ATLANTA—ASHRAE has published an updated guideline to assist in control of legionellosis associated with building water systems. ASHRAE Guideline 12-2020, Managing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, provides guidance useful in the implementation of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems. The guideline is intended for use by owners of human-occupied buildings and those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, management, operation, maintenance, and service of centralized building water systems and components. “ASHRAE Standard 188 gives direction regarding what to do to control the spread of legionellosis, such as to follow a risk management...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—DuPont introduced the newest pattern additions to the DuPont Tedlar Wallcovering Avant-Garde collection. Inspired by nature’s essential building blocks, Roccia and Travertino are the latest seasonal patterns in the Avant-Garde collection, giving designers even more stone and metal options for a strong, durable look indoors. The stacked-slate look of Roccia has Italian-inspired names ranging from light patterns like “Grigio” to darker shades with blue undertones found in “Azure.” A familiar texture in the Travertino design features colors such as the elegant “Ivory” and the sturdy “Black” shade. “We’re committed to adding more patterns and colors every season to give architects...

LEBANON, N.H.—FreshAir, an industry leader in the development of sensors to detect and alert for hazardous chemicals, announces its unique and highly effective FreshAir1 Smoking Detection System. The FreshAir system is ideally suited for use in hotels, casinos, and other hospitality industry settings. The only technology available to monitor for, immediately detect, and prove tobacco smoking and marijuana smoking, FreshAir1 Smoking Detection Systems are ideal for enforcing no-smoking policies, protecting infrastructure investments, securing cleaning fees, and avoiding chargebacks. Unlike typical smoke detectors which use light or radiation to detect general particles (dust, smoke, steam, etc.), FreshAir sensors are capable of...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—As people around the world adjust to a new normal, the health of our buildings—and how they influence personal health—is critically important. Carrier has introduced its Healthy Buildings Program, an expanded suite of advanced solutions to help deliver healthy, safe, efficient, and productive indoor environments across key verticals including commercial buildings, healthcare, hospitality, education, retail and marine. In support of this, Carrier also launched Corporate.Carrier.com/HealthyBuildings to help customers consult with Carrier’s experts to take advantage of the broad range of industry-leading healthy building technologies. Carrier Global Corp. is a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released four new Safety First Pilot Credits in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The credits outline sustainable best practices that align with public health and industry guidelines related to cleaning and disinfecting, workplace re-occupancy, HVAC and plumbing operations. The credits can be used by LEED projects that are certified or are undergoing certification. The Safety First credits are part of USGBC’s economic recovery strategy released last month, which focuses on sustainable solutions to rebuild a stronger and healthier economy by prioritizing healthy people in healthy places. The credits were created...

Here is a challenge for all of you: Given the current pandemic, still try your hardest to do things in a sustainable manner—focusing on worker and guest safety, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and enhancing, not worsening indoor air quality. With each step you take to stop COVID-19, ask yourself if you are helping or hindering environmental protection. I know it will not be an easy thing to do, or even accomplishable in some cases, given the severity of the virus. This past week I heard from Allied Feather + Down. The maker of bedding is now manufacturing reusable...

NATIONAL REPORT—One of the main ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 is through the wearing of face masks. Face masks prevent you from spreading respiratory droplets and help reduce, but not eliminate, the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles. In recent months, many suppliers have emerged selling different types of masks. A review of supplier sites found at least a half-dozen different mask types. Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, a company currently selling several mask varieties, says his customers are primarily buying 3-ply and KN95 for non-medical use masks. Both N95 and KN95 masks are available in the marketplace...

SOLON, OHIO—The month of May has been declared “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to raise awareness about the effects of these diseases. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring, understands the impact this can have on the health and wellness of those with asthma and allergies and remains the only flooring...

ATLANTA—Oxy-Gen Powered, a leader in innovative odor eliminating solutions, has published an educational e-book, “The Impact of Odors on an Organization’s Bottom Line.” The free e-book reveals the effects of malodors on the perception of various types of facilities, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. It also highlights different approaches to odor control, and recommendations for removing unpleasant indoor odors. It is available for download here. “As facilities reopen and welcome customers back, having the right odor elimination system is more critical than ever,” said Chris Whiting, Executive Vice President-North America, Oxy-Gen Powered. “Our e-book offers a closer look at not only how odors become a bigger issue for organizations, but specific strategies managers can implement to successfully avoid the issue altogether.” Informative for facility managers and building service contractors, Oxy-Gen’s e-book is an...

Here is what hotel managers need to know: After COVID-19, few things will be the same. Hotel guests are going to be concerned that not only are the hotels they stay in cleaned using green cleaning tools, methods, and equipment, but steps have been taken to ensure the entire property is healthy. And one way they will be able to determine this is if the property has been WELL certified. The WELL program is relatively new. The International WELL Building Institute, as it is officially known, is about six years old. It was started by many of the same people that...