SAN FRANCISCO, CA — It’s a given that coils play a critical role in air-handling systems and indoor air quality. That’s why they were included at ASHRAE’s IAQ 2001 Conference, held here in November. They were most often mentioned in studies whose main focus was on ductwork, duct liner, and fungal growth.
In this study, the researchers developed methods to measure surface contamination (sometimes a sticking point for such studies). “The room air-handling system was activated for five minutes and background measurements of airborne culturable P. chrysogenum [Pneumonium chrysogenum] spores and P. chrysogenum spore-sized particles were taken in the room using one Anderson sampler and the APS [aerodynamic particle sizer]. A contaminated duct section was carefully inserted into the duct downstream of the blower, upstream of the first supply riser, and the hvac system was activated for five minutes. During this time, measurements [of the spores and particles] were taken.