In this IAQS Talk, Tony Abate, Chief Technology Officer at Atmos Air, presents the New ASHRAE Standard 241 and it’s impact on the built environment.  

On June 24, 2023, ASHRAE approved the publication of Standard 241-2023 Control of Infectious Aerosols. The purpose of Standard 241 is “to establish minimum requirements for control of infectious aerosols to reduce risk of disease transmission in the occupi­able space of buildings” by defining “the amount of equivalent clean airflow necessary to substantially reduce the risk of disease transmission during infection risk management mode.” This column provides a high-level overview of key aspects of the new standard and a discussion of its historical context and its potential impact on design and opera­tion of buildings to achieve improved indoor air quality (IAQ). Future columns will provide more detailed information on the background and use of the standard.

Key take-aways: 

– In July 2023ASHRAE published Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols,

– This standard is intended to provide guidance to reduce the risk of disease transmissions in buildings,

– A key element of 241, is the defining of “Equivalent Clean Airflow” rates needed to substantially reduce airborne transmission,

– Standard 241 can impact building design and operation to provide overall cleaner and healthier air.