AIRAH has collected a suite of videos, guides and articles that reflect the latest thinking on indoor air quality and preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19. The resources have now been made freely available to help the HVAC&R industry and broader community stay up to date and informed on these vital topics.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, and particularly since the recognition of the critical role of airborne transmission, AIRAH has been curating resources about how HVAC&R systems can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, at AIRAH’s conferences and forums, world-leading experts have provided their insights on the topic.

“One of the benefits of running virtual events has been the ability to more easily record presentations for future reference,” says AIRAH chief executive Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. “Recognising the value of these presentations for a wider audience, we have now packaged them together and are making them freely available through an easy-to-access knowledge hub: the IAQ Assembly.”

Speakers include Professor Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology; Bryon Price, F.AIRAH, from A.G. Coombs; Brett Fairweather, M.AIRAH, from It’s Engineered; Jon Clarke, M.AIRAH, from Dexus; Ian Harwood, F.AIRAH, from PDF Engineering; and Patrick Chambers, Affil.AIRAH, from Stantec.

“These speakers bring different types of expertise,” says Gleeson, “from epidemiology to aerosol physics, from filtration to data analytics, from HVAC engineering controls right through to practical building services strategies. We know that addressing the airborne spread of COVID-19 and improving indoor air quality in general requires a cross-disciplinary approach. AIRAH is committed to fostering this collaboration and building a foundation for this vital and ongoing work.”

As well as the video library, the IAQ Assembly includes guidance materials published by AIRAH, other industry bodies and government; frequently asked questions about indoor air quality and HVAC&R systems; and news stories about COVID-19 and indoor air quality.

“Our knowledge of COVID-19 and indoor air quality has grown rapidly over the past two years – as has public awareness,” says Gleeson. “AIRAH will continue to curate the IAQ Assembly, adding resources and making them freely available. No matter what happens next in the pandemic, knowledge will be key, and that’s what this initiative is all about.”

To access the IAQ Assembly, go to airah.org.au/IAQA