ASHRAE, the professional group focused on research and standards development for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and air conditioning systems, is seeking comments on the first draft of a standard for pathogen mitigation, it announced May 15. ASHRAE will accept comments on the public review draft, via osr.ashrae.org, through May 26.

Standard 241P, Control of Infectious Aerosols, would address indoor air quality with minimum HVAC requirements, according to ASHRAE. The aim is to cut the risk of spreading airborne viruses, such as COVID-19.

The draft standard is built on ASHRAE’s work on consensus indoor air quality standards and the guidance its epidemic task force prepared in response to COVID-19, according to William Bahnfleth, an ASHRAE presidential fellow and chair of the 241P standard project committee. It includes requirements for equivalent outdoor air intake during infection risk-mitigation mode, room air distribution and operational factors, such as developing and implementing a building readiness plan and maintenance tasks.

“It is a groundbreaking document that we expect to have significant impact,” Bahnfleth said in a statement.