Washington – A new webpage published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to help employers and construction managers improve the ventilation system in their facilities to reduce COVID-19 emissions.
CDC proposes ventilation as part of a “tiered strategy” that includes body speed and the use of a face mask to help reduce the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 – in indoor air.
“The lower the density, the more likely some of these viral particles are to enter your lungs; contact your eyes, nose and mouth; or fall out of the air to gather on the surface, ”the webpage says. “Ventilation practices and interventions can reduce air density, which will reduce the overall viral dose for residents.”
The group’s recommendations for better ventilation include:
- Increase outdoor air ventilation, but be careful if your facility is in a highly polluted area.
- Opening windows and doors outdoors, only when the weather allows and doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling or causing asthma symptoms).
- Using fans to improve the efficiency of open windows. However, do not place fans in an arrangement where potentially contaminated air may flow from one person to another. One strategy is to use a fan that is securely placed in a window.
- Reduces occupancy in areas where outdoor ventilation is not possible.
- Ensuring active lounge fans are operating at full capacity during a building.
- Using a portable high-efficiency air / filter system to help promote air cleaning, especially in high-risk areas such as a nursing office.
In addition, CDC advises running HVAC systems at “maximum outdoor airflow” for two hours before and after a building. The organization’s webpage includes a set of strategies with corresponding estimated costs, as well as answers to a list of frequently asked questions about building ventilation.