The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week published guidance for improving building ventilation to help protect people from respiratory infections, with a goal of at least five air changes each hour and an upgrade to MERV-13 filters.
Deploying multiple infection prevention and control strategies can optimize the overall effectiveness of ventilation interventions, the CDC said.
Basic strategies include maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as recommended by the manufacturer and updating the systems to meet current standards. Other key steps include regular filter changes and ensuring that filters fit properly.
The CDC also detailed several enhanced strategies, which include the air-change recommendation and upgrading to MERV-13 filters. Steps also include keeping the fan on the "on" position rather than "auto" when people are in the building, adding fresh air, using appropriately sized air cleaners, installing ultraviolet air treatment systems, and using carbon dioxide monitors to track air quality.