The Effect of Suggested Ventilation Approaches After Covid-19 on The Probability of Infection, Number of Cases and Ventilation Rates in University Classrooms

Abstract

After COVID-19, two ventilation approaches have been adopted for infection control. The first is the EN 16798-1 ventilation standard recommended by international organizations. The second is ventilation design, determined according to the risk of infection. This study investigated the effects of various post-COVID-19 ventilation scenarios on the probability of COVID-19 infection, the number of cases, and ventilation rates in four separate university classrooms. Ventilation rates based on infection risk and infection risk were determined by the Wells-Riley mathematical model calibrated to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The findings showed that the EN 16798-1 ventilation standard may be inadequate in terms of infection risk in classrooms. It showed that ventilation rates determined based on infection risk may not be met by existing HVAC system capacities, even in LEED-certified schools. In possible future pandemics, current ventilation standards and air conditioning system designs in schools should be reviewed in order to control the outbreak.