Is Your Building Safe to Visit or Be In? Buildings Can Spread Viruses Faster Than People

Before you visit, work in or remain in an office* building consider this analysis and others available. According to Journal of American Medical Association the virus can spread up to 30 feet and New England Journal of Medicine a virus can last up to 72 hours and HVAC systems accelerate air flow potentially spreading the virus faster and farther (ASHRAE) and that "filtration will not eliminate all risk of transmission of airborne particulates because many other factors besides infectious aerosol concentration contribute to disease transmission." HVAC - heating, ventilating air conditioning systems can spread viruses like the way HVAC spreads smoke during a fire. From NAFA-National Air Filtration Association "There is no direct scientific evidence of benefit, but some reduced exposure can reasonably be inferred based on the ability of some filters to remove particles that contain a SARS-CoV-2 virus. In order for filters to have any impact on infectious disease transmission, transmission has to occur through the airborne route, filters have to be properly installed and maintained in appropriate systems to treat recirculated air, and filters have to be appropriately designed for the building in which they are used. 

Some governments are allowing 50% in-office occupancy which is seen by many as arbitrary, unenforceable or sustainable as many open space offices are not safe even at 25% in-office occupancy. New guidance is needed for the office and working spaces and the many types of building environments especially parking, entrance, security, hallways, elevators, beverage, conference, training and other types of rooms in government, military and nonprofits organizations. 

 That is, while people may try, they will often fail at social distancing and even minor accidents in the office like tripping on a cable, CPR situations, slipping on a floor need a RIP team approach to Remove, Isolate and Protect to evacuate to onsite and external emergency management services (EMS) as well as report to contact tracing tracking systems. Now more than ever, offices and buildings will need to change significantly for this and future crises such as new buildings including airports after 9/11. I authored the first book on Telecommuting and Intelligent Buildings and now have researched and developed many specific intelligent “safe office” recommendations below.

New building standards for reducing spread of viruses like standards like ANSI/UL 263 Fire Resistance Ratings for detection, containment and suppression.

Bottom-line - Ask, if not demand, that your office* building HVAC systems be (1) inspected, (2) fixed and (3) tested daily with reports distributed and posted to all occupants. If this is not done, you can get infected, potentially infect friends, family and others and even cause your death and others.

Thomas B. Cross 

References:

HVAC (heating ventilating and air conditioning) systems may need to be re-designed depending on user space density, both positive and negative air pressure spaces may be used. According to American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) white paper - "Filtration will not eliminate all risk of transmission of airborne particulates because many other factors besides infectious aerosol concentration contribute to disease transmission." However, they recommend installation of MERV (higher minimum efficiency reporting value) filters and portable HEPA filters. Further ASHRAE - "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures."

(1) Journal of American Medical Association - This concept is really complex along with being dangerous as such professional guidance is recommended as research reported in JAMA suggests "droplets of all sizes settle out or evaporate at longer distances to 7-8 meters (26.2 feet) [for those into math of cough cannonballs here is the formula]or much longer than "social distancing" experts have recommended that depend not only on their size, but also on the degree of turbulence and speed of the gas cloud, coupled with the properties of the ambient environment (temperature, humidity, and airflow)."

(2) Journal of New England Reports - SARS-CoV-2 was more stable on plastic and stainless steel than on copper and cardboard, and viable virus was detected up to 72 hours after application to these surfaces (Figure 1A), although the virus titer was greatly reduced (from 103.7 to 100.6 TCID50 per milliliter of medium after 72 hours on plastic and from 103.7 to 100.6 TCID50 per milliliter after 48 hours on stainless steel). The stability kinetics of SARS-CoV-1 were similar (from 103.4 to 100.7 TCID50 per milliliter after 72 hours on plastic and from 103.6 to 100.6 TCID50 per milliliter after 48 hours on stainless steel). On copper, no viable SARS-CoV-2 was measured after 4 hours and no viable SARS-CoV-1 was measured after 8 hours. On cardboard, no viable SARS-CoV-2 was measured after 24 hours and no viable SARS-CoV-1 was measured after 8 hours (Figure 1A).

*means #officebuilding #conferenceroom #cafeteria #college or #school #classroom #dormitory #eventcenters #hotel #motel #church #servicecenter #stategovernment #localgovernment #fire #police #publicsafety #parks #ballparks #movietheatres #operahouses #theatres #restaurants #retail #QSR #publichousing #hospitals #courthouses #justicecenters #jails #shoppingcenters #shoppingmalls #stadiums #militarybases #airports #seaport and anywhere else people work, meet or otherwise in close proximity to one another.