On April 17, the Center for Green Schools and the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program cohosted a webinar titled "Unanswered Questions: ASHRAE 241 and CDC Ventilation Guidance for Schools" to answer some of the most pressing questions about ASHRAE Standard 241 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ventilation guidance for schools. Panelists from the ASHRAE 241 committee and the CDC joined to share updates and highlights regarding the latest ventilation guidelines for school buildings.

For context, ASHRAE Standard 241 sets a baseline requirement focused on mitigating the risk of disease transmission in new and existing buildings. ASHRAE Standard 241 emphasizes the importance of preventative maintenance, enhanced filtration and regular building assessments as key components of building readiness planning for infection control. It is important to note that the purpose of the standard is not to establish overall requirements for acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) or to provide risk assessment based on long-range transmission. Highlights from this new standard include guidance for implementing an infection risk management mode (IRMM), updated occupancy-based metrics to quantify equivalent clean airflow (ECA) and effectiveness and safety testing standards for air-cleaning technology.

Highlights from the panel Q&A

A Q&A with the panelists offered an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Highlights from the Q&A include:

While ASHRAE Standard 241 is not a required building code, it is a comprehensive preparation tool. Although it is not codified code, this standard provides effective guidance and supplementary tools for building readiness planning so that building owners can be prepared to respond during infection risk events.
Any organization can use this standard. The standard focuses on prioritizing, planning and looking at existing equipment to figure out how to reduce risk, which makes it a usable and proactive tool for all organizations.
Implementing the principles of ASHRAE Standard 241 doesn’t have to break the bank. Many of the strategies recommended to achieve target ECA rates and reduce airborne viral transmission—such as effective heating, ventilation and air-conditioning maintenance and operation; filter replacements; and retrocommissioning—result in energy savings and improved system performance.
The standard can be used as a preventative measure. Schools need not wait for an emergency to be declared before working to increase ventilation rates and planning for reduced transmission. ASHRAE Standard 241 can be used by schools to reduce risk at specific times, such as when schools are back in session after a break, during respiratory virus season or when absenteeism rates increase due to illness.
The standard incorporates IAQ into the design process. This standard works from the beginning planning stages. By incorporating air quality strategies beginning in the design phases for new construction projects or renovations, a project can avoid postimplementation adjustments and costs. Also, don’t forget to ask your designers to write your building readiness plan!

Resources

A recording of the webinar and related resources are available online. You can

Check out the course page.
Watch the webinar recording.
View the webinar slides.
Access resources related to the webinar.

Get involved by

Signing up for an in-person summit.
Checking out the Center for Green Schools' new School Health Research Library.
Viewing highlights from the new research library on school health. Highlights are straightforward summary documents that can be shared with school decision-makers, staff or community members on particulate matter, PFAS and volatile organic compounds.

Panelists

Thank you to our panelists:

Dr. Marwa Zaatari, DZine Partners and ASHRAE 241 committee
Meghan McNulty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and ASHRAE 241 committee
Dr. Kenneth Mead, CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Watch the webcast to learn more

Webinar panelists outline newest school ventilation guidelines