ventilation

HOW WILL INFECTION CONTROL CHANGE THE FACE OF VENTILATION?

COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on how we live – but how could the pandemic potentially change the way we approach ventilation within our healthcare facilities as we learn from the coronavirus and tackle potential airborne infection control?  Mechanical engineer at Pick Everard, Simon Atkin, discusses how the pandemic

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Best Ventilation for Sports Facilities

The ventilation solution for indoor sports facilities needs to adhere to special requirements, as the climate changes constantly depending on what activities are going on inside the facility. Moreover, moisture and odours from athletes and spectators affect the air as well. Therefore, it is important that the ventilation solution is designed

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FabricAir Offers Sustainable Ventilation Solution

FabricAir’s sustainable ventilation solution has a lower carbon footprint than conventional metal ducting, as well as enabling operational energy savings of up to 40%. In fabric ventilation systems require less energy to produce and transport, while also having a much higher and more precise air distribution due to having a

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Latest Issue
Issue 325 : Feb 2025

ventilation

HOW WILL INFECTION CONTROL CHANGE THE FACE OF VENTILATION?

COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on how we live – but how could the pandemic potentially change the way we approach ventilation within our healthcare facilities as we learn from the coronavirus and tackle potential airborne infection control?  Mechanical engineer at Pick Everard, Simon Atkin, discusses how the pandemic could shape ventilation systems moving forwards. He said: “Sustainability and energy efficiency has long been high on the agenda for the construction industry as we all look to move towards Net Zero Carbon and to deliver the most environmentally sound infrastructure – but COVID-19 has introduced a new focus for many; ventilation. More importantly, how we can ensure that the systems we use within our buildings keep end users safe and prevent the spread of airborne diseases such as coronavirus? “Historically, ventilation has been related to the thermal comfort of end users, particularly in commercial settings. However, the way in which we handle air circulation within our buildings has become a key point of discussion in relation to infection control, whether that be within new builds or what options there are to retrofit older buildings to help improve the role of ventilation in bacterial control within our buildings – especially those with healthcare purposes.” Adapting to changing scientific advice Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, building services engineers have had to pay close attention to the scientific advice on the disease to ensure that clients can be advised on their systems appropriately – whether this be a commercial office space or a medical facility.  Simon added: “Several months into the pandemic in the UK, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged that there was emerging evidence that the virus could be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air, and that such airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings.  “With many patients needing critical treatment for other conditions throughout the pandemic it is of critical importance that we adapt quickly and efficiently within healthcare facilities to ensure that patients are still able to receive potentially life-saving treatment without being put at risk of contracting coronavirus. “High-performance ventilation systems are already commonplace within the healthcare sector, with systems including negative pressure air handling and fresh air exchangers utilised effectively in hospitals – but are we likely to see these types of systems integrated into other sectors as we move out of the pandemic? It could be that hospital grade ventilation systems become the norm across all varieties of buildings as consumers become more focussed on how we ventilate spaces to prevent the spread of disease. “There is an inevitable cost implication to utilising higher performance ventilation systems as well as a potential compromise on other sustainability credentials within the build, both of which may make clients think twice about how far they are willing to go – especially given the evolving ways in which we are all using spaces as a result of social distancing.  “We may also see changes to the maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems. In the past, this is something that has been carried out infrequently – if at all – but as increasing focus is placed on germ control, it may be that we see pressure being applied on building owners and occupiers to illustrate these measures are being taken, possibly even via legislation and certification.” The future of ventilation At Pick Everard, we have been keeping abreast of the latest scientific data and advice from the WHO, to make sure we provide our clients with the best possible service in what has been undoubtedly one of the toughest years for the healthcare sector. As well as the obvious pressures the coronavirus placed on services directly, there have been huge ripples of indirect pressures as well.  “One hospital with whom we at Pick Everard have a working relationship has sought consultancy services on its ventilation systems due to one such indirect pressure – a forced reduction in the number of patients served,” said Simon. “Following the WHO acknowledgement of potential airborne transmission in enclosed spaces, the hospital had to introduce a process of leaving a minimum of one hour between patients in its consultancy rooms to avoid cross-contamination issues. This of course has a significant impact on the number of patients that can be treated each day, increasing the waiting lists for treatments and has a very real human impact on those patients waiting for treatment.  “We have never seen such a focus on air circulation and ventilation, but whether or not there will be a long-term change in approach when it comes to designing systems in our buildings is not yet clear. There will undoubtedly be cost implications associated with higher grade ventilation systems, as well as considerations around performance and energy efficiencies, which will potentially require clients to find additional funding to see projects come to fruition.  “As we move through the pandemic and with a vaccine potentially on the horizon, any longer-term shift towards high-performance heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems may not be obvious as changes take their time to filter through. Without legislation it is likely that progress will be slow across the board, but there are certainly many learnings to take forward from 2020, and opportunity for forward-thinking organisations to deliver better, more hygienic, and sustainable buildings.” Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.

