Ventilation in an enclosed setting like a train car is critical in preventing spread of COVID-19.
BART train cars replace air about every 70 seconds, far more often than an office or store.
Now BART will begin using denser air filters across its fleet to buff its ventilation.
BART train cars replace air about every 70 seconds, far more often than an office or store.
Now BART will begin using denser air filters across its fleet to buff its ventilation.
In August, BART announced a pilot program to test a denser MERV-14 filter to catch microscopic air particles. Previously, BART used a MERV-8 filter.
After six months of tests, BART will be transitioning to using MERV-14 filters on all its train cars.
After six months of tests, BART will be transitioning to using MERV-14 filters on all its train cars.
https://twitter.com/SFBART/status/1294032923125940224
What's the difference between a MERV-14 and MERV-8 filter?
MERV-14, left, has more folds. MERV-8 filters, right, could trap particles between 3 and 10 microns in size; the new MERV-14’s can capture much smaller particles between .3 and 1 microns.
MERV-14, left, has more folds. MERV-8 filters, right, could trap particles between 3 and 10 microns in size; the new MERV-14’s can capture much smaller particles between .3 and 1 microns.
BART yard workers will be replacing filters to new MERV-14 as the cars in service are sent for its scheduled preventative maintenance.
“We feel really confident about moving forward with the MERV-14s," said Ben Holland, Manager of Vehicle System Engineering.
“We feel really confident about moving forward with the MERV-14s," said Ben Holland, Manager of Vehicle System Engineering.
BART is making other developments on its efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
The current pilot of UV light rods by the train's HVAC unit to kill aerosols are "promising" and staff is making plans to expand. Supply chain concerns have been challenging in expanding pilot.
The current pilot of UV light rods by the train's HVAC unit to kill aerosols are "promising" and staff is making plans to expand. Supply chain concerns have been challenging in expanding pilot.
BART engineers have held preliminary discussions with scientists at Lawrence Livermore Natl. Laboratory regarding simulations of travel of aerosols to better understand how aerosols travel in a train car.
BART tested a robot to run through cars during off-service hours and spray disinfectant. We use humans with electrostatic foggers to disinfect currently.
Robot idea isn't moving forward as it had difficulties in moving into/between cars.
Robot idea isn't moving forward as it had difficulties in moving into/between cars.
It's not the end of using robots to combat COVID-19.
BART staff says a Roomba-like device which can vacuum and spray disinfectant simultaneously will get test trial in near future
BART staff says a Roomba-like device which can vacuum and spray disinfectant simultaneously will get test trial in near future
BART staff are working hard to ensure that the public can ride safely from the virus, thanks to:
▪️Robust ventilation (air replaced ~70 seconds)
▪️New technologies as reinforcements
▪️Nightly disinfection of train cars
▪️Mass behavior changes, i.e. wearing masks
▪️Robust ventilation (air replaced ~70 seconds)
▪️New technologies as reinforcements
▪️Nightly disinfection of train cars
▪️Mass behavior changes, i.e. wearing masks
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