Healthy buildings

Buildings were originally constructed to protect us against a hostile environment. However, the goal of energy and cost reduction means that the opposite is now true: high-tech insulation materials, optimisation of the use of floor space and a high user density result in falling costs. Until now, however, little attention has been given to the consequences this has for health. From ventilation and the ideal air humidity through to filters, light and the right choice of materials, this section identifies effective measures to make buildings healthier. It also identifies the possibilities available for an in-house risk assessment. For complaints and symptoms caused by dry air, systematic communication within companies can be the prelude to initiating solutions to improve the indoor climate.

 

Health and humidification Symptoms Healthy buildings Costs/Benefits References/Best Practice FaQ

 

 

How buildings can protect our health

 

 

 

Risk assessment of excessively dry air

 

 

How buildings can protect our health

Buildings were originally constructed to protect us against a hostile environment. However, thanks to the relentless pursuit of the goal of energy and cost reduction, the opposite is now true: high-tech insulation materials, lightweight building shells, mechanical air-conditioning systems, optimisation of the use of floor space and a high user density result in falling costs. Until now, little attention has been given to the consequences this has for health. The lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic show just how vulnerable we have become in our buildings. An opportunity for the future: because the mix of effective measures that can make buildings healthier in the future ranges from ventilation and the ideal air humidity through to filters, light and the right choice of materials.

 

The right mix of indoor climate, light and materials

The coronavirus pandemic has worked to focus public attention on the risks posed by viral infections in buildings. Contributory factors that have been discussed for some time have now been placed centre stage, emphasising the influence that fresh air, temperature and humidity, but also light and materials, can have on the spread of viruses. Indoor air quality in particular is of prime importance for protecting the health of building users. In recent years, an ever-increasing body of scientific evidence has been documenting its impact on the immune system and the spread of respiratory infections. Viral respiratory infections are transmitted almost exclusively from person to person indoors. The most common route of infection is airborne transmission at close range via droplets and at longer range via aerosols: viral particles from an infected individual are breathed in by another person, and these then enter mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract. Depending on the particle size, this is called droplet transmission or aerosol transmission. Because of their small size, aerosols are extremely light. Viral aerosol particles can spread through the air in large spaces over a considerable period of time. Relevant factors for their spread are the movement and humidity of the air, which have a direct impact on the range of aerosols, their ability to remain suspended in the air and their infectiousness.

 

 

Fresh air against viruses

Viral respiratory infections are transmitted almost exclusively from person to person indoors. The most common route of infection is airborne transmission at close range via droplets and at longer range via aerosols: viral particles from an infected individual are breathed in by another person, and these then enter mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract. Depending on the particle size, this is called droplet transmission or aerosol transmission. Because of their small size, aerosols are extremely light. Viral aerosol particles can spread through the air in large spaces over a considerable period of time. Relevant factors for their spread are the movement and humidity of the air, which have a direct impact on the range of aerosols, their ability to remain suspended in the air and their infectiousness.

Getting as much fresh air into the room as possible is the most effective method for removing viral aerosol particles from indoor spaces. As the proportion of fresh air rises, this increasingly dilutes the viral aerosol particles in room air. Air conditioners can move the required volumes of fresh air into the room and stale air out of the room in a controlled manner. The air exchange rate is an important parameter here: the higher the air exchange rate, the lower the risk of infection. The ideal air exchange rate depends on building usage and the number of people present indoors. It should be noted that higher rates of exchange can lead to an increase in energy consumption and a lowering of relative humidity levels. Air quality is considered to be good when the concentration of CO2 is less than 1,000 ppm (parts per million).

