Concerns over the potential for coronavirus to spread through air conditioning systems, making them unsafe to use, is raising unnecessary fears says Will Overton of Vectis Refrigeration.
One example of this is a widely reported incident from Singapore suggesting that ‘traces of the virus’ were found in ‘an air duct connected to the room of a patient’ who had tested positive for the virus. This speculated that the natural conclusion was the virus being transferred via the air flowing through the duct, but this did not take into account the likelihood that someone had simply touched the outlet grille and left a trace amount of the virus there.
Will comments:
“Reports of the coronavirus being spread by air conditioning systems is ‘misinformation’, not based on scientific evidence and largely taken out of context.
“The scaremongering this creates is not helping those trying to get to grips with the reality of what is a serious situation”.
Refcom, the UK’s F-gas certification body, has issued a statement to combat what it sees as misinformation, in response to its members such as Vectis Refrigeration receiving calls from concerned clients asking if their air conditioning systems are safe to use with the current COVID-19 alert in the UK.
The advice from Vectis Refrigeration is that whilst a clean ventilation system is an essential part of a healthy building at any time, businesses and organisations with air conditioning systems should at least review current procedures and state of cleaning with their maintenance provider – or call Vectis Refrigeration for advice.
Where any cases of Coronavirus Covid-19 have been confirmed, it is recommended that ventilation systems are cleaned and sterilised to industry best practice levels as a preventative measure during this time.
Whilst the situation is changing rapidly, these recommendations are based on the best advice currently available. As always government and NHS websites should be consulted for any rapidly developing changes to the situation.
Reports of the coronavirus being spread by air conditioning systems is ‘misinformation’, not based on scientific evidence and largely taken out of context.
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The lack of a scientific report proving that air conditioning units are not a transmission mechanism for the coronavirsus also calls in to question
the validity of the statement made by Will Overton of Vectis refrigeration.
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In other words, neither Will Overton or reports from other parts of the world can be relied upon with any surety and as such should be disregarded accordingly.
This is now a case of “could be, but may not be ” transmitted through air con.
Clear as mud
above comment from person unknown with knowledge unknown with no reference – ‘None Given’ seems to be a reference to the amount of brain cells this numpty was given at birth!
jo – please point me in the direction of the scientific report that validates what Will says – as there isn’t one, then my comment is valid
Perhaps you should read the comment before making your own, poorly educated response.
From now on ‘ll “”scientific evidence”” is showed publicly might take months.Use common sense and check for similarities from the past “”””.The bacterium L. pneumophila was first identified in 1977, as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia in a convention centre in the USA in 1976. It has since been associated with outbreaks linked to poorly maintained artificial water systems, particularly cooling towers or evaporative condensers associated with air conditioning and industrial cooling, hot and cold water systems in public and private buildings, and whirlpool spas… It’s already well known that covid 19 can exist nicely in water droplets and fresh to cold temperatures.
In general, there are two ducts that connect to the outside of most commercial properties. One supply’s fresh air to rooms via an air handling unit (AHU) which has banks of filters. The other duct is an extract fan which draws out air. These are to provide for a change of air and remove carbon dioxide calculated based upon room sizes. The only way viruses could be supplied via the AHU is if there was an infected maintenance engineer on the roof of the building, coughing into the air intake and the filters were poorly fitted. Most air conditioning units that are wall mounted basically recycle the room air over a cold coil. There are filters in these too, but they are synthetic plastic type. Not like the cloth type fitted in AHU’s. If you work in an office, with or without a/c, and are in close proximity to others, then your at risk. If you work on the 10th floor and someone on the 11 has it, your not catching it through the ventilation system. Just saying.
do you have the “controlled conditions, scientific report” that validates the claim you are making – that being that A/c units are not a transmission mechanism for this virus in particular – if not, then your view is just that, your view.
I have not commented on any news stories before, but I would like to thank Mr.Overton for the update given. At times like these there is so much negative information and so called ‘experts’ simply working to spread fear and typically doing this without giving their name. If you believe what you say, stand by it and say who you are. I have myself looked into this and the evidence does not suggest any danger from air conditioning if maintained correctly. It needs experts like Mr.Overton to help clarify the situation at times like this, not ‘unnamed’ amateurs giving their views and opinions simply aimed at adding to the fears being spread. Please take a moment to consider the effect negative news has on those working hard to keep vital services going and food on the table for their families and how spreading rumour and negative opinion impacts people. Sue Tolworthy, Newport. (I not only have a name but am also proud to live on the Island).
The bacterium L. pneumophila was first identified in 1977, as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia in a convention centre in the USA in 1976. It has since been associated with outbreaks linked to poorly maintained artificial water systems, particularly cooling towers or evaporative condensers associated with air conditioning and industrial cooling, hot and cold water systems in public and private buildings, and whirlpool spas.