Occupants safety at fingertips | Solutions for healthier buildings in the post-COVID normal

Getting out of your building premises without worrying about carrying a mask or having thoughts about cramped up lifts. Yes we’re all thinking this but as the world prepares itself to combat the pandemic, the reality will be far opposite.

It goes without saying that healthy buildings will play a central role in creating a safer environment against the risk of coronavirus exposure. In our previous blog, we spoke about how in addition to everyday precautions taken by occupants, buildings need to implement various control measures for compliance with the standard operational guidelines laid down by the authorities. We will have to plan and organize better to minimize contact and focus on indoor health & safety as means of permanent change in perspective even after the crisis is long gone.

Let’s have a look at the layer of approaches we will have to take to prepare our building and living premises for a safer post-covid world.

Understanding the risk

Building environments provide lots of opportunities for people to come into contact with viruses and bacteria — through people-to-people interaction, air flow, and from contaminated surfaces.

We know that the principal transmission mode of the Coronavirus is by respiratory droplets, which may travel several feet from someone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoiding contact with these respiratory droplets is the first step to control the spread. However, residual contaminants can travel through your HVAC system, where all air in the indoor space is circulated and can contribute to the spread of an airborne virus. The Coronavirus has the same traits as other viruses such as the common cold, the flu, and a sore throat, by how it is spread from person-to-person.

Source control is always the first step when dealing with Indoor Air Quality concerns such as mold, dust, odor, and even viruses.

Managing the People

We are well aware that the Covid-19 transmission takes place from person to person through respiratory droplets. Like all viruses, the coronavirus needs a human carrier to spread. All efforts to create healthy buildings start with the basics: the people who occupy buildings and carry the virus. Managing the risk at work-spaces includes minimizing the number of people interacting everyday with the work-spaces. It is crucial for buildings to educate the occupants and have a plan in action and behavior to keep themselves safe from the risk.

Buildings should have an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan to maintain compliance with safety and prevention guidelines laid down by the local health authorities including social distancing, frequent hand-washing, sanitization and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces.

Maintaining optimum humidity levels

Humidity levels in buildings can also be used to fight disease transmission. Viruses can travel farther in the air that isn’t sufficiently hydrated. Humidity levels also have an effect on the human body’s natural ability to fight infections. A relative humidity level between 40% - 60% is considered optimum to hinder the survival of viruses and bacteria and to decrease problems caused from pathogens in the air.

Making changes to the ventilation system

Carrying out disinfection and sanitization of all filters, grilles, diffusers & internal surfaces before re-entry of the occupants to avoid pre-existing contamination.

Viral particles are too small to be blocked by air filters, but ventilation strategies can still play a role in reducing disease transmission. Increasing the amount of air flowing in from outside and the rate of air exchange can dilute virus particles indoors. Adjusting fan schedules and increasing ventilation flows with taking advantage of natural ventilation will be the key. The purpose of making ventilation changes is to ensure that the systems are not recirculating the contaminated air back into the space.

Monitoring indoor air quality

Filtration of recirculated air may be effective in reducing transmission of airborne infectious diseases. The indoor air quality of a space affects the overall health of its occupants. Ensure that the quality of indoor air in your facilities is adequate by measuring the levels of CO2, particulate matter (PM 10, PM 2.5), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will help you understand the filtration efficiencies and levels of contamination in the air you are breathing.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The last and the most easily implemented control measure is the availability of PPE. All the occupants should be wearing a mask as they enter the building and walk through common areas and take the elevators. Wearing a mask protects others and the wearer. Buildings should install hands free sanitization systems and ensure regular disinfection of the premises.

Fortunately, it is still possible to take an existing building and add in systems that can keep the people inside healthier. Buildings can take help of sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality to track the daily health status of their spaces. ActiveBuildings has built highly cost-effective, plug-and-play sensors that will help you detect and analyse the problems within your indoor spaces, based on which customized solutions for your current air filtering and conditioning systems will be recommended. These solutions will ensure that your spaces are monitored, maintained and optimized for your health and safety, all at your fingertips! You can reach out to us for more information on these solutions.

Even the healthiest buildings need support from its occupants. Keep your fellow occupants safe by complying to distancing guidelines, frequent hand washing and staying home when sick.

Focusing on the health and safety of your buildings will create spaces that the occupants can trust. The changes made now stick around for the long term and they could help people feel better indoors even without an ever-present fear of an unknown virus.