September Virtual Lunch Meeting - Air Filtration in Response to COVID-19

September Virtual Meeting

TOPIC: Air Filtration in Response to COVID-19 

Presented By: Kathleen Owen

(Registration Link will be sent in Confirmation Email)

Presentation Summary:   

COVID-19 is airborne. Filtration can be used to clean the COVID-containing particle from the air to help reduce exposure. This talk introduces the basics of air filtration theory, filter performance, and the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force (ETF) recommendations for filtration in buildings. I’ve included HVAC applications and in-room air cleaners as well as a short discussion of other options. You will learn how filters work, what filters will help with COVID, and how to choose options to get layered coverage to reduce COVID exposure for your commercial building, school, and home.

Speaker's Bio:

Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow and member of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, is a past Chair of ASHRAE 52.2 (the MERV test) and of SSPC 145 for gas-phase air cleaner testing. She was the research chair for TC2.3 gaseous contaminants for 10 yr. With 35 years of particulate, gas-phase, and bioaerosol air cleaner testing, test method development, and related IAQ research, Kathleen is now a consulting engineer for Owen Air Filtration Consulting.  Current projects include ASHRAE round robin testing for both 52.2 (1784-RP) and 145.2 (1720-RP) and the ASHRAE project looking to bring EAC (PCO, BPI, etc.) into the gas-phase test method (1838-RP). Her BS in Chemical Engineering is from NCSU, and her MS in Air Pollution Control engineering is from UNC-Chapel Hill.