januaryfebruary2021 - 20

HVAC & BUILDING CONTROLS
AUTHOR Walker Jaroch

Clearing the Air on HVAC

What role does your HVAC system play in protecting the public?
THE COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way
everything is thought about in an airport, even all
the way up into the vents. The respiratory nature
of the virus has brought heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) systems into the spotlight
- what role do they play in spreading the virus and
how can they be modified to stop it?
Ryan Meyer, director of planning
and programming for the LehighNorthampton Airport Authority
(LNAA), said that since the pandemic
struck, he's had to think about HVAC
systems more than he ever thought
he would.
Last March, right as the U.S.
was coming under COVID-19's
grip, Meyer said the LNAA was
in the middle of designing a new
security checkpoint for Lehigh Valley
International Airport (ABE).
" We were fortunate to still be
working through design when the
pandemic struck, so we worked hard
to incorporate enhancements in the
design. Basically, it boiled down to:
How do we incorporate more than
just movement of air, introduction
of outdoor air and airf low capacity;
how do we take it one step further? "
he said.
If the project had been started just
a few months early, before the virus
was on the world's radar, Meyer said
the HVAC conversation would have
mostly focused on standard goals of
energy efficiency and comfort.
" Over five years ago we upgraded
one of our main terminal chillers,
which is a critical component to
providing conditioned air throughout
the terminal. That upgrade was due to

the need to replace legacy equipment
that was beyond its useful life. So,
when we did those improvements,
it was more about energy efficiency,
passenger comfort and maintaining
adequate temperatures, " Meyer
recounted.
Meyer and his team weigh options
such as the installation of UV lights
or other proprietar y systems in
conjunction with the HVAC system
to neutralize any airborne pathogens.
" We've definitely thought about
what additional objectives should
be incor porated into the new
construction. And then, in terms of
the existing facilities, the question
really is how can we add specif ic
elements to further clean the air over
the standard HEPA filtration while
meeting our other design objectives
and still ensuring it can fit the space
limitations within the facility, " Meyer
said.
" The COVID-19 pandemic has
required us to evaluate what we can
add to our existing HVAC systems
within the existing space. Would
the improvements be within the
mechanical rooms or incorporated
above the ceiling? Is it replacing
some of the duct work? The different
components that I think could be
done simply requires evaluation. And

20 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

then, ultimately, the cost impacts of
how we could potentially incorporate
the improvements in subsequent
phases. " Meyer continued.

Unique Systems and
Unique Challenges
When thinking about how an airport's
HVAC system can be modified for
the pandemic-era, it's important to
recognize these systems are unlike
those found in other buildings.
" Airports themselves are unique in
januaryfebruary2021

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