The Importance of Ventilation in the Workplace to Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

01 Dec 2021

By Michelle Glancy, Marketing Assistant at DARe-me Consulting Engineers. 

Now COVID-19 restrictions are easing and many are gradually returning to the workplace, both employees and employers alike are looking for ways to make this transition as safe as possible. The Health and Safety Executive have stressed the value of good ventilation to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Types of Ventilation

There are different types of ventilation systems that can be used to increase fresh air flow in the workplace.

1. Natural Ventilation

Opening windows and doors as well as using air vents can improve air flow within an enclosed space. However, it is not always possible to infiltrate outside air into your workplace. This is not the best option in colder weather and can in fact be counterproductive, causing employees to catch colds and fall unwell.

2. Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is used in mechanical air handling systems - HVAC systems. These offer Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, cleaning the air and providing warm or cold air depending on your needs.

Air conditioning units installed with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) filters use built-in air purification technology to improve the quality of the air. This limits the recirculation of polluted air within an enclosed space by extracting air from outside.

3. Mixed-Mode Ventilation

Mixed-mode ventilation is a hybrid system of both natural and mechanical ventilation. This system relies on natural ventilation most of the time, but this is assisted by mechanical systems that include air distribution equipment and heating or cooling conditions. This hybrid approach helps to accommodate extreme temperatures and fluctuations, drawing on natural ventilation when feasible and providing an alternative when not.

Benefits of Ventilation in the Workplace

During the ventilation process, polluted air is replaced with clean air. Benefits include:

• Minimise Health Issues: By ensuring clean air is regularly infiltrated around an enclosed space, this quickly filters out polluted air and removes air pollutants such as CO₂ and dust. By doubling ventilation in a previously poorly ventilated workplace, employee sick time can be reduced by 35%.
• Improve Employee Performance: Studies have found that good air quality within the workplace results in better decision-making performance amongst employees.
• Regulate Energy Costs: Having an energy efficient ventilation system in place can reduce energy costs.

How Does Ventilation Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19?

Coronavirus particles linger in enclosed areas with poor ventilation. Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets or aerosols in the air. Even with other precautionary measures in place including social distancing, an efficient ventilation system massively lowers the risk of airborne transmission of coronavirus.

Good ventilation can greatly reduce the risk of infection. Research has found that having a fresh air flow in a room can reduce infection from COVID-19 particles by over 70%. Ensuring good ventilation within your workplace can minimise the risk of employees contracting COVID-19, allowing people to return to work feeling safe.

Summary

The importance of ventilation in the workplace is clear. Not only can good ventilation reduce employee sick time, improve performance and reduce energy costs but also mitigates the risk of transmission of coronavirus, allowing employees to return to the workplace safely.

Contact DARe-me Consulting Engineers today to see how we can design a new ventilation system for your project.