By Dr. John McKeon Medical director at Airmid and expert author on Aerobiology, infections aerosols and indoor air. Dr McKeon is an Ambassador of the World Filtration Institute, an accredited educator for the American Institute of Architects and a member of the Environmental Health Committee of ASHRAE.
What happens when the world’s top building scientist steps into one of the world’s most advanced air testing labs?
Something meaningful, especially when the focus turns from systems to the scientists shaping the future of indoor air.
On May 9th, ASHRAE President Dennis Knight visited Airmid Healthgroup in Dublin’s innovation district.
But this was more than a ceremonial stop.
It was a working visit – one that connected standards with science, and explored how rigorous, real-world testing can support healthier buildings, stronger claims, and better outcomes for people everywhere.
Emma Gribben, Josh Ryan, BSc, Oliver Dsa MSc, Himangi Das, MSc, Dr. Paula Jaramillo PhD, Dennis Knight, Dr John McKeon at Airmid
Translating Standards into Practice
During his visit, Mr. Knight toured several of Airmid’s advanced research and testing environments, including:
Our custom bioaerosol test chamber, where exposure protocols simulate real-world transmission scenarios
The Modified ASHRAE 52.2 Duct Testing Facility, used to evaluate HVAC systems under live airflow conditions
The ISO/IEC 17025-accredited Allergen Laboratory, essential for assessing air cleaner performance and allergen reduction
These facilities help translate frameworks such as ASHRAE 241 and AHAM AC-5 into practical, validated performance for products in homes, schools, healthcare settings, and commercial buildings.
Airmid’s Josh Ryan and Oliver Dsa walk the President through live testing protocols.
Engaging with the Next Generation of Scientists
A standout moment of the visit was a roundtable with Airmid’s early-career scientific team, reflecting the diversity and talent critical to the future of IAQ innovation:
Dr. Paula Jaramillo, PhD – Scientific Officer, Microbiology
Josh Ryan, BSc – Chamber & Lab Technician, Environmental Sampling
Himangi Das, MSc – Lab Technician, Antiviral Testing
The discussion covered workforce development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and how emerging scientists are shaping evidence-led solutions for public health and building performance.
“It’s not just about buildings. It’s about the people inside them — and the next generation who will build them better,”
— Dennis Knight
Future IAQ leaders in dialogue with the ASHRAE President.
A Shared Commitment to Indoor Environmental Quality
At Airmid Healthgroup, we believe that the foundation of healthier indoor environments is robust, independent science. We are proud to collaborate with organisations like ASHRAE in driving forward global standards, and to support industry leaders working to innovate with integrity and impact.
This wasn’t just a walkthrough.
It was a shared mission: Accelerate the science of clean air.
And amplify the next generation doing it.
To learn more about our work in airborne pathogen testing, HVAC validation, and indoor air quality, Contact Us
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- Dennis Knight observes Airmid’s simulation of harmful toilet plumes, an emerging concern in healthcare infection control.
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- Evaluating real-time chamber setup for airborne transmission simulations.
Related Testing Services at Airmid Healthgroup
- Room Air Cleaner Devices and Portable Air Purifiers Performance Testing
- ASHRAE 241 Testing Services
- Independent Bioaerosol Testing for Air Cleaning Technologies
- Custom Bioaerosol Protocols
Related Blog Posts
Reflections on the ASHRAE Winter Meeting: Infectious Aerosols, Standard 241, and Healthy Buildings : Explore how Standard 241 is reshaping ventilation and infection control frameworks in healthy buildings
ASHRAE Winter Conference: Connecting with ASHRAE Ireland and Advancing Indoor Air Quality-This post recaps Airmid’s engagement with ASHRAE Ireland at the ASHRAE Winter Conference, reinforcing transatlantic collaboration in ventilation standards, IAQ testing, and building science innovation.
Exploring Design Strategies for Controlled Environments: A Review of the ASHRAE Ireland Chapter Meeting– From cleanrooms to high-containment labs, this blog captures key takeaways from an ASHRAE Ireland Chapter event focused on design strategies for controlled environments, with expert insights from Ireland’s leading HVAC engineers.
Tags and Keywords
ASHRAE 241, air cleaner testing,indoor air quality, bioaerosol chamber , workforce development, filtration validation, clean air delivery rate, infection control, allergen exposure, IAQ research laboratory, Dennis Knight, ASHRAE standards
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