| answer text |
<p>The Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST) has developed a high-level management
plan to identify and control risks relating to air conditioning systems.</p><p>Specific
industry guidance on how to operate and use air conditioning systems to minimise the
spread of covid-19 has been issued by the Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers (CIBSE). PMST has applied this guidance and also follow the UK Planned Preventive
Maintenance Standard SFG20, which has a specific revision dealing with covid-19. This,
in combination with PMST’s management arrangements constitutes a suitable and sufficient
assessment of the risk.</p><p>Regarding the operation of the systems, wherever buildings
have mechanical ventilation PMST has switched air conditioning units to fresh air
only, so there is no recirculation of air from the indoor environment – it is all
discharged into the atmosphere outside. PMST is also modifying controls strategies
to run plant at 100% 24/7 to ensure greater air exchanges.</p><p>There is no current
evidence of ventilation systems transmitting covid-19 at present. The supply air ductwork
brings filtered fresh air from outside the buildings into the environment and the
extract ductwork discharges air to outside; therefore, there will be no risk to building
occupants as no extracted air is recirculated.</p>
|
|
