Buildings as a preventive barrier against COVID-19
Situations like COVID-19 are not rare occurrences
In the last 17 years, there have been at least 6 outbreaks (including the current one) which have affected the world population (SARS, MERS, Avian Flu, ZIKA and EBOLA).
Highly valuable work can be done to prevent the impact of situations like COVID-19 by improving the indoor environmental conditions of office buildings.
The high likelihood of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 requires airborne exposure to the virus to be controlled. The way in which buildings operate, including their air conditioning and ventilation systems, must be changed.
Systems in buildings are extremely important in situations like that experienced as a result of COVID-19: The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the air is reduced with the help of ventilation, air flows and filtration, and this therefore means there is less risk of airborne transmission.
What measures can be taken?
Sistemas SIAV®
Composition
Aire Limpio has SIAV® systems, which are purifying units with four stages of filtration:
- Filter F9 Epm2.5>90%
- Photocatalysis with TiO2-coated ceramic activated carbon monolith
- UVGI ultraviolet germicidal light irradiation
- HEPA filter 99.95%
Characteristics
SIAV® systems reduce ventilation costs by optimising the supply of primary air and the indoor thermal load.
These systems improve indoor air quality by filtering airborne pollutants in the places where they operate, creating overpressure to reliably prevent polluted air from entering into adjacent areas.
They operate as stand-alone systems, that are installed in false ceilings in high-occupancy-density areas.
These units are particularly valuable in buildings in use or in projects, specifically for the areas indicated below:
- High-occupancy-density areas
- Meeting rooms
- Canteens/vending areas
Communal areas (lift landings, etc.)
Role
SIAV® systems reduce ventilation costs by optimising the supply of primary air and the indoor thermal load.
SIAV® systems have a flow range of 400 m3/h to 2,000 m3/h that can be used in several ways:
- As a highly-efficient air purifier, installed in false ceilings for high-occupancy-density areas. In this mode we recommend 5/6 air movements per hour.
- As a ventilation system, optimising air conditioning costs by reducing the supply of primary air
and the thermal load through ventilation.
As an air purifier, pollutants are reduced immediately due to the combination of integrated filters.
In addition, it is especially effective with biological pollutants as the effect is closer to people and airborne particles (to which COVID-19-type viruses often become attached).
Advantages
Technical data
| Model | PRE-FILTRATION | PURIFICATION | GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION | FINAL FILTRATION | FLOW (M3/H) | PRESSURE AVAILABLE (PA) | CONSUMPTION (W) | DIMENSIONS (HEIGHTXWIDTHXLENGTH) MM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL2508-SFEG | ePM2.5>90% (F9) | Activated carbon FOAM | UVGI 254 nm | HEPA 99,5% | 800 | 120 | 310 | 307 x 624 x 1.033 |
| AL2516-SFEG | ePM2.5>90% (F9) | Ceramic Monolith TiO2-impregnated activated carbon |
UVGI 254 nm | HEPA 99,5% | 1.200 | 140 | 281 | 367 x 667 x 1.069 |
| AL2524-SFEG | ePM2.5>90% (F9) | Ceramic Monolith TiO2-impregnated activated carbon |
UVGI 254 nm | HEPA 99,5% | 2.000 | 125 | 551 | 367 x 967 x 1.069 |
Dimensiones AL2508-SFEG
Dimensiones AL2516-SFEG
AL2524-SFEG dimensions
Examples of installations
Zurich Seguros. Blue Building
OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION
Zürich is one of the world’s leading insurance companies, with more than 130 years of experience operating in Spain. As the property owner, it carried out the project in line with company values, achieving a building in accordance with current quality standards, regulations and the company’s requirements regarding energy efficiency and corporate image.
This building includes the very best technical specifications and a hybrid air conditioning system that is the first of its kind in Spain. Its excellent floor layout means it can be used in numerous ways and its spaces can be made suitable for all types of companies.
