airborne pathogens

It is often difficult to implement prevention recommendations and plan targeted measures to limit the spread of airborne viruses in communal spaces. To effectively accomplish this goal, it is crucial to comprehensively characterize the indoor environmental quality in the space and, from these space-specific data, draw recommendations adapted to the setting. In this context, 11 elderly care homes in Belgium were selected for a comprehensive assessment of the indoor air quality (IAQ).

One proposed mitigation to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other airborne pathogens is to increase ventilation in buildings. This measure can be difficult to implement in existing buildings and has the potential environmental costs of increased energy consumption to condition the additional airflow, as well as other potential costs such as the disposal of existing serviceable mechanical equipment and the manufacture and delivery of new equipment.

The thrust of airtightness specification and testing is derived from energy considerations. The application to healthcare buildings and specialist laboratory facilities embodies the same principles but derives the appropriateness of the criteria with reference to [a] producing controlled and controllable cascading pressure zones and [b] specifying or quantifying the potential exposure in the event of failure of mechanical ventilation.