Ventilation Strategy for Proper IAQ in Existing Nurseries Buildings - Lesson Learned from the Research during COVID-19 Pandemic

Katarzyna Ratajczak

doi:10.4209/aaqr.210337

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many recommendations were made in the field of limiting the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, from which we can learn a lesson for determining ventilation strategies in strategic types of buildings (those whose closure during a pandemic is harmful to the economy, e.g., nurseries). The research was aimed at identifying recommendations in the field of ventilation and proposing a solution that would be applicable in existing buildings intended for the care of small children, and which would ensure the proper quality of the building environment, at the same time with low costs incurred by the owners. The outside air pollution (PM10) and the climate in winter (low air temperature) were also taken into account. A strategy was proposed based on the use of decentralized units, dedicated to single rooms, thanks to which the appropriate amount of air is supplied (per person), the air is cleaned and heated in the heat recovery exchanger. It has been shown that the use of heat recovery ensures that the costs of air heating will be significantly lower than during airing. The proposed solutions require two holes in the external wall with a diameter of 160–200 mm (depending on the number of people), which guarantees the technically possible application in existing buildings. The strategy provides suitable conditions for the functioning of nurseries, but can be used in many types of buildings, in cold and temperate climates, where airing of the rooms during winter is not possible, especially in the case of locations where the quality of outdoor air is very poor. The proposed strategy may be applied during a pandemic, but also on a daily basis, because by ensuring the proper quality of indoor air, young children will have healthy and hygienic conditions for development when they are not at home.

Highlights

1.1 Institutions that Care for Children < 3 Years and their Importance for SocietyNurseries provide care for small children under the age of 3 in many countries (Kayhan and Akmese, 2012)
Because the provision of daycare for small children is extremely important, both for women so that they can actively work, and for the children, who would benefit from the development of social skills, this study aims to suggest an appropriate ventilation strategy specific for nurseries or daycares
Data indicate that the optimal airflow that should be supplied to the rooms to achieve the assumed quality index was 11.6 ± 1.1 m3 h–1 per person in the case of full attendance, and if the presence of occupants is representative of real attendance data, the airflow should be 15.3 ± 1.2 m3 h–1 per person

Summary

Introduction

1.1 Institutions that Care for Children < 3 Years and their Importance for Society. Nurseries provide care for small children under the age of 3 in many countries (Kayhan and Akmese, 2012). Providing adequate care for small children is important as it favors the professional activation of women. This phenomenon was first observed as early as 1988 (European Commission Childcare Network, 1988). Women would be provided with the opportunity to pursue professional careers. This strategy would minimize long breaks in mother’s careers due to the prior need for full-time childcare (Torres, 2008)

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