The ANSI Federation and standardization community are stepping up with guidance, resources, and initiatives to support public health, safety, and infrastructure during the COVID-19 outbreak. ANSI is monitoring, sharing, and promoting appropriate news to highlight these efforts. Suggestions for news items may be submitted to [email protected]. All submissions are published at ANSI's discretion.
AdvaMed Signs Partnership with USAID to Boost Regulatory Standards for Medtech
The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) announced that it is in a multiyear partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in which the association will provide private sector resources and expertise to help increase adoption of medical technology-specific international regulatory standards and good regulatory practices by governments across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The partnership is conducted with ANSI under its public-private partnership with USAID – Standards Alliance Phase 2 – to address COVID-19 response and recovery.
“The more similar laws and regulations are from country to country around the world, the better off patients will be. Expanding adoption of strong international standards and effective, common regulatory practice makes it easier and more efficient to get lifesaving medical technologies to the patients and providers who need them wherever they are in the world,” said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO. “This is even more important in the middle of a global fight against COVID-19 that requires cooperation across borders.”
Read more about the partnership via AdvaMed's press release and ANSI's recent news item, Standards Alliance Phase 2 Supports COVID-19 Response and Recovery.
ASHRAE, Sentry Air Systems Address COVID-19 Air Filtration Solutions for Schools throughout the Academic Year
ASHRAE has issued guidance for schools with practical information and checklists to help minimize the chance of spreading SARS-CoV-2. The guide sheet provides a summary of key general recommendations related to HVAC and water supply systems. Specific recommendations to consider cover inspection and maintenance, ventilation, filtration, air cleaning, energy use considerations, and water system precautions.
Additionally, a portion of ASHRAE's website features up-to-date information for schools and universities, including checklists for fall start of classes and equipment and system specific checks and verifications throughout the academic year. The guidance is intended to provide practical information and checklists for school district and university campus environmental health managers, facility managers, administrators, technicians, and service providers to prepare educational buildings to resume occupancy.
ASHRAE’s position is that “Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning [HVAC] systems, can reduce airborne exposures," the association reports."…"This information describes how the HVAC systems should be operating to help minimize the chance of spreading SARS-Cov-2 and how to practically check/verify that operation."
Access ASHRAE's guidance and the association's resource page on the Reopening of Schools and Universities.
In related news, in a new blog post citing recommendations from ASHRAE, the CDC, and the EPA, Sentry Air Systems underscores the importance of indoor air quality in schools, and highlights recommendations for combatting COVID-19 as students go back to class.
"Schools furnish critical community services such as food programs, special education, and speech/occupational therapy. To provide a safe learning environment, the educational administration must assess current building ventilation and overall indoor air quality to prevent the transmission of COVID-19." Read the blog post from Sentry Air Systems.
See more ANSI member efforts in the ANSI COVID-19 Resource Webpage Highlighting Standardization Community Response Efforts.