The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions about how to reduce the risk of transmission of viruses within buildings. While the simple solution has been improving cleaning and sanitizing habits, there are other inexpensive ways to improve the health and safety of a building.

Here are 5 ways you can improve your building systems to reduce the spread of viruses or other contagions within your space:

  1. Avoid Contact Points – A key element to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and other germs is reducing shared points of contact. One option to use contactless ‘wave style’ door operators at main entrances and washrooms. This allows people to open doors without having to touch a common surface eliminate the risk of transmitting COVID-19 through contact.
  2. Save a touch, save some energy – Another way to reduce contact points in your building is to convert traditional manual operated lighting to occupancy sensing lighting controls. This has become the standard for new construction, and is effective in reducing energy costs. Even if you already have occupancy sensors in a space, many of the settings can be adjusted to operate automatically so no one ever needs to touch the switch itself.
  3. Go Hands Free – Another way to avoid shared contact points is to use hands-free plumbing fixtures such as sink faucets and toilet/urinal flush valves. These allow people to use the facilities and wash their hands without needing to touch a potentially contaminated surface.
  4. Get the Humidity Right – Studies have shown that having the correct relative humidity can impact the growth and spread of virus and other pathogens. The optimal range ideal target humidity is 40-60% (ASHRAE, 2020) In the winter this likely requires adding humidity to the HVAC system through a humidifier (electric, gas, or live steam from an existing source). In the summer, a dehumidification cycle will likely be required to ensure the air stays at 55% RH or below.
  5. When in Doubt, Filter it out – One approach to removing airborne or aerosolized virus particles from the air is to increase filtration. Adding HEPA level filtration to existing HVAC systems can be challenging and expensive, but there are other options. Many manufacturers are currently making standalone portable HEPA filtration units that can be operated within a single room with no infrastructure upgrades required. These units can help increase the air circulation in a room and filter out viruses to mitigate the opportunity for transition between people.

If you are interested in discussing any of the ideas listed above, let us know.  We would love to help you make your buildings work better for you and the health of those who use your space.