Building Ventilation Measurement Protocol for Airborne Contagions

The purpose of this protocol is to measure the ventilation rates in each room and identify ventilation problems due to operational mistakes and maintenance issues. Once this protocol is executed there will be a full understanding of the facility ventilation and documented evidence of the facility ventilation.

This protocol is assigned to a Ventilation Measurement and Assessment point of contact in the organization. This individual is responsible for this protocol and its artifacts. Potential Ventilation Measurement and Assessment points of contacts are: Infectious Disease Nurse, Safety Officer, Facility Manager, Owner, or other designated person.

The Building Ventilation Measurement Protocol For Airborne Contagions was developed for all public and private buildings including Schools, Offices, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Assisted Living Facilities, Rehabilitation Facilities, Nursing Homes, Airports, Train Stations, Homes, Factories, Warehouses, Labs, Animal Facilities etc. It allows anyone to identify ventilation problems due to operational mistakes and maintenance issues and to measure the ventilation rates in each room in terms of Air Changes Per Hour (ACH). It is for everyone to use when assessing their current ventilation systems, upgrading their ventilation systems or installing new ventilation systems either as part of maintenance, renovations or new construction. Anyone can run the protocol including individuals, staff, engineering firms, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) companies, building environment companies, air quality companies building code authorities, etc.

The Building Ventilation Measurement Protocol For Airborne Contagions provides a simple, clear, concise, and a testable set of steps that are easily performed. It includes forms, instructions, and education information including airborne contagion behavior, risk assessments, and various ventilation approaches to mitigate airborne contagions. Once this protocol is executed there is a full understanding of the facility ventilation.

With the outbreak of COVID-19 Cassbeth began research on the disaster and quickly focused on ventilation. The research showed that the problem is massive within small enclosed spaces, problematic in large spaces, and extremely rare in outdoor spaces. During the research, ventilation systems were studied and their effectiveness in mitigating the risk of infection. It was found that there are different approaches to ventilation that trace back into the early part of the 20th century and that they work. The problem today is that people have forgotten these ventilation approaches and they are either poorly designed, maintained, or operated thus leading to infection from airborne contagions.

Before COVID-19 surfaced people would get sick but eventually recover and return to life. Some would die from the Flu. Sick building syndrome was a typical reference. The death rate for COVID-19 was and is much higher than the typical Flu strains and it forced the shutdown of whole societies around the world. The vaccine has helped to restart the world but COVID-19 with its variants is still in the biosphere and more importantly not everyone has access to effective vaccines. COVID-19 showed that we have a problem with our ventilation systems.

Cassbeth Research found that there are categories of facilities such as Elite, Medium, Low, and Very Low end facilities that are separated by ventilation levels as determined by design performance levels, maintenance, and or operations. For example, an Elite facility might become a Very Low end facility because of poor operations in a scenario like an age 55 community clubhouse that tries to save money by turning off the ventilation system when people are present. Another example is a school room where the vents are closed off in the ceiling and the system sensors are unable to detect the close off condition and the children get infected. These are both real world examples from the research findings.

The first step in mitigating ventilation issues is to understand the current ventilation performance of a building and its rooms. This protocol will teach key aspects of ventilation and show users how to measure and document the ventilation rates in each room of a facility and provide an assessment of the ventilation performance levels.

The problems with our ventilation systems started with the energy crisis in the 1970s when everyone was encouraged to turn down ventilation rates to save fuel. It became worse when smoking was banned in the 1980s and the ventilation levels were further reduced. Today with the need to reduce carbon footprints the ventilation levels are being further reduced. The choice must not be reduced carbon footprints versus health in the 21st century. It must be both health and reduced carbon footprints. That is the challenge for this generation in the 21st century.

This protocol is based on systems engineering and the systems perspective. It does not endorse any technologies, products, industries, or companies. In a systems engineering effort for a problem of this magnitude all technologies and products are examined that may be able to address the need and provide a viable solution. This is called large complex systems engineering. Examples of large complex systems engineering from the previous century are the Telephone system, Radio and Television, US Space Program, Air Defense, Air Traffic Control, etc. This protocol is in that spirit of an effective systems engineering activity and solution.

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