Cross Contamination Air Flow in Public Spaces and Buildings during COVID-19

With places of work and offices slowly returning following the easing of the government’s lockdown restrictions, the Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance around Cross Contamination Air Flow and the safe operation and maintenance of air conditioning systems in the workplace. So now more than ever, it’s essential to maintain the clean air within public spaces and buildings during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Ventilation is an essential factor in preventing the virus from spreading any further and infection rates of COVID-19 from spreading indoors. Place of work, schools, accommodation and supermarkets all need to ensure there is adequate ventilation ion their HVAC systems.

Whilst the risk of COVID-19 spreading through your air conditioning systems is a low percentage, you shouldn’t be discouraged to use your air conditioning systems. There are many other ways in which you can improve indoor ventilation, but they must be taken in consultation with a trained and certified (HVAC) professional like us at Morreston. 

• If you have a recirculation function, you should disable this and switch to a fresh air source if at all possible. For mechanical systems, you should increase the percentage of outdoor air potentially as high as 100% and increase the operational running times of the system
  
  
• Look to increase your total airflow supply to occupied spaces, if your system allows
  
  
• Look at disabling demand-control ventilation units that reduce air supply based on temperature or occupancy
  
  
• HSE recommends that the use of systems which remove and re-circulate air to different areas/zones is adjusted to avoid the recirculation of air between areas spaces, rooms or zones occupied by other people
  
  
• If at all possible doors & windows should remain open to ensure a steady supply of fresh air is circulating throughout whoever, fire doors and safety windows should remain closed. 
  
  

There are ways in which you can prevent pockets of “stagnant” air, for example, using ceiling fans as the transmission through such fans is considered very low. Also, fan coil units as they increase the air exchange rate with the air outside. 

By making these some of the small adjustments to your systems, it will weaken the internal air with a fresh air supply and potentially reduce the risk of any airborne viral particles circulating. Please get in touch with the team at Morreston, if you need any advice on the safe operation of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) 

The CIBSE has published guidance on Covid – click here to find out more.