How HVAC can contribute to a healthy indoor living and working environment
HVAC report 2020 | Market trends | Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)
The recent emergence of energy-efficient building designs has been a major factor in helping to reduce CO2 emissions, resulting in substantial progress in the fight against energy inefficiency within the home and workplace. The trend towards building designs that are increasingly airtight will certainly help reduce energy usage but is potentially leading to problems for our health and well-being, caused by inadequate ventilation systems.
Oaklins’ HVAC specialist, Philip Barker, explores the ways in which modern HVAC systems and technology can contribute to improving health and well-being through indoor living and working environments that promote wellness and vitality. A full version of this report is also available in pdf format.
With the spread of COVID-19, the need for clean, healthy air is greater than ever. Research into historic acute respiratory cases found that an increase in air exchange rates significantly reduced the relative risk of transmission, demonstrating an urgent need to capitalize on HVAC engineering in order to fight future viruses.PHILIP BARKER HVAC SPECIALIST, OAKLINS LONDON, UK
Indoor air quality
An average person breathes in 14 kg of air per day, whereas we only consume 1.5 kg of food and water daily, and so the quality of the air we breathe is clearly very important. People in developed countries spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, and most of the world’s population lives in urban areas and works in an office environment, where the concentrations of some air pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. The increased prevalence of synthetic building materials, air cleaners and other toxic chemicals within more sealed building spaces is likely to increase the concentration of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at home and in the workplace.
Further, within the public eye, COVID-19 has become an increasingly threatening and disruptive pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that viruses of this nature are spread largely through droplets on surfaces and aerosol transmission. Research into historic acute respiratory cases found that when air exchange rates were increased above industry minimum there was a 50% reduction in the relative risk of transmission. The recent outbreak highlights the vital necessity for continued research in this important area of ventilation and the need to capitalize on HVAC engineering in order to fight future viruses.
Source: Andatech
Humidity control
In addition to airborne contaminants, the management of moisture within the internal environment is also of growing importance. This removes excess condensation in order to prevent the buildup of mold and, ultimately, maintain optimal humidity levels. A range of sources can generate excess moisture, such as cooking, washing, drying clothes inside and even breathing, with a person exhaling on average 300 ml of water vapor per day whilst awake. Approximately a third of people in the UK report having mold in their homes, and the WHO has indicated that 30% of buildings are linked to sick building syndrome due to insufficient engineering solutions.
Experts have commented on the importance of optimal humidity levels at approximately 40-60% to reduce the spread of disease. COVID-19, for example, is spread through people coughing and sneezing. At higher humidity levels, droplets become heavier and fall to the surface, where they are easier to control and sterilize. In addition, dry air is linked with irritating the membranes in people’s upper respiratory systems that trap harmful particles, making them more susceptible to infection.
HVAC technology is designed to remove moisture but can also create damp conditions from the collection of microorganisms and polluted condensates from air-conditioning units if these are not treated adequately. Market players such as Aspen Pumps have developed specialist low-energy and low-carbon pumps that are used to remove condensate water from air-conditioning systems in a range of environments to maintain a healthy environment. The Max Hi-Flow product is a high-performance pump used commonly in hospital environments in order to meet the critical requirements for ventilating and conditioning hospital air. It is required to operate effectively 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purposes of cleansing the airconditioning systems of the accumulation of bacteria and condensate in order to maintain a sterile and clean environment for hospital patients and staff.
Thermal comfort
Thermal comfort covers the levels of air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity and air speed. This, of course, differs depending on the environment and the nature of the work carried out in it. A building’s level of thermal comfort is also an increasingly important consideration, due to the direct link with morale and work performance, and is impacted by increasingly insular and airtight buildings and rising temperatures from climate change, as well as the increased use of electronic devices in the home and workplace. Efficient heat management through HVAC devices will mean staff feel physically comfortable and so productivity, morale and efficiency will not be impeded due to being too hot or too cold. For example:
- Employees may choose not to wear personal protective equipment in dangerous environments that are often naturally hot, increasing the risks.
- An employee’s attention span when concentrating on a given task may subside due to fatigue and discomfort, increasing the risk of errors.
- People may take shortcuts to get out of hot or cold environments.
Download report as pdf
For more expert commentary in this sector, download the full version of this report as pdf.
In addition, charts of selected public company valuations provide an overview of current trends and a list of recent transactions in the HVAC sector shows strong activity in cross-border M&A.
Talk to our industry specialist or local contact
Contact our global HVAC specialist or our local contact Frederik van der Schoot from Oaklins' team in the Netherlands.
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