Ventilation in order to tackle COVID-19. With 3 tips!

Ventilation has always been important, but has now received even more attention. A healthy indoor climate is important for your health, concentration and a comfortable feeling. However, ventilation has become even more important with the arrival of the Corona virus. But why is it so important and how can you best ventilate in in order to tackle corona? We will explain it to you here.

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Why is it important to ventilate well, especially with COVID-19?

Corona is mainly transmitted during close contact with an infected person (within 1.5 m). WHO studies show that the virus can be transmitted through the mouth or nose of an infected person. The virus spreads in smaller liquid particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes heavily or talks. These smaller particles can vary in size from the slightly larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. Under certain circumstances, aerosols can even travel a greater distance than 1.5 m. This is the case, for example, in rooms with little or no ventilation and/or in rooms where many people are present for long periods of time. Good ventilation can reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading indoors.

In the UK, the government has established 3 guidelines to limit infections:

• Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• Get tested and self-isolate if required
• If you haven’t already, get vaccinated

Aero…what?

Aerosols are very small particles that can remain suspended in a room for long periods of time. We all produce aerosols, for example when we cough and sneeze, but also when we speak. Recently, it has been shown that the coronacirus can also spread over these smallest particles. These "corona droplets" can remain in an elevator for fifteen minutes after a cough. There are also situations in which particularly large quantities of aerosols can be generated, e.g. in intensive care units or in a dentist's office.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters can remove these particles from the air.

Faton air purifier with ionizer and HEPA filter - Vertical discharge

Itho Daalderop CVE-S eco fan ventilator box RFT SE 325m³/h + humidity sensor 03-00398

Bathroom fan Svara with timer, humidity, temperature and light sensor 100-125mm (app-controlled)

EnviSense CO2 monitor and data logger - CO2 smart

How can I ventilate well against coronavirus?

There are several ways you can ventilate well and bring fresh air into your home. This can be done through a heat recovery system (System D), which ventilates the room and prevents heat loss, or through mechanical ventilation (System C). In addition, you can also opt for natural ventilation. You can install ventilation grilles in walls and/or doors. How long do you need to ventilate? It is best to ventilate throughout the day. Within half an hour, the clean air is polluted again. For optimal ventilation, windows should be opened for at least 15 minutes every hour, and mechanical ventilation should be used around the clock. The RKI recommends ventilating 24 hours a day, whether through ajar windows, through grilles or crevices, or through a mechanical ventilation system. But even then, you don't know if it's enough. We recommend extra ventilation, especially if you have visitors.

Note: Make sure these systems are on or open throughout the day. If this is not the case, the clean air will be polluted again within half an hour and health risks will arise again.

Purchasing and switching on/opening the ventilation are the first steps on the way to a well-ventilated room, but maintenance of ventilation systems is also extremely important. This is done by replacing filters and cleaning the ventilation ducts. If this is not done, the air can still be harmful to health. Read more about the maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems in this blog.

CO2 too high? Time to ventilate!

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important indicator of a healthy indoor climate. If there are (too) many people in a room, a lot of CO2 is exhaled. If there is too little fresh air in proportion, the CO2 content becomes too high, the indoor climate becomes unhealthy and the danger of corona spreading increases. A CO2 monitor shows the quality of the indoor air by measuring the carbon dioxide. With a CO2 monitor, you learn to ventilate, so to speak. As a human being, you cannot perceive a healthy or unhealthy indoor climate. If you have complaints such as headaches, fatigue, etc., the CO2 content is extremely high. With an air quality meter, you will know when it is time to improve the air quality in your home. Read more about it in our blog: How does a CO2 meter work?

Humidity and the coronavirus

In addition to good ventilation, balanced humidity can also help reduce the spread of coronavirus. It can get very dry indoors, especially in winter. The government recommends keeping the humidity between 40 and 60 %. Humidity can be measured with a CO2 meter. You can increase the humidity in your home by putting more plants inside, letting the laundry dry in the room or buying a humidifier.

Airflow and COVID-19

When ventilating indoor spaces, pay attention to air currents. If there are many air currents, the aerosol clouds will be disturbed. This prevents the corona particles from being transferred from one person to another. However, if there is a strong airflow, there is a greater chance of corona transfer. So if you want to keep the corona out and ventilate with an air conditioner or fan, you need to make sure there are multiple air currents and not strong air currents from person to person. Are you alone in a room? Then of course this is not a problem.

Our tips for ventilation in order to tackle COVID-19

TIP 1: VENTILATE 24/7
The WHO explains that it is really necessary to ventilate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if no one is in a room, it must be ventilated. In this way, you always ensure sufficient air circulation and a healthy indoor climate. By using demand-controlled ventilation, the system always ensures the necessary air circulation in a particular room.

TIP 2: ENSURE AIR CIRCULATION
The use of an extractor bonnet, e.g. when cooking or showering, is not sufficient to ventilate a room. A supply of fresh air is also necessary. Opening a window is not sufficient. If you want to open a window, make sure there are two instead of just one. Also make sure that these windows face each other and leave them open for at least 15 minutes.

TIP 3: MEASURING = KNOWING
You can measure the air quality in the house with a CO2 monitor. Preferably, keep the air at 600 parts per million (ppm). With a CO2 monitor, you will know exactly when the indoor air is no longer optimal or healthy, and you can take action based on the monitor.

Would you like to learn more?