will be at higher health risk with the ambient temperatures above 40°C in hot and dry climate, and due to high humidity in costal India and the composite climate zones.

Room AC can be used with following guidelines:

The temperature should be kept between 24 to 30°C, 24 for humid climate and 30 for dry
The recommended humidity is between 40 and 60. In dry climate where humidity is less it is recommended to increase the humidity by keeping a water in a shallow pan
Ventilate* the room adequately by slightly keeping the window open during running with exhaust fan running in the adjacent bathroom if possible
Keep the doors and windows open when AC is not in operation
Increase the frequency of filter cleaning
In case of breakdown contact authorized dealer only

* Study made Rehva Europe, ASHRAE US, ISHRAE India and SHASE Japan have advised ventilation as a part of operation under COVID 19 pandemic.

Renowned doctors and epidemiologist have indicated in the TV interviews and in the print media that the use of Room AC safe for the residential application. They have cautioned that in the offices and spaces where air is recirculated using ducted AC and there is possibility of spread by asymptomatic person and adequate ventilation should be used.

Room AC (Wall mount and Window type) Reboot
FAQs

Is CORONA disease air borne?

The studies till date are not suggesting that the virus is air borne. The virus is propagated through the coughing, sneezing and at times speaking by an infected person and the droplets travel a distance of ~ 2 m and settle on the surface. If a non-infected person comes in contact with the droplets he is likely to get infected. Smaller droplets may travel longer distance with draft of air.
Does CORONA virus get transmitted by Room AC?

As the virus is not air borne as per the studies till date, Room AC do not transmit the virus.
Is it safe to use Room AC at home?

Yes, it is safe to use Room AC at home, as the house is a private place with negligible possibility of an infected person coming to your home under the present circumstances of lockdown and social distancing.
Is it safe to use Room AC in my office?

It depends on what type of office you have and what precautions are being taken to screen the office staff and visitors. If your office is small with few known people with screening it is safe. In case of large number of incoming visitors, it is essential to take higher precautions. The staff and the visitors should follow the guidelines of government such as use of sanitizers and masks to reduce the risk. The possibility of space getting contaminated is same with or without Room AC. AC can be used with adequate ventilation using exhaust fans.
Can the Room AC in restaurants and show rooms/ shops?

The no of visitors in a restaurant or shops high. The density is also high. AC as such does not add to the contamination. Rearrange the workplace and tables to maintain the social distancing norm. AC can be used with adequate ventilation using exhaust fans.
What temperature setting should be kept?
The suggested default temperature setting by BEE is 24 Deg C. The comfort conditions depend on the ambient humidity. It is recommended that 24-30 Deg C should be maintained.

Additional Guidelines:

Maintain relative humidity between 40 % and 70%.
- In Dry climates, do not allow relative humidity to fall below 40%, water evaporating from a pan to be kept in room will increase if relative humidity falls below 40%
- Recirculation of cool air by room AC, must be accompanied by outdoor air intake through slightly open windows and exhaust by natural exfiltration
- Fresh air intake through a fan filter unit will prevent outdoor dust entry and exhaust through kitchen and toilet exhaust fan must be kept operational
Any extra precautions recommended?

For residential application it is advisable to keep window slightly open with the exhaust fan in the attached toilet block running for ventilation. Keep the room well ventilated by keeping doors and windows open whenever the AC is not running.
Any special service suggested?

Always get the servicing done thru authorized technician of the company. Insist on the identity card and ask him if he has followed the guidelines of his company for social distancing and sanitization for himself and the tools he is carrying.
Can the Room AC be used in restaurants and show rooms/ shops?

The no of visitors in a restaurant or a shops are high. Therefore, the density is also high. AC as such does not add to the contamination. Rearrange the workplace and tables, adhering to the social distancing norm. AC can be used with adequate ventilation using exhaust fans.
Is COVID-19 air borne?

The studies till date do not suggest that the virus is air borne. The virus is propagated through coughing, sneezing and by being in close proximity with the infected person as the droplets can travel a distance of ~ 2 m and can settle on the any surface. If a non-infected person comes in contact with the droplets they are likely to get infected. Smaller droplets may travel longer distance with air.

Commercial-Air-Conditioning

Commercial Air-Conditioning Systems

Air conditioners are used to control the temperature and humidity to give comfort to the users and has been one of the contributor in sound health of the users specifically in the tropical climatic conditions like India.

