More increase in productivity
The better IAQ results the
