On May 1st, Airmid Healthgroup had the honor of hosting the ASHRAE Ireland Technical Seminar at our Citywest facilities in Dublin. The seminar focused on the topic of Building Decarbonisation and brought together industry experts, including Dr. Drury B. Crawley, a Bentley Fellow and Director of Building Performance Research at Bentley Systems Inc.
Dr. Crawley shared his extensive expertise on building performance and sustainability, offering valuable insights into zero-energy buildings and the future of smart cities.
The session was not only technically enriching but highly relevant to our training themes for the year, which include IAQ-Health-Carbon interdependencies, ventilation design, and energy optimisation. We were particularly pleased to see Dr. Crawley include slides discussing how building systems can support both IAQ performance and decarbonisation targets—highlighting the trade-offs and synergies that define modern building science.
Dr. Crawley, who is currently Director of Building Performance at Bentley Systems, has a storied career spanning over four decades, including work on EnergyPlus and contributions to building performance simulation globally. As an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer, his role is to share cutting-edge insights with professional communities worldwide, and we were honoured to have him do so on our premises.
Among the invited guests were:
Conor Murray, ASHRAE Ireland Past President and Chair of the Irish Cleanrooms Society (ICS), renowned for his expertise in cleanroom and biosafety design. Conor is also Past Chair of the International Confederation of Contamination Control Societies.
Howard Neville, ASHRAE Ireland Board of Governors member and Mechanical Department Manager at DPS Engineering & Construction (Arcadis Group), who coordinated the meeting and brought valuable industry context to the discussion.
The event began with an introductory talk from Dr. John Ryan, CEO of Airmid Healthgroup, who set the stage for the discussions that followed. Attendees were also treated to a detailed tour of Airmid’s state-of-the-art laboratories, where they saw firsthand how our technologies and research are applied to the building and HVAC sectors to improve indoor air quality and promote healthier environments.
Dr. John Ryan Introduces the Seminar
The event concluded with an engaging discussion and interactive tour, reinforcing the collaborative nature of the ASHRAE Ireland chapter meeting. Airmid Healthgroup is proud to play a central role in advancing the conversation around healthier building practices and the impact of controlled indoor environments on human health.
Dr. Crawley’s visit affirmed the importance of bridging indoor environmental quality with energy policy and carbon reduction—core pillars of both ASHRAE’s and Airmid Healthgroup’s respective missions. As a contract research laboratory specialising in airborne pathogens, infection control, and healthy indoor air, we are deeply engaged in understanding how building systems can support occupant well-being without compromising climate goals.
We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Crawley, ASHRAE Ireland, and all attendees for making the session so productive and insightful. It was a privilege to facilitate this important conversation, and we look forward to more opportunities to collaborate at the intersection of science, sustainability, and health.
Dr. Crawley Presenting the Seminar
We extend our deepest gratitude to ASHRAE for their support in organizing this seminar, to Dr. Crawley for his enlightening presentation, and to the attendees for their participation. We look forward to continuing our work with industry leaders to create healthier, more sustainable indoor environments for all.
Conor Murray, John Ryan, Dr. Drury B. Crawley, Howard Neville, and Holly McQuaid.
Emma Gribben, Conor Murray, Dr. John Ryan, Dr. Drury B. Crawley, and Howard Neville.
Related Tests at Airmid Healthgroup
– Germicidal UV Testing (ASHRAE 185 Series)
– HVAC Filtration and Air Cleaner Performance Testing (ASHRAE 52.2)
– Antimicrobial Surface Testing (ISO 22196 & ASTM E2149)
– ASHRAE 241 Testing Services: Independent Bioaerosol Testing for Air Cleaning Technologies
– Test Method for UV-C Disinfection in Air-Handling Units and Air Ducts
Related blogs
– ASHRAE Standard 241: Control of Infectious Aerosols – Understanding its Impact
– An Overview of the ASHRAE 185 Series Standards for Evaluating Air Cleaning Technologies
– The Role of Independent Testing in HVAC Filtration: Ensuring Air Quality Standards
– FAQ: ASHRAE 52.2 Filter Testing Services for HVAC and Air Cleaning Products
External Resources
ASHRAE – Standard 52.2 Overview: Official resource describing ASHRAE Standard 52.2 for determining air filter performance against particles.
ANSI – Understanding ANSI’s Role in Standardization: Provides context on ANSI’s role in accrediting standards like those developed by ASHRAE, which adds credibility to your ISO/IEC 17025-accredited services.
NIST – Better IAQ using ASHRAE Guide
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) blog on Changes to ASHRAE 52.2-2017
Keywords
ASHRAE, indoor air pollution, airborne diseases, IAQ management, environmental science, public health, Airmid Healthgroup, indoor air quality, allergens, pathogens, IAQ standards, scientific innovation, environmental sustainabilit, Building Decarbonisation, Healthy Buildings, Energy Efficiency, Cleanrooms,Biosafety, HVAC Innovation, Distinguished Lecturer Series, Airmid Healthgroup Events
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