Abstract
Most new office buildings in Nordic countries are equipped with balanced mechanical ventilation systems. The purpose of ventilation in office buildings is to provide thermal control by supplying cold or warm air for adequate indoor air quality. However, the role of ventilation in preventing virus transmission and maintaining a sufficient fresh air supply to obtain a low virus level through dilution is not currently well defined. Ventilation in office buildings is expected to contribute to preventing the spread of contaminants and provide comfort for occupants. The study reveals differences between risk areas for spreading airborne contaminants in office buildings in northern Europe, including Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The differences in the spread depends on different ventilation designs used in different countries.
Highlights
Similar to influenza viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has the potential to cause extensive outbreaks (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2020)
For Swedish conditions, the simulation indicated that the wind and stack effect should not affect the desired directed airflow with an increase in the airtightness of the external wall to 0.1 L/(s·m2) at 50 Pa, in an interior less-airtight wall, and a designed internal pressure difference of 15 Pa
Most new office buildings in Nordic countries are equipped with balanced mechanical ventilation systems
Summary
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has the potential to cause extensive outbreaks (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2020). For Swedish conditions, the simulation indicated that the wind and stack effect should not affect the desired directed airflow with an increase in the airtightness of the external wall to 0.1 L/(s·m2) at 50 Pa, in an interior less-airtight wall, and a designed internal pressure difference of 15 Pa. the author concluded that these external forces of wind and stack effect must first be estimate to adopt a balance between the supply and exhaust air when designing a building and ventilation system where a directed airflow is desired. Depending on the balance between the supplied and exhausted airflows, a mechanical ventilation system can create a pressure difference between the room and adjoining spaces, both outside and between adjacent rooms. It is insufficient to state that a different room has a different
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