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OSHA Requirements for HVAC Systems

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems are an important installation in industrial and office buildings where temperature and humidity needs to be regulated. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, whose responsibility is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities by implementing and enforcing workplace safety and health standards and guidelines. Since HVAC systems are such a vital part of the workplace, the OSHA requires HVAC systems to operate at certain conditions and to meet certain guidelines to ensure that the system works safely.

  1. System Design Requirements

    • HVAC systems should minimize the use of water reservoirs, sumps and pans. They must provide a way to drain water sumps when not in use, such as with an electric solenoid valve. An outlet for dissolved solids within the system must be included to ensure that sediments do not form in the sump. Collection pans and drains from the bottom of the HVAC system should be added as to allow the water to drain out. Fresh air intakes should be placed in an area where they do not draw in mist from cooling towers or fluid cooler systems. Factors that should be considered when selecting the location of air intakes are the wind speed and direction and the distance from the intake to the main structure.

    Maintaining HVAC Systems

    • If a HVAC sump is used when the building is occupied, the sump should be drained when the building is unoccupied. Failures in maintenance could lead to stagnant water, which is ideal for bacterial growth. To prevent contamination, fresh air intakes should be inspected regularly to ensure that they do not collect leaves, dirt and other organic materials. Windows should be opened regularly to allow fresh air to circulate. Wet evaporative coolers and rotary air coolers should be maintained as they use warm stagnant water, which can also be sources of bacteria.

    Treating Bacteria Contaminated HVAC Systems

    • In the case of bacteria contamination of HVAC systems, all water leaks should be plugged and any standing water should be removed. Any water damaged insulation should be replaced. The HVAC system should be using 100 percent outside air for eight hours before returning to normal operation. When the HVAC system is returned to normal operation, all outside air supply rates should be kept at maximum capacity for at least one month.

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