New Alternative Care Site Guidebook Available to Help Respond to the Rising Need for Hospital Beds due to COVID-19
New Alternative Care Site Guidebook Available to Help Respond to the Rising Need for Hospital Beds due to COVID-19
Guidebook Developed by a Joint Task Force Established by the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATLANTA (November 20, 2020) – As many communities are setting up alternative care sites (ACS) in response to spikes in COVID-19, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force announced the availability of the Alternate Care Site HVAC Guidebook, which was developed by the ASHRAE Alternate Care Sites Task Force.
The task force was convened upon the request to the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide engineering recommendations, solutions, and guidance to address the HVAC systems for ACS.
ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force healthcare team member, David Eldridge, PE, BEAP, BEMP, HBDP, GGA, LEED AP, and Alexander Zhivov, Ph.D., FASHRAE, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineer Research and Development Center, co-chaired the ASHRAE Alternate Care Sites Task Force.
“Our work over several months has resulted in a guidebook that will be useful in current and future efforts to address the demand for additional hospital beds in combatting COVID-19,” said Eldridge. “This has been a collaborative initiative from the start and we want to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as military and private engineering experts who came together to develop this timely resource.”
“This guide was developed in response to the growing need for flexible patient care space to be deployed in locations where permanent hospital beds are insufficient for the number of COVID-19 positive patients needing care,” said Zhivov. “The guidebook provides recommendations for applying standards which are used for permanent facilities to temporary sites under less than ideal conditions or with time, budget and technical feasibility constraints.”
The ACS HVAC guide is primarily applicable to host sites with large open spaces such as convention centers and other large spaces. It is also applicable to the conversion of smaller facilities with open areas such as school gymnasiums.
Specific recommendations include guidance for design requirements, air flow, filtration, space conditions and methodology for identifying which mechanical system approaches may be pursued knowing that most ACS must prioritize certain features due to limited time, budget, and site characteristics.
To view the complete Alternative Care Site HVAC Guidebook and other COVID-19 resources, visit ashrae.org/COVID-19.
- Written by Mss14199
ASHRAE Tech Hour - Earn 1 PDH Credit per Video
ASHRAE Tech Hour brings you the latest technical content presented by some of ASHRAE’s brightest minds. Tech Hour videos are just one hour, worth one PDH*, and conveniently available through the ASHRAE 365 app of the website below. Download ASHRAE 365 on the App Store or Google Play. To find out more information, follow the link below to the ASHRAE Society Website
https://www.ashrae.org/professional-development/tech-hour-videos
*Due to the cancellation of many in-person ASHRAE Chapter meetings and the DL program, the PDH period for Tech Hours has been extended through December 31, 2020
Tech Hour #1: Optimize Occupant Health, Building Energy Performance and Revenue through Indoor-Air Hydration Presented by Stephanie Taylor, M.D., M. Arch., Taylor Healthcare Inc., CEO
Tech Hour #2: Where have All the Ethics Gone? Presented by Richard H. Rooley, FREng, Rooley Consultants
- Written by Mss14199
November - Chapter History
NORTHEAST CHAPTER HISTORY REPORT
What makes 100%? What does it mean to give more than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who give more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give more than 100%.? Here is a mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions: If you use the following:
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15, P=16, Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11= 98%
And: K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%
But A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100%
And B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20=103%
And look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
Now you can conclude with mathematical certainty that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close and Attitude will get you there, it is the Bullshit and Ass Kissing that will put you over the top. You now know why Politicians are where they are. (Thanks to Eric Edman, Boston Chapter Historian for this mathematical formula)
Chapter History & Past Presidents night is planned for December. The Life Members night is planned for April. More details will be forthcoming as the dates approach. It is possible that Society President Chuck Gulledge will be attending one of our meetings.
Submitted by Chapter Historian,
Stan Westhoff (11/12/20)
- Written by 009StanWesthoff
Research Promotion (RP): Kick Off Message
Welcome all to a new calendar year of ASHRAE! It will be a unique year for sure, but also an interesting one for our industry as well.
COVID-19 is impacting all of our lives in many ways, including influencing how we are designing new HVAC systems and/or retro-fitting solutions into existing systems. There is a lot of data to process related to the contagion and a lot of products coming to market that say they can combat infectious diseases. With this way of thinking being new to many of us, it is important that we get reliable research performed to vet the good from the poor, and get informed guidance from industry leaders in developing standards, such as ASHRAE.
Contributing to ASHRAE’s Research Promotion (RP) campaign is a great way to ensure that funding continues for this important research. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has disrupted a few of our normal RP fund raising techniques, such as golf tee flags and vendor tables at meetings. The RP committee is committed to discovering new approaches and will implement new strategies in the future. However, donating doesn’t need to occur at an event. It is as simple as going to ASHRAE.ORG/CONTRIBUTE.
The Northeast Chapter has an RP fund raising goal of $11,500 for this year and an immediate goal of hitting 30% ($3,450) by December 1st.
Our Chapter is well on its way to achieving Full Circle Plus this year! Chapter Officers, Board of Governors members, Committee Chairs, along with other Chapter members have already contributed to Research Promotion in solidarity.
Please note that donations to RP do not go solely into research. RP funding also goes toward other great elements of ASHRAE such as developing learning and educational programs, scholarships, and the support of Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA).
If you have any questions regarding Research Promotion, please do not hesitate to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thank you for your continued support!
Andrew Wilsey
2020-2021 Treasurer / RP Committee Chair
- Written by awilsey
Get to Know your ASHRAE Board
Get to Know your ASHRAE Board : Octobers Monthly Interview
Starting this ASHRAE year each month one of our many volunteers on our Northeast ASHRAE Board, who help make the Chapter what it is, will be interviewed. Not only will this give our other members an opportunity to get to know them better (especially while we have virtual meetings), but it will also give the opportunity to learn more about what each person is involved in within our Chapter. Learning about the positions within our Chapter Board is a great starting place to getting involved!
This months interview is with Marianne Schumacher, who is our Chapters current Vice President. The questions are the black underline, and her responses are in blue underneath.
1. What is your current role with our ASHRAE Chapter and what does that entail for Board responsibilities?
My currently role with the chapter is VP / Newsletter Editor. Each month I participate in chapter meetings as well as post articles on our chapters website and create the newsletter that gets sent out to each member.
2. How long have you been in the industry / ASHRAE and what experience do you have?
I first joined the HVAC industry after graduating from Clarkson University in 2014. That was also the time I first joined ASHRAE out in the Rochester, NY chapter. For work experience I was first an account manager and helped customers design / provide building automation systems. Within the ASHRAE chapter I also became the Research Promotion Chair. I then transitioned into engineering project layouts for building automation systems and did that for a few years with two different companies which lead me to move to the Albany area. I transitioned roles within my company about a year ago and now support our internal engineers and account managers in use of our internal toolsets. Within our Northeast ASHRAE Chapter, I have been the Research Promotion chair for many years previously and excited to now be in this VP position.
3. What do you enjoy to do in your spare time?
I have lived in the Saratoga Springs area for almost 4 years now since moving out this way and enjoy doing multiple different things depending on the season. I have liked going to ski at the mountains out this way or in VT, hike the ADK’s with my pup named Meeka, and enjoy concerts at SPAC.
4. What is your favorite thing about being involved in ASHRAE?
I have really enjoyed meeting others within the industry and learn about their experiences. ASHRAE is the foundation for our industry’s knowledge base and its great to work alongside people that recognize this and are eager to help promote this organization.
- Written by Mss14199
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