24/7/365 Emergency Service: 614.436.4087 – 800.282.6017
Service Matters: Reopening Sterilization and Disinfecting Recommendations
Whether you own a business or run a school, reopening America requires all of us to move forward together to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. As many offices and businesses prepare to return to work, it will be more important than ever to make sure your Back-to-Work Plan includes the proper level of professional cleaning and disinfection of HVAC equipment and domestic water systems. In addition to face coverings, daily health assessments, good hygiene, frequent handwashing and social distancing, we would also recommend preparing your workplace in the following ways:
1.Preventive Maintenance + Sterilization of HVAC Equipment
The CDC has issued several recommendations for effective cleaning of facilities, including specialized cleaning and disinfecting recommendations for facilities with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.
These recommendations include:
- Sterilization of coils
- Filter changes
- Annual preventive maintenance of cooling equipment
Speer Mechanical complies the environmental health and safety needs of all customers. Existing service contract customers will be prioritized when scheduling preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades in the coming weeks and months.
2.Flushing and Disinfecting Domestic Water
- After a period of vacancy or reduced usage, all building owners and managers should revisit their water management program to ensure effective treatment.
- The CDC has provided toolkit that addresses ASHRAE Standard 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems (ANSI approved) and ASHRAE
Guideline 12-2000: Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems. This toolkit includes a worksheet which will help determine if a water management program is necessary and examples of common water problems and how to address them.
Best practices outlined by the CDC, WHO and the Ohio Department of Health are evolving as we learn more about COVID-19. We will keep you updated on the latest recommendations and how it applies to your operation.
For more information, please reference the links below.
Service Matters: Building Operations Recommendations During COVID-19 Pandemic
Speer Mechanical is committed to continuing to provide the best service for our customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease which includes symptoms such as cough, fever, tiredness, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), “COVID-19 primarily spreads through droplets or particles of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes…” Following the guidelines set by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO including following stay at home orders, social distancing, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, installing additional hand sanitation dispensers, and supervising or closing food preparation areas, coffee stations, and drinking fountains will help to flatten the curve and reduce the number of infections.
Many public buildings, considered essential, remain open. This includes food, hardware, drug stores, banks, and healthcare facilities.
Though HVAC systems in non-medical buildings only play a small role in transmission of the disease, systems would circulate the mentioned droplets and particles which could infect someone. Per the guidance from global society, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), Speer Mechanical recommends the following actions for HVAC systems in non-medical buildings:
- Increase outdoor air ventilation (use caution in highly polluted areas); with a lower population in the building, this increases the effective dilution
ventilation per person.- Disable demand-controlled ventilation (DCV).
- Further open minimum outdoor air dampers, as high as 100%, thus eliminating recirculation (in the mild weather season, this need not affect thermal
comfort or humidity, but clearly becomes more difficult in extreme weather).
- Improve central air filtration to the MERV-13 or the highest compatible with the filter rack, and seal edges of the filter to limit
bypass. - Keep systems running longer hours, if possible 24/7, to enhance the two actions above.
- Consider portable room air cleaners with HEPA filters.
- Consider UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation), protecting occupants from radiation, particularly in high-risk spaces such as waiting rooms, prisons and shelters.
Many construction sites already follow many of the guidelines as most, but not all, are outdoors or partially enclosed and are well ventilated and workers already use personal protective equipment including masks and gloves.
There is no vaccine for COVID-19. As a community, we have a responsibility to each other to control the spread of the disease.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/
Center For Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/
Service Matters: Speer Mechanical Response to Coronavirus
I am sure many of you have been following the news regarding the Coronavirus and its spread to the US. In response to this, please read the attached Speer Industries office policy on Coronavirus. Also attached is information from the CDC. What impact the Coronavirus may have on our field operations is under discussion. However, no employee should report to work if they are exhibiting any symptoms that are similar to those of the Coronavirus or believe they have been exposed to the Coronavirus.
