Industry resources on COVID-19

This information has been provided by ACRIB (The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board) of which IOR is a member.  It is provided as a link to resources that may be helpful for those working to provide safe and reliable HVAC building services and refrigeration essential to supporting hospitals, buildings, food chain, IT infrastructure and industrial processes. UK Government has not issued specific guidance for the operation of mechanical ventilation or air conditioning although UK trade associations are in regular contact with relevant departments on this issue. We will add extra links or information as they become available.

Note IOR and ACRIB take no responsibility for the accuracy of the content of external websites, links are provided for information only, for businesses and individuals to make their own risk-based operational decisions.

CIBSE have updated guidance on ventilation. Version 4 of the guidance is here: https://www.cibse.org/coronavirus-covid-19/emerging-from-lockdown

UK government Strategic Advisory Group for Emergencies Environment and Modelling Group guidance on ventilation. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-role-of-ventilation-in-controlling-sars-cov-2-transmission-30-september-2020

Construction Leadership Council guidance on working safely on construction sites

HSE guidance on Equipment legally subject to Written Schemes and on Examination and Testing of Pressure Equipment

The BESA page: https://www.thebesa.com/covid19/ - also includes list of distributors still open for spares, daily webinars at 12 midday open to all with good advice on employers’ and employee’s rights, and key worker template letters. 

Guidance on maintenance and shut down of cooling systems in buildings.  The UK Government has advised that essential maintenance and repair remains important work and government guidelines must be followed but with many buildings closed BESA have produced SFG20 Building Maintenance under COVID-19 as a free download https://www.thebesa.com/media/837544/sfg20-building-maintenance-guidance-covid-19.pdf

The REFCOM page: https://www.refcom.org.uk/blog/refcom-coronavirus-updates/

The Skillcard page: https://www.skillcard.org.uk/covid19/

ASHRAE (USA) page Covid-19 Preparedness Resources: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources .The London and Southeast ASHRAE group have recorded a webinar presentation by Prof Ljubomir Jankovic, the University of Hertfordshire on Air Borne infectious diseases and building HVAC services, it covers building operation for owners and engineers. http://www.ashrae-london.com/events5.html.

BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation) questions page on Key Worker status: http://bfff.co.uk/forum/forum/key-workers/ including template letters. Also guidance on freezing product to preserve life of excess stocks, and is co-ordinating redistribution of surplus frozen and chilled foods.

Build UK has a page dedicated to safe construction site working https://builduk.org/coronavirus/ and  download site operating guidance, and a pdf on contractual issues

CCF (Cold Chain Federation) have a COVID-19 updates page here https://www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/voice/the-cold-chain-blog/latest-coronavirus-information/ and are offing a weekly webinar bulletin for latest news https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2073569384488427277.  New Guidance published on keeping workers safe in cold stores.

European Federation of Heating and Ventilation Engineers, REHVA, guidance page https://www.rehva.eu/activities/covid-19-guidance?no_cache=1covers how to operate and use building services in areas with coronavirus outbreak to prevent virus spread.

BSRIA guide to air permeability in isolation facilities BTS3201 (free) https://www.bsria.com/uk/product/BA8E4D/air_permeability_testing_of_isolation_facilities_bts_32018_a15d25e1/

AIRAH (Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Airconditioning and Heating)  FAQ : https://www.airah.org.au/Web/Industry_Leadership/Update_on_coronavirus/Common_questions_about_COVID-19/AIRAH/Navigation/Industry_leadership/Coronavirus_information/Common_questions_about_COVID-19.aspx

UK Government Business Support information

Recently announced support packages for businesses and individuals

https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/