'Adequate Ventilation’ Listed as Top Practical Measure in COVID-19 Building Services Guidance

03-09-2020

A raft of new evidence on airborne transmission of COVID-19 has made ventilation indoors a top priority. In July over 200 researchers called for the world to take more precautions against the airborne transmission of COVID-19. WHO then published guidance on 9^th July which referred to outbreak reports that suggested “the possibility of aerosol transmission”¹ of COVID-19 and since then the weight of research has continued to grow. In response to new evidence on airborne transmission and general recognition of long-range aerosol-based transmission of COVID-19, The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) has updated its ‘REHVA COVID-19 Guidance Document’, published on 3 August 2020, citing ventilation as the principal engineering control to help control infection, thus giving further weight to the vital role ventilation plays.

The REHVA guidance advises how to operate HVAC and other building service systems to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in workplaces, so is essential reading for businesses and FMs preparing to welcome employees back to work. Since the virus emerged the possibility of airborne transmission of COVID-19 has been considered but as a novel virus it was important to gather evidence to prove this. The updated REHVA guidance states that new evidence on airborne transmission has developed recently: “This has made ventilation measures the most important engineering controls in the infection control.” It adds that although physical distancing is important to avoid close contact “the risk of aerosol concentration and cross infection from 1.5m onward from an infected person can be reduced with adequate ventilation and effective distribution solutions.”

REHVA guidance includes practical recommendations that can be applied to existing buildings at a relatively low cost to reduce the number of cross-infections indoors. Top of the list is: “Provide adequate ventilation of spaces with outdoor air” again cementing the importance of ventilation. Other ventilation guidance includes: switching ventilation on at nominal speed at least 2 hours before the building opening time and set it to lower speed 2 hours after the building usage time; at nights and weekends, do not switch ventilation off, but keep systems running at a lower speed; and to open windows regularly (even with a mechanical ventilation system). In toilets where toilet plume aerosols pose a risk the guidance advises keeping toilet ventilation in operation 24/7; avoiding open windows in toilets to maintain the right direction of ventilation; and instructing building occupants to flush toilets with closed lid.

“At Vent-Axia we are here if businesses need advice on ventilation. A raft of global scientific evidence has confirmed aerosol transmission, making it a higher risk to be inside a building than outside. With autumn on the horizon and more people going to work and school we need to prepare now to ensure ventilation systems are working and providing adequate airflow. To help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission inside a building or home it is vital to increase airflow and ventilate effectively. Now is the time to check ventilation to ensure there is enough airflow to dilute the virus in the air and improve indoor air quality. Ventilating for longer and opting for ventilation with higher airflow volumes will help reduce the risk,” said Jenny Smith, Head of Marketing at Vent-Axia.

Other advice from REHVA to help mitigate COVID-19 virus transmission includes switching AHUs with recirculation to 100% outdoor air; inspecting heat recovery equipment to be sure leakages are under control; adjusting fan coil settings to operate so that fans are continuously on; not changing heating, cooling and possible humidification setpoints; carrying out scheduled duct cleaning as normal; replacing central outdoor air and extract air filters as normal, according to the maintenance schedule; regular filter replacement and maintenance works to be performed with common protective measures including respiratory protection; introducing an indoor air quality sensor network that allows occupants and facility managers to monitor ventilation is operating adequately.

Vent-Axia is committed to improving indoor air quality and public health and has helped in the national response against COVID-19. The company has already supplied ventilation to a wide-range of essential projects, such as the Nightingale Hospital in London, and now is available to offer its expert advice to businesses as they prepare to reopen. There are a number of ventilation options for businesses keen to improve their ventilation and indoor air quality. The company has a vast amount of experience supplying ventilation with its T-Series extract fan particularly popular, ACM inline fans, and its Sentinel Totus² Demand Energy Recovery Ventilation system (D-ERV).

The trusted T-Series has been the industry's no.1 commercial ventilation unit for over 30 years. Known for its robustness and quality, the T-series’ high-quality design has stood the test of time and has evolved with new and improved motors, impellers and grilles. With both window and wall options available, as well as Lo-Carbon models, it is both durable and reliable. Available with four sizes of extract/intake fans and an easy fit connector Top Socket allowing fast and trouble-free mains connection, the T-Series is easy to install and replace.

Due to its continued popularity, when older models of the T-Series need replacing it’s straightforward to replace like-for-like with no need for re-wiring, saving time on site. Vent-Axia also has an extensive spares department if a fan replacement part is needed. Meanwhile, Vent-Axia’s ACM inline fans also offer installation flexibility as they can be installed with either rigid or flexible ducting and are dimensionally more compact than alternatives, making them ideal for many ducted applications.

Furthermore, Sentinel Totus² D-ERV is a heat recovery demand ventilation system that offers an effective solution to both ensure good ventilation and so improved IAQ, plus it offers a range of sensors, such as CO₂, PIR occupancy detection, humidity or temperature which are employed to determine the room’s air quality, adjusting the ventilation requirements automatically and managing the system’s ventilation rates accordingly.

With over 80 years of ventilation experience, Vent-Axia is committed to public health by improving indoor air quality and so creating a healthy environment. For businesses who are unsure about whether their ventilation is adequate or need expert guidance Vent-Axia’s technical Support Team is available for advice on 0344 856 0594. For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia visit www.vent-axia.com.