The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the United States’ risk advisor, has expanded its list of industries with a “special responsibility” to continue operations during the nation’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, highlighting the importance of HVAC in the maintenance of public health and safety and community well-being.

As noted today by ASHRAE in its semimonthly Government Affairs Update (click here  to subscribe), the number of references to HVAC in “ Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce ” has increased from one to seven.

The following have been identified as essential HVAC-related critical-infrastructure workers:

  • In the transportation-and-logistics sector, HVAC engineers critical for continuity of warehouse operations.
  • In the public-works-and-infrastructure-support-services sector, HVAC technicians who provide services necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses, and buildings such as hospitals, senior-living facilities, and any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response.
  • In the communications-and-information-technology sector, HVAC engineers with a role in managing a communications network or operating a communications facility or data center and manufacturers and supply-chain vendors that provide, and test laboratories and certification agencies that qualify, HVAC equipment for critical infrastructure.
  • For other community- or government-based operations and essential functions, workers who ensure, manufacture and distribute products required for, and issue permits and perform inspections for construction supporting the continuity of building functions, including environmental controls.
  • For commercial facilities, workers who distribute, service, repair, and install residential and commercial HVAC systems, boilers, furnaces, and other heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment.

Developed in collaboration with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector, “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” is an advisory list intended to help state, local, tribal, and territorial officials as they “work to protect their communities while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety as well as economic and national security.”

On March 18, AMCA and nine other trade associations representing the HVACR industry in the United States signed an open letter to federal, state, and local officials requesting that HVACR technicians and engineers be granted “essential business” status and, thus, allowed to continue to work during the nation’s response to COVID-19.

For more information, visit AMCA’s Web page devoted to COVID-19 .