Sensing Precision’s managing director, Andrew Hamshere says: “The needs of the post-COVID world are very different and many buildings may not be able to meet the new standards.”

There are now far greater requirements on buildings to minimise future infections. Not only increased levels of ventilation and air filtration but the ability to demonstrate performance so that employees and customers can have the confidence to return to work, to go shopping, to eat-out, and go to the gym or the cinema.

“Although many HVAC systems will be able to cope with the additional load, most will not have the accuracy of measurement for facilities managers to be sure and be able to demonstrate the higher performance.”

“Measurement is key,” adds Mr Hamshere, “you can’t control what you don’t know. Whereas most building systems have levels of uncertainty as much as ±20%, our Wilson FlowGrids provide industry-leading levels of uncertainty to ±2% across multiple points.”

By design, all Wilson Flowgrids generate “enhanced” differential pressure signals which directly relate to volume flow within the duct and when used with a pressure transmitter produce an instrument with ‘real time’ flow measurement accuracy usually associated with clean rooms and data centres. In general HVAC applications, it will greatly improve the effectiveness of building management systems and enhancing energy efficiency and IAQ.

To help adjust to HVAC system changes required to help combat COVID-19, the ability to provide real time data and linking with ‘smart’ building technology allows for rapid adjustment of ventilation rates and outside air quantities. This more proactive building management strategy will reduce spikes in CO2.

Providing such levels of accuracy also helps avoid low airflows and under ventilation which potentially reduces IAQ and impacts health and performance of building occupants, the longevity of materials and potentially the spread of COVID-19.