Information is changing daily, and the best source for updates is: The CDC: www.cdc.gov
This is an emerging and rapidly evolving situation, and no one knows how this situation will progress and when it will end. We are trying to find a supply of antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, etc., to keep in the office and ask you to wipe down your own work areas every day including keyboards and phones. After using a conference room please wipe down table, chairs, and phone. The cleaning products should remain in the office because they are in limited supply and on backorder. We will try and distribute them next week. Exempt, salaried employees need to retain your vacation time just in case you or a member of your family become ill, area schools close, etc. If this happens, we may be able to consider some work from home options for some positions.
Following the lead from our State Health Department we are advising everyone to not shake hands, please limit your exposure to large groups, and limit all visitor meetings at Speer Mechanical. We will keep you advised of any changes regarding our company policy or operations.
Best regards,
John Harper
President
Speer Mechanical
The Coronavirus is a rapidly spreading virus which causes respiratory illness in infected patients. While the virus has so far been contained in the United States, public health officials warn that it could spread rapidly as the rate of passing the infection is high. Persons infected generally have the following symptoms: fever, muscle pain and dry cough which then leads to shortness of breath and other difficulties in breathing. We are therefore implementing this employment policy to safeguard the health and welfare of all employees; to comply with all local, state and federal health and safety standards; and to ensure the continued general operation of the business.
Preventing the Spread of Infection in the Workplace
We will endeavor to keep the workplace environment clean including the regularcleaning of objects and areas that are frequently used such as bathrooms, meeting rooms, the kitchen and the floors. Frequently touched surfaces on personal items, such as desks, phones and keyboards should be disinfected and cleaned at least twice daily. We cannot rely on the cleaning company to do this so each employee should take care of their own work area.
Unless impeded by a short supply of product, we will make sanitizing hand lotion and sanitizing wipes available throughout the office. We would ask that you utilize these items at least several times each day. We will also direct our cleaning service to sanitize all public areas and surfaces. Employees are encouraged to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially when returning to their office from the outside and before and after eating.
The CDC has recommended the following steps as the most important steps you can take to help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses:
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
4. Stay home when you are sick.
5. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
7. Don’t shake hands.
8. Reduce your exposure to large groups of people.
Unless otherwise notified, our normal attendance and leave policies will remain in place. If you feel sick with fever, cough, have difficulty breathing, have traveled internationally, or were in close contact with someone with coronavirus in the 14 days before you began to feel sick, please alert your health care provider before going to an already scheduled appointment or to the emergency department.
Limiting Travel
The company will suspend all non-essential airline travel. In addition, it may be best to avoid public transportation when possible.
Staying Home When Ill
Many times, with the best of intentions, employees may report to work though they feel ill. We do not want you to report to work if you feel ill or believe you have been exposed to someone with Coronavirus. Until the concern for the spread of Coronavirus is minimized, we require all staff to do the following:
1. Employees are encouraged to monitor their own health. Any employee who exhibits the initial viral symptoms – fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and experiences shortness of breath or other problems breathing – will not be allowed to come to work. Those employees are required to seek medical
advice and be properly tested by a qualified healthcare provider and receive a negative diagnosis for infection.
advice and be properly tested by a qualified healthcare provider and receive a negative diagnosis for infection.
2. Those employees who are required to stay at home may use their vacation days to compensate for loss of work. Telecommuting requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. While not all positions will be eligible, all requests for temporary telecommuting should be submitted to your manager for
consideration. The company reserves the right to require you to work from home, if it is feasible.
consideration. The company reserves the right to require you to work from home, if it is feasible.
3. All employees who have traveled to a country designated by the Center for Disease Control as having a Level 3 Travel Health Notice will be required to remain out of work for at least 14 calendar days and may be required to work from home. If they remain asymptomatic after the 14-day period ends,
they may return to work. Information pertaining to the
they may return to work. Information pertaining to the
Center for Disease Control Travel Health Notices can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
4. All employees who have had close contact or live with someone who
a. ) has contracted the Coronavirus or
b. ) has traveled to a country designated by the Center for Disease Control as having a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, will be required to remain out of work for at least 14 calendar days after the exposure and may be required to work from home. If they remain asymptomatic after the 14-day period ends, they may return to work. Requests for Medical Information and Documentation.
If you are out sick or show symptoms of being ill, it may become necessary to request information from you and/or your health care provider. In general, we would request medical information to confirm your need to be absent, to show whether and how an absence relates to the infection, and to know that it is appropriate for you to return to work. We expect and appreciate your cooperation if medical information is sought.
