Analysis of educational building’s ventilation suitability to prevent the spread of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Osterman, Eneja (author), Stritih, Uroš (author), Dovjak, Mateja (author), Vaupotič, Janja (author), Verbajs, Tomaž (author), Mlakar, Urška (author), Zavrl, Eva (author)

n a larger educational building in Slovenia, we examined the efficiency of ventilation systems by analysing the operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in several classrooms. Using the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) COVID-19 ventilation calculator, the probability of infection due to the spread of coronavirus through aerosol particles and the reproduction number were calculated based on the classroom occupancy, ventilation rates, and other parameters (i.e., classroom characteristics, preventive measures). Firstly, different levels of ventilation capacity (50 % and 80 %) were applied. Considering the distance between persons 1.5 m and wearing the masks of all participants, the probability of infection during lectures was always lower than 1 %. Secondly, the maximum number of students that can attend lectures is about 30 %, as calculated according to the legal requirements, recommendations, and given conditions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: classroom ventilation, REHVA calculator, probability of infection, reproduction number, HVAC systems
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.04.2022
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 233-239
• Numbering: Vol. 68, no. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136329
• UDC: 697.9:628.8
• ISSN on article: 0039-2480
• DOI: 10.5545/sv-jme.2022.68
• COBISS.SI-ID: 105798659
• Publication date in RUL: 25.04.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Strojniški vestnik
• Shortened title: Stroj. vestn.
• Publisher: Zveza strojnih inženirjev in tehnikov Slovenije [etc.], = Association of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians of Slovenia [etc.
• ISSN: 0039-2480
• COBISS.SI-ID: 762116

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 07.04.2022
• Applies to: Accepted for publication

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Analiza ustreznosti prezračevanja izobraževalne ustanove z vidika preprečevanja širjenja koronavirusa (SARS-CoV-2)
• Keywords: prezračevanje učilnic, kalkulator REHVA COVID-19, verjetnost za okužbo, reprodukcijsko število, HVAC sistemi