Ventilation

Ventilation

• What spaces will have air purifiers active? What protocols are available to alert us if these purifiers are disabled or stop working?
  • At the discretion of the manager, air purifiers may be installed where deemed to be effective and necessary. Care should be taken in placement and procurement of additional filtration media should be considered, and manufacturers recommendations should be  followed by staff. District M&O will not be responsible for maintaining personal air filtration devices.
• I've heard different things about personal HEPA filters. Does having a personal HEPA filter on your desk keep you safer?
  • No, if the building HVAC system is working properly, the additional filtration is not required but may make you feel better or safer in your space. Care should be taken in the placement of the unit so that potential virus particles are not distributed to other individuals in the indoor work environment. Also, HEPA filters are sized specific to the room volume. A small filter in a large space or in an area with open windows and doors will not provide effective filtration.
• How does the air filtration and cleaning services being provided at the District Office compare to those at the colleges?
  • The District Office and Owens Drive spaces are being serviced on the same schedule as the college mechanical systems.
• During my office hours, which are about two hours long, will I need to have a break time to help clear the air?
  • A break period is not necessary for a two-hour session with some rotation of individuals coming into the room. 
• Enhanced ventilation/filtration appears to lower the spread of airborne Covid-19. Are there any enhancements being considered or already in place at Chabot College?
  • Based upon our wildfire and woodsmoke policy and procedures, the district has upgraded all filter media to at least MERV 8 filtration, and where possible, installed MERV 13 filtration. These meet the current ASHRAE standards and recommendations.
• Has the HVAC system for all buildings on the Chabot campus been updated? Thank you.
  • Where possible, HVAC systems have been modified to increase outside air and filtration media has been upgraded.
• The Computer Center (room 803) is an older building. Was the HVAC system cleaned and upgraded with HEPA compliance specifications? *MIT study: HVAC may spread the virus, not filter it out. Opening doors would interfere with controlling the walk-in traffic. Can we open the top windows? 
  • Yes, windows can be opened and are encouraged to be when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees outside, and not impacted by winds or other environmental conditions.