Confidentiality of Medical Information
Our policy is to treat any medical information as a confidential medical record. Any disclosure of medical information is in limited circumstances with supervisors, managers, first aid and safety personnel and government officials as required by law.
Customer Locations and Policies
All employees shall follow the health and safety directives and protocols that our customers have put in place when on their sites.
Policy Update: March 20, 2020
We are working with our clients, trade partners and suppliers in order to take all necessary precautions to protect our employees, clients, staff, guests and our customers. Speer Mechanical’s policy is to always provide a safe place to work and to conduct all operations in a manner as to provide protection
for all individuals who might encounter these operations, as well as any of our client’s requirements.
for all individuals who might encounter these operations, as well as any of our client’s requirements.
We are following the recommendations of CDC and State of Ohio Department of Health.
Stay at Home if you are Sick
- You must take your temperature every morning before coming to work.
- You cannot come to work if you have a fever.
- You cannot come to work if you have tested positive for COVID19 – until you have been symptom free for 14 days or are cleared in writing by a medical professional.
- You cannot come to work if you have completed a trip to a CDC Categorized Coronavirus Warning Level 3 location.
- You must notify your manager if you have encountered anyone who has tested positive for COVID19
- You must notify your manager if you have encountered anyone who has a fever
Monitor your Health and understand the symptoms of COVID19.
If you do not have a fever but show other symptoms of COVID19 – dry cough, muscle aches, shortness of breath, you are to leave the jobsite and contact your manager.
Jobsite behavior follows the CDC and State of Ohio Department of Health guidelines.
Practice good personal hygiene
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
- If you need to cough or sneeze use a tissue and discard the tissue into the trash. If you do not have a tissue use the crook of your elbow.
- Disinfect your work area.
- Keep your distance from other workers – at least 6 feet of separation.
- Do not share tools and disinfect tools after use.
If you have any questions or concerns about your safety or the safety of your jobsite contact your manager immediately.
Solving the Conundrum of Open Protocols in Building Automation Control Systems
Even with widely available product flexibility for today’s building automation control systems, building owners and facility directors can struggle with the complexity in communications between automation control systems. Effective building automation requires complex communication between all kinds of different building systems—lights, mechanical equipment, security systems—the list seemingly goes on and on.
Historically, proprietary control systems limited product flexibility, and subjected building owners to potentially increased costs by limiting competition. While reliance on strictly proprietary systems is declining (mainly driven by web based solutions), truly open systems can still be challenging.
What Are the Advantages of Industry Standard Protocols?
Advantages of utilizing industry-standard protocols include:
- Readily available updates as technology evolves.
- Support by multiple manufacturers, software vendors, and installers; bringing added flexibility and potential cost savings.
- Ease of communication with building sub-systems such as chillers, lighting, etc.
What Are Some Common, Industry-Standard Protocol Types?
BACnet is a building automation protocol that is an ANSI standard under the auspices of ASHRAE. Products are certified for compliance by the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL). BACnet applications support many building operations including HVAC, lighting, fire protection, and security.
LonWorks is another building automation protocol also accepted by ANSI. It is an international standard, primarily utilized in HVAC and lighting, with some utility and process applications also.
Working Toward Complete Open Protocols in Your Building?
Here are some tips to consider.
- Rely on a systems-integrator partner who is committed to open protocols, non-use of proprietary products, and can guide you through the available choices.
- Use only devices and products that are “certified” by the specific protocol organization. Avoid those devices and products that are only labeled as “compatible.”
- Ask Questions:
- How many vendors support this protocol?
- How will it work with the equipment already in my building?
- Can I add devices later? How much will it cost to do so?
- Are there any licensing fees required?
- How does remote monitoring and alarming work?
- What is the hourly rate for service, programming, etc., and how many support people (techs, engineers, programmers) are available?
- What is guaranteed response time for service?
Need more information? Speer Mechanical is fully committed to supplying our customers with complete open protocol control systems through the utilization of Tridium front end integration, and BTL listed and certified BACnet controllers. Contact us at 614.261.6331.