We’ve heard about basic hygiene techniques, social distancing, and personal protection equipment ad nauseam over the last few months. But only lately have we heard experts mention the importance of proper ventilation, which should’ve been expected when talking about a mainly airborne disease. Indoor air quality has been an issue for years, and while it has mostly been about air pollution, it is now officially a matter of public health. Let’s take a look at the effects of poor ventilation on COVID-19 transmission rates, and the possible solutions.

The Link Between Poor Air Quality and Higher Mortality Rates

The correlation between bad indoor air quality and higher mortality rates has been known for years. And, according to recent data published by Harvard University, the same holds true with the coronavirus. It has been estimated that an increase of as little as 1 microgram per square feet in particulate matter exposure could increase death rates by as much as 15%. That means that even making slight improvements in air quality could make a huge impact on the total number of deaths.

Confinement and Poor Air Quality - A Match Made in Hell

The sad part is that many of the areas that were the worst affected by the coronavirus and where containment measures were the strictest had to deal with poor air quality issues way before the crisis. Impoverished areas have been the most severely affected by the virus, and, while overcrowding is an issue, what hasn’t been touched as much is the outdated ventilation in many of the buildings. 

Ironically, many of the measures that have been taken to make social housing more energy efficient also had a negative effect on air quality in many cases. Many of these adjustments made buildings more airtight, which has great benefits from an energy consumption standpoint. However, this also means that air circulation is lesser and ventilation has to be upgraded to increase air movement and replacement.

What are the Solutions?

The only solution in that case is to invest in better air filtration and ventilation technology. Technologies like mechanical ventilation with heat recovery were also already getting a lot of attention and can make a huge difference on air quality. These allow for great air replacement rates, and can also improve atmospheric conditions inside homes by lowering humidity and the growth of mould spores. Companies like BPC Ventilation, for instance, are specialised in these kinds of units, and are a great option to provide better air quality in airtight buildings.

Filtration is one of the major components of any MVHR system, and owners have to be familiar with the various levels of filtration provided if they want all the benefits. Filters with a PM2.5 filtration level or lower are recommended, and filters have to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. You should also note that some filters can be cleaned to retain their efficiency.

More has to be said about the importance of indoor air quality in this COVID-19 crisis. With the recent findings, we can expect more public health officials to concentrate on this issue, which could be instrumental in stopping a possible second wave.