If you are unfamiliar with ASHRAE Standard 241-2023: Control of Infectious Aerosols (241), keep reading for a basic introduction. Developed by ASHRAE at the request of the White House, this standard was created in just six months. Its goal? To offer an alternative solution to widespread shutdowns in the event of another pandemic.
Prior to 241, standards like 62.1, 62.2, and 170, focused on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate levels when it comes to IAQ . These standards are typically focused on outside air and air exchanges to improve IAQ through dilution and filtration. However, standard 241 introduced pathogens as a critical component of IAQ.
VOCs and particulate levels can be measured by sensors, with either automated or human responses triggered to address the underlying cause of an imbalance. Furthermore, most VOCs are putrid, and people instinctively move away from them. But pathogens are silent, and potentially deadly. People in the incubation period of a virus can be contagious and infect people in the spaces they occupy long before showing symptoms.
While 241 is still very new, the impact on future facility development is unquestionable. Between the awakening of the pandemic and the release of 241, both people within the industry and in the general public are more aware and concerned about pathogens than ever. 241 is a big step in the right direction and brings infectious aerosols to the forefront of all conversations within ASHRAE about IAQ.
This blog is the first of a series highlighting the details of 241, so make sure to check out the rest of the series. You can also visit – https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/ashrae-standard-241-control-of-infectious-aerosols – to learn more and purchase the full standard.
