Reaction: Experts call in 'Science' for mandatory standards to ensure ventilation in public buildings

The journal Science publishes an article in which international experts demand mandatory standards to monitor three parameters within public buildings: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and PM2.5 (fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream), as well as to ensure proper ventilation.

 

 

 

 

28/03/2024 - 19:00 CET
 
Expert reactions

Chris Iddon - ventilación

Chris Iddon

Visiting researcher at University College London and a lead author on the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Covid-19 Ventilation Guidance.

Science Media Centre Spain

While having acceptable air quality indoors is important, setting strict rules on air quality levels that are hard to measure and can change based on room occupant activity is not a good idea. Instead, we should focus on regularly checking that ventilation systems work properly as they were designed to, like the Obligatory Ventilation Checks done in Sweden

The proposed carbon dioxide levels are meant to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. However, the study this proposal is based on did not actually measure ventilation! Since viruses can also spread through close contact, we cannot be sure that these ventilation measures would really have the intended effect of slowing virus transmission. More research is needed to justify setting stricter ventilation requirements.

The author has not responded to our request to declare conflicts of interest
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Publications
Mandating indoor air quality for public buildings
  • Opinion
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Science
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Morawska et al.

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  • Opinion
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