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Best Ventilation for Sports Facilities

The ventilation solution for indoor sports facilities needs to adhere to special requirements, as the climate changes constantly depending on what activities are going on inside the facility. Moreover, moisture and odours from athletes and spectators affect the air as well. Therefore, it is important that the ventilation solution is designed to handle these changes in humidity, temperature, etc. without creating discomfort for the people using the facility. Sports facilities cover a number of different application types, each requiring its own unique solution. Each application requires a thorough assessment of the important parameters, such as room dimensions, the primary purpose of the air, the risk of corrosion, special temperature requirements, elements affecting the induction patterns and so on. Thus, sports facilities also place great demands on the flexibility of the solution. The best suited dispersion technology for sports facilities is therefore fabric ducting. It is the solution that offers the greatest design flexibility while eliminating the risk of condensation and corrosion. Textile channel systems are designed for the specific application. This means that flow models and dispersion patterns can be completely adapted to the individual needs. The design flexibility covers all elements, such as the duct profile, type of fabric and its permeability, flow models and flow patterns, as well as the suspension method. The system is tailor-made and arrives ready for installation, in typically less than two weeks from the order is released for production. The textile channels are also distinguished by weighing far less than conventional metal solutions. Therefore, they are suitable for retrofitting in existing buildings. They weigh as little as 300g / m2 despite the fact that they provide a much better air distribution than the other technologies on the market. They can therefore easily be retrofitted in older sports facilities. Since the very beginning in 1973, even air distribution, no drafts and no condensation have been at the heart of FabricAir’s innovative technology. This is why technology quickly spread across application types and national borders. More than 40% of all countries in the world today use this fabric-based air dispersion technology because comfort, design freedom and other important features, such as condensation-free, are essential parameters in choosing the ideal ventilation solution for sports facilities.

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FabricAir Offers Sustainable Ventilation Solution

FabricAir’s sustainable ventilation solution has a lower carbon footprint than conventional metal ducting, as well as enabling operational energy savings of up to 40%. In fabric ventilation systems require less energy to produce and transport, while also having a much higher and more precise air distribution due to having a textile-based ventilation rather than the conventional metal ducting. This means that ventilation solutions from FabricAir operate with a lower pressure loss and therefore require less energy to operate. The lower pressure loss can save up to 40% on the power bill. Meeting the OEKO-TEX 100 requirements, FabricAir’s textiles confirm the company’s commitment to environmentally friendly production methods and materials. The expected lifetime of a fabric duct is long; several of the original installations from the 70s are still being used in slaughterhouses around Denmark. Moreover, due to the compact nature of the ducts, they take up significantly less space than metal ducts during transport, with calculations showing that FabricAir Dispersion Systems emit 21.3% less CO2 from transport than corresponding ducts in metal. The additional advantages that come with the usage of FabricAir dispersion technology include even, draft free air dispersion and no condensation issues, which creates the ideal indoor environment. The fabrics do not corrode, which makes this technology especially advantageous in swimming pools and other highly corrosive environments. Using flow models and permeable fabrics prevents dust and other particles from settling inside and onto the duct, rendering the ducts technically maintenance-free; should there be a need for cleaning, the easy suspension methods ensure quick dismantling and reinstallation, and the ducts can simply be washed in a washing machine.

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