Benefits of Using Commercial AC System

ASHRAE/ISHRAE guidelines suggests dilution of air/ controlled air flow pattern /pressurization and filtration along with temperature & humidity controls.
Daikin Commercial AC systems are safe and suited to use for multiple applications whether it is residential or commercial (hospitals, offices etc).
It includes mechanical ventilation & filtration that draws adequate fresh air inside the air conditioning area and maintains healthy environment.
With wide variety of indoor units options from Daikin, one can create different zones for larger area thus helping in creating isolated zones. Each zone can be controlled
separately with individual control options and independent air circulation patterns.
Touchless individual control is also through various options available from Daikin including control options available by smart phones.

Operational Guidelines

TEMPERATURE: The temperature should be kept between 24- 30 deg C, 24 Deg C for humid zones and 30 Deg C for dry zones. Daikin AC system can control precise temperature and thus ensuring no under or overcooling.

HUMIDITY: 40%-70%. The Daikin AC System helps in maintaining humidity as er recommendations.

VENTILATION: Minimum 2 Air change per hour (ACPH) is recommended. Fresh air can be added as per guidelines given by ISHRAE/ASHRAE. With the use of Air Treatment Equipment (Outdoor air processing unit & Heat reclaim ventilator), fresh air provisions can be given to maintain indoor air quality.

The best action to limit risk of COVID-19 infection by air is to ventilate indoor environments with outdoor air as much as possible. Mechanical ventilation systems and air conditioning systems, which provide ventilation, can perform this function more effectively than simply opening the windows, because they improve the quality of the outdoor air with filtration.

If fresh air is not provided, it is advisable to introduce a fresh air duct attached to a central inline fan filter unit and distribute the fresh air by grilles into the space or near the indoor units. For Cassette Units, the fresh air duct may be connected to the available port of the Cassette Unit.

AIR MOVEMENT: Zonal arrangements for bigger areas to ensure isolated air movement in that zone only. Same can be achieved by different choices of indoor units like:

High wall unit
Round flow Cassette unit
Double flow cassette unit
Corner cassette unit
Floor standing unit
Low static Fan coil unit
Ducted units
Air handling unit connectivity

Additional Guidelines

Air Filters must be kept clean
Provide adequate Ventilation (Fresh Air and Exhaust)
Inspect and clean the indoor unit Coils
Toilet and Kitchen Exhaust Fans must be kept in operating mode
In buildings without mechanical ventilation systems it is recommended to actively use openable windows

Commercial AC System during the CORONA pandemic
FAQs

Is CORONA disease air borne?

The studies till date are not suggesting that the virus is air borne. The virus is propagated through the coughing, sneezing and at times speaking by an infected person and the droplets travel a distance of ~ 2 m and settle on the surface. If a non-infected person comes in contact with the droplets he is likely to get infected. Smaller droplets may travel longer distance with draft of air.
Does CORONA virus gets transmitted by Commercial AC System?

As the virus is not air borne as per the studies till date, Commercial AC System do not transmit the virus.
Is it safe to use Commercial system?

Yes it is very safe to use Daikin Commercial Air conditioning Systems. It is not a closed system, in fact these systems are very well suited to provide ventilated, well regulated air flow with optimum temperature & humidity conditions for residential & commercial spaces.
Is it safe to use commercial AC System during COVID?

Commercial AC System can be used with adequate ventilation using different fresh air provisions. With choice of different indoor units like non ducted (High Wall/Cassette/Floor standing)/ducted (High/medium/low static), it is possible to create separate zones & can maintain indoor air quality as per guidelines issued by government bodies. For details about choice of indoors and zoning please contact Daikin Sales Engineering team.
What settings should be kept while operating air conditioning system?
- Temperature: 24- 30 deg C, 24 Deg C for humid zones and 30 Deg C for dry zones.
- Humidity: 40%-70%
- Ventilation: Minimum 2 Air change per hour (ACPH).
- Air movement: Zonal arrangements for bigger areas to ensure isolated air movement in that zone only.
How can quality of indoor air can be improved under COVID conditions?

Diluting inside air by running air conditioner & adding fresh air continuously.

Air purifiers can be added as additional precaution.

Air-conditioning & Summers No-Distancing