Validated Infection

Control in Commercial
Buildings

Existing or most sought after

solutions may not be enough
 Transmission Path

Mostly infection including COVID19, transmitted directly i.e.

surface to surface contamination or in exposure (3-6 ft) of
coughing or sneezing. Such direct transmission can be taken care
by good hygiene practice, social distancing and use of PPEs as
suggested by ICMR.

Still large quantity of agent embedded in water droplet (less than 5

µm) that remain suspended in air for longer period of time and
moves deep down to develop more severe lower respiratory tract
infections.
 Risks inside Commercial
Building
Improperly operated and maintained HVAC systems can even
become a reservoir for such infection. It is well established now
that there is high risk indoors. Various factors affecting the same
inside commercial buildings are

● Multiple interconnected zones without localised fresh/exhaust

air lead to transfer of microbial aerosol within them
● Individual climate control would lead to disturb in air mixing
efficiency and room air movement
● Ingress from potentially contamination sources if adequate
ventilation is not optimised or accounted for
● Filtration levels and their verification
 Rational Approach

Firstly, Now we cannot consider the outbreak as singular

occurrence due to high severity. Current situation requires
sustainable and long term approach to tackle the risks of such
infections inside the commercial buildings along with
comprehensive indoor air quality.

Commonly available solutions are Dilution, Deactivation, and

Filtration of infection causing agents. In order to increase their
efficiency we should provide comprehensive indoor air quality.

Also with the help of optical particle sizer and building simulation
tools we can analyse the fate and transport of such particles.
Performance Results
Results are calculated
including the time history of
the airborne concentration
and surface loading as well
as integrated exposure that
an occupant might
experience.
 How to attain comprehensive air
quality?
The solution lies in designing a system using advanced multi zone transport
analysis of contaminants (including microbial aerosol), transient contamination
analysis and validation of building performance in terms of

1. Ambient Air Quality 4. Infiltration & Exfiltration

Contaminant sources are
identified and measured at
intake
2. Ventilation Efficiency
Ventilation is enhanced by multi
zone ventilation efficiency (age
of air)
3. Air Mixing
For effective displacement of
contaminants
unwanted leakages are identified
and accounted for
5. Room Air Movement
Controlling room to room air
movement via pressure
relationships
6. Indoor Air Quality
reducing the risk of exposure of
pollutants and contaminants
(including microbial aerosol)
COVID 19 causing agents
1. Ambient Air Quality

Using historical
wind pressure
and
contamination
data building
model is prepared
with orientation
2. Ventilation Efficiency

In multiple
interconnect
ed zone,
Evaluating
multi zone
ventilation
efficiency.
3. Air Mixing

In larger areas, desired air

mixing efficiency plays a
crucial role in removal of toxic
elements in indoor air, thus
impacting the indoor air
quality.
4. Infiltration & Exfiltration
• Unwanted leakages are
identified and accounted for
5. Room Air Movement

Controlling room to room air movement via pressure relationships

6. Indoor Air Quality
• Room pressure monitor for effective indication of room air movement with indoor air
quality
Implementations and Operations

Adequate Ventilation for Dilution

Calculating outdoor air requirement based on the evaluation of ventilation
efficiency of the building and zones and deploy

• Monitoring indoor air quality monitors with pressure sensors in the critical
zones.
• Outdoor airflow monitoring to provide and check minimum specified
ventilation rates
Implementations and Operations

Controlling Air movement via differential pressure

relationship
Predict uncontrolled flow of outdoor and exhaust air by using effective leakages
based on various building materials and partition. Enhance fresh air to maintain
requisite pressure relationship in all zones and deploy

• Optimise differential pressure relationship to create the ante room

effect by installing zone regulation devices at return air paths.
• Additionally, a protective environment room can also be created
having local exhaust ventilation as per requirement with bag in bag
out safe change housing and UV germicidal irradiance.
Implementations and Operations

Filtration
It is defined using building performance results and deploy

• Additional contamination control unit with airflow monitoring control stations

to achieve necessary pressurisation
• Strategic use of room cleaner (fan filter unit) i.e. without disturbing the room
air movement
• Online filter scanning for checking the integrity and performance of filters
• BAG IN BAG OUT FILTERS to be used wherever required for protective
environment
Implementations and Operations

Climate Control
As individual climate control in different zones can disturb room air movement,
we should deploy

• Fan powered VAVs or VAV with reheat to provide precise climate control
(including humidity 40-70%) and at the same time maintaining effective flow
pattern in zones.
Validation

Fate and transport of contaminants including microbial aerosol are again

validated after modifying the current building design and equipping it with
necessary equipments and monitors.