RACA Journal March 2021 | Page 37

Projects sterilisation methodology – pressurised air coming into the system from a circulatory , and exhaust air being returned to the atmosphere ( conditioned through the addition of the UV-C lights ).

Having conducted a significant amount of research around the Coronavirus from sources around the world including Japan , Finland , Switzerland , Belgium , Ireland , Canada , USA and Germany about how the virus spreads , TCE obtained evidence from laboratory testing that indicates that UV-C treatment of air in a circulatory application has been shown ( in laboratory ) to be effective in encapsulating the SARS- COV-2 virus ( essentially meaning this process restricts the reproductive process of the virus ).

The rationale for inclusion of the UV-C solution was due to the fact that although HEPA filtration is effective for particle sizes of 0.3 micron , various research has shown that the coronavirus is as small as only 0.1 micron therefore passing through a HEPA filter . The UV-C solution was therefore a must to include in the system .

The benefit and thought process of re-cycling air through a sterilisation system such as installed at this project is informed by available laboratory testing that indicates that every time the air passes through , you get further sterilisation , eventually resulting in up to 90 % of encapsulation of any virus ( thus greatly reducing the risk of spread ). TCE also rightly stated that you can ’ t handle something like the Coronavirus without understanding it , and further how it spreads .

On the energy efficiency aspect , with unitary equipment TCE notes that all you can do is hope that the users will be considerate and switch the equipment off after use . Ideally occupation sensors for lights and energised cooling circuits would have been preferable but this became too expensive

© RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits © RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits © RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits

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to fit within the remaining budget after all of the prior contractor changes and depleted balance of budget . RACA

Electrical Contractors HVAC Suppliers Unitary AC Packaged System Ducting VRF Unit

Tesla Electrical

Jet Air HC Heat Exchangers Fabric Air Hitachi

1 . Various offices , storage and archiving rooms around the property are fitted with unitary split units .

2 . The fabric ducting system coming into the gymnasium forks left and right to supply two lines of air flow to the space .

3 . The recreation centre has a very large library area to support not only sporting activities , but knowledge development too .