COVID-19 & INDOOR AIR QUALITYWhile people spend 90% of their time inside, indoor air quality has not been a large focus of attention for facilities management and tenants until recently.
The coronavirus outbreak is bringing indoor air quality into the spotlight as hospitals work to mitigate the spread of disease and offices, retail, and education facilities are considering strategies to reopen safely and minimize infection. |
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Public building occupants are being exposed to increased risk from viruses, such as the coronavirus, because the regulations on indoor air quality (IAQ) are falling short of current scientific knowledge.
Maintaining IAQ at above 40% RH has been scientifically shown to reduce viral cross infection, including coronavirus and influenza. Yet out-of-date regulations on the topic result in buildings such as hospitals, offices and schools experiencing dangerously low humidity levels every winter. |
HUMIDITY LEVELS AND THE VIRUSThe seasonality of viruses, such as coronaviruses and influenza, are further evidence of humidity’s role in their transmission. Indoor air is much drier in the winter and this corresponds to the rise of infections.
The government’s coronavirus containment strategy takes into account the fact that infections will probably drop as warmer weather returns, and indoor humidity levels naturally return to a mid-range 40-60% RH. It doesn’t need to be this way! A healthy indoor humidity level can be maintained during winter if buildings incorporated humidification as part of the ventilation system. This would significantly reduce seasonal ‘flu transmission and save thousands of lives every year. |
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CO2 LEVELS AND OCCUPANCYConsideration of social distancing based on CO2 levels. The user can see the collected data on an intuitive display/app: if the CO2 ppms are higher than 1,000 ppm, the space is very crowded, and it doesn’t guarantee the social distance recommended to prevent the influenza virus. The use of technology for monitoring air quality is going to become crucial in the post era of this pandemic.
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Avoid the spread of seasonal viruses like COVID-19 is not only the main reason: the world has changed forever and now it is necessary to control occupancy indoors to guarantee occupant’s health and welfare. The widespread installation indoors of a device like Infinity's IAQ sensor can help to prevent lockdown periods and do no give up the economic activity.