 

 

At least 40% humidity

The airborne transmission and viability of viruses is also significantly influenced by the relative humidity. The lowest risk of transmission is at a minimum humidity of 40 to 60%. Because the mucous membranes are self-cleaning, this is also the range in which the human immune response is most effective. Aerosols essentially consist of water, salts and proteins. At a relative humidity of under 40%, aerosols lose their water content and dry out. This produces dry aerosols, which are smaller and lighter, and which can remain airborne in the room for longer. Air flows and the movements of people in the room also mean that dry aerosols are raised from surfaces again more quickly, and can therefore spread further. Apart from its effect on suspended particles, humidity is also hugely important in terms of the infectiousness of these pathogen-rich droplets. At less than 40% relative humidity, aerosols dry out to the extent that the salts they contain crystallise out. This works to protect the viruses and they remain infectious for longer. When breathed in, the crystallised salts then dissolve again in the moist environment of the respiratory tract. The viral particles, which are still infectious, are released onto the mucous membranes, where they can trigger an infection. If relative humidity is within the optimum range of 40 to 60%, however, aerosols only dry out to an extent where salt concentrations rapidly increase but salts do not crystallise out, and the viruses contained in these aerosols do not survive.

 

Self-cleaning abilities of mucous membranes at different levels of relative humidity

 

Natural light is healthy

Sunlight also plays an important role as an active line of defence against viral infections. The UV component of sunlight stimulates the body’s immune system on the one hand while also enhancing the formation and mobility of the natural killer cells that tackle viruses and bacteria. Sunlight also reduces the period during which pathogenic microorganisms can remain viable. Natural UV-A and UV-B light is absent from our buildings, since window glass absorbs and reflects up to 100% of UV radiation. However, LED lighting that can reproduce UV-A and UV-B can be used to simulate full-spectrum sunlight within a building. This would reduce the propagation of pathogens while also boosting our immune system.

Influence of sunlight and humidity on the time taken to inactivate 90 percent of all Sars-CoV-2 viruses

 

Many ways to better health

Alongside technical systems, the ability of a building to protect against infectious diseases also depends on its usage and facilities. In recent years, many buildings have tended to adopt the kinds of layouts that emphasise openness and transparency. However, these positive moves to facilitate teamwork also have the effect of increasing the risk of transmission: spacious rooms with large numbers of people are proven to encourage the diversity and occurrence of microbes. The spread of pathogens can be contained, however, by reducing the number of high-occupancy rooms, and ensuring a mix between open and closed spaces. The choice of floor covering can also influence indoor air quality. Unlike hard floors, coverings like rugs and carpets reduce levels of fine particulates within a room, since dust remains trapped in fibres and cannot be swept up again into the air. Organic fabrics also store water while helping to reduce noise levels in the room. Plants filter impurities out of the air and boost microbe diversity while producing oxygen. Under the influence of light, photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the air: the plant retains the carbon and the oxygen is released into the room. Plants are also capable of releasing up to 90% of water they are given into the air, which means they are also moderate contributors to humidity.

 

Conclusion: Reimagining buildings

Healthier buildings that protect against respiratory infections are the result of many factors, some of which work in synergy with one another. For specific buildings, some approaches will also be unsuitable or technically unfeasible. For company managers, facility managers, employees and occupational health and safety officers, it is important to seek dialogue now, with a view to putting together the right package of health protection measures for existing buildings effectively, sustainability and in good time.

 

Risk assessment of excessively dry air

If employees at the workplace feel impaired by dry air on a sustained basis and there are regular occurrences of symptoms and complaints, a specific dialogue to this effect must be sought within the company. However, employees with complaints about excessively dry air often feel that they are on their own. One of the reasons for this is that, at present, the technical rules for workplaces do not define a binding minimum humidity. A company risk assessment can be used to initiate solutions to improve the indoor climate and tangibly improve the work of employees. In accordance with ASiG, the German occupational safety act, the employer assigns these solutions to occupational physicians and occupational safety specialists, while also involving works or staff councils in the process.

 

Implementation of a risk assessment

A systematic risk assessment consists of seven steps. First, the work areas are defined. These can be individual workplaces or departments, such as call centres or customer service. The potential health hazards and exposures are then summarised and subsequently assessed. Allowance should be made here for how likely a hazard is and what consequences result from it. In the case of humidity, measurements over an extended period of time are essential. In the next step, the TOP principle is used to define measures to improve health protection – primarily through technical solutions. The most important element of the risk assessment is the written documentation and follow-up: once it has been implemented and its impact verified, the process is continuously updated.