INSTALLATION DATA
In order to meet RITE regulations and comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 to obtain the LEED® PREREQUISITE in Indoor Air Quality, 27 SIAV® Integrated Energy-Saving Ventilation Systems have been installed.
| Sistemas de ahorro en la ventilación SIAV® | |
|---|---|
| Model | AL 25.16 |
| Nº of Units | 27 |
| Flow | 1.600 m3/h |
| Filter | V8 de Polarización Activa |
| Particle filtration | HEPA H13 99,97% |
| Filtration of gases | CPZ Eficacia 90% |
ADVANTAGES
POSSIBLE LEED CREDITS
Energy & Atmosphere
Indoor Environmental Quality
Konecta BTO. Sede en Barcelona
OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION
The KONECTA BTO Group is a benchmark for the Contact Centre sector. Present in 10 countries, it offers services in a wide variety of sectors such as telecommunications and banking.
Together with Aire Limpio, the Konecta Media Department has taken action to improve the indoor air quality of its Barcelona office located at Calle Marqués de Sentmenat, 35.
INSTALLATION DATA
Aire Limpio has designed and installed SIAV® systems in the Basement and First Floor of the building. These systems have three stages of F7, HEPA H13 and Activated Carbon filtration.
| Sistemas de ahorro en la ventilación SIAV® | |
|---|---|
| Model | AL-25.16G |
| Flow | 1.600 m3/h |
| Filtration | Polarización Activa. V8 98% / HEPA 99,97% |
| Filtration of gases | CPZ Eficacia 90% |
ADVANTAGES
POSSIBLE LEED CREDITS
Energy & Atmosphere
Indoor Environmental Quality
Innovation
Other practical cases
LINKLATERS. MADRID OFFICE
HOTELS
FLAGSHIP STORES
SCHOOLS
Otros casos prácticos
Ernst & Young
Fecha: Octubre 2016
Edificio: Torre Titania
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
DKV
Fecha: Noviembre 2013
Edificio: Torre DKV, Zaragoza
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
Savills Aguirre Newman
Fecha: Julio 2018
Edificio: Pº Castellana, 81
Tecnología: SIAV
What does the scientific community say?
Position Document on Infectious Aerosols
ASHRAE
“The use of highly efficient particle filtration in centralised HVAC systems reduces the airborne load of infectious particles (Azimi and Stephens 2013). This strategy reduces the transport of infectious agents from one area to another when these areas share the same central HVAC system through supply of recirculated air. When appropriately selected and deployed, single-space high-efficiency filtration units (either ceiling mounted or portable) can be highly effective in reducing/lowering concentrations of infectious aerosols in a single space.”
“UVGI light inactivates microorganisms by damaging the structure of nucleic acids and proteins at the molecular level. The most important of these is deoxyribonucleic acid (which is responsible for molecular reproduction). An organism that cannot reproduce is no longer capable of causing disease. (Evidence Level A)”.
Strongly recommend; good evidence.
Recommend, at least fair evidence.
No recommendation for or against; balance of benefits and harms too close to justify a recommendation.
Recommend against; fair evidence is ineffective or the harm outweighs the benefit.
Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routinely.
The inactivation effect of photocatalytic titanium apatie on SARS Virus
Han Wei, Zhang Banhe, Cao Wuchun, Yang Dongling, Taira I, Okamoto Y, Arai JI, Yan Xiyun
“Photocatalytic titanium apatite filter (PTAF) is a new material that has been reported to have an ability to absorb and inactivate bacteria.
The inactivation effect of PTAF on serious acute respiratory syndrome coronary virus (SARS-CoV) was tested. The results showed that PTAF filter inactivated/ decomposed SARS-CoV up to 99.99% after 6 h interaction under the condition of
non-UV irradiation. However, under the condition of UV irradiation, PTAF and HAF, both were able to inactivate/decompose SARS-CoV completely. The study has provided the first evidences that PTAF could inactivate SARS-CoV virus, suggesting that the PTAF material will be applied for the prevention of SARS-CoV as well as other viruses”
Protocol for returning to buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Paulino Pastor, General Director of Ambisalud
“Install local air filtration and purification units, which are either fixed or portable units for temporary back-up. These units should preferably have HEPA grade filters, and it is recommended that they include UV lamps or even photocatalysis.
Select back-up purification units capable of treating sufficient air flow to obtain a significant number of indoor air movements per hour”.
In summary
Offices should integrate systems and practices that promote the health and well-being of their occupants, thus making offices more resilient spaces and better armed against physical pollutants and microorganisms
Aire Limpio offers the different technologies that are recommended by reputable world organisations.
