As we continue to move toward what we hope will be a post-pandemic world, there remains a heightened responsibility for business owners to protect their people from Covid-19 as well as providing a workplace prepared for potential future outbreaks.

We are in an increasingly hybrid world; some companies have adopted an all-remote culture while others are giving employees an opportunity to decide whether they work most effectively in an office, at home or both. While some are just now returning to offices, or have had several attempts to reopen, a significant amount of the population never left the workplace. This is particularly true for those in professions that can’t be done from home—hospital employees, factory workers and so on. Not only must we make considerations for the health of these workers but also for their peace of mind. For each environment, specific considerations must be addressed.

Indoor air quality has become increasingly important for both the businesses with staff returning to the workplace, and those that have been working on-site throughout the pandemic. Prevention of disease transmission has become an important criterion in assessing HVAC system and air quality. Before the pandemic this was not necessarily a key design consideration outside of medical facilities, and many existing HVAC systems may not meet or be able to meet newer guidelines for important factors like higher efficiency filters.

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