Building standards - non-domestic buildings - ventilation: research

Research outline

1. Background / context

In the context that people spend a substantial amount of time in non-domestic buildings engaging in various activities including working and socialising, it is recognised that it is important to ensure adequate ventilation and good IAQ to support occupants' health and wellbeing. This has been further highlighted by the global COVID –19 pandemic as a direct link has been established between transmission of the virus that causes COVID –19 and direct, indirect, or close contact with infected people, including through the inhalation of the airborne respiratory droplets and aerosols exhaled by infected individuals.

Infected aerosols can be held in the air for long periods of time as well as being carried over short distances. Therefore, in an indoor environment which is poorly ventilated, the risk of infection through inhalation of aerosol pathogens increases. This has underlined the need to establish and maintain good quality ventilation in buildings in order to mitigate the airborne transmission of infectious diseases, such as COVID - 19 and Flu, in workplaces and public buildings^[1].

Well-designed natural ventilation has many benefits, including financial and environmental. However, it is recognised that IAQ can only be as good as the outside air quality and in some cases careful positioning of air intakes or use of filtration may be necessary. In other cases, mechanical systems or systems that combine natural with mechanical (hybrid) may be the best ventilation solution for the building.

2. Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this study is to undertake a short, focused exercise to assess whether application of the current ventilation guidance in the Non-Domestic Technical Handbook provides an adequate basis for simple operational practices that can be used to effectively mitigate the indoor airborne transmission of diseases such as COVID-19.

The objectives of this project are:

1. To identify any evidence of where the guidance in Standard 3.14 needs to be updated in order to provide greater assurance that adequate ventilation is provided in new non-domestic buildings, which mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

2. To identify what guidance is being used by industry and the practices being followed for new buildings and new building work.

3. To establish where the guidance in Standard 3.14 does not align with current industry guidance or practice being followed.

4. To identify examples of the measures generally taken to improve the ventilation provision to mitigate the spread of airborne contaminants and how ventilation currently operates as part of a COVID-19 strategy for a building.

5. To identify and describe what an effectively ventilated building should achieve in terms of mitigating COVID-19 transmission. Provide detail on what this should look like in practice. Where issues of concern are flagged, identify whether building specific/use guidance would be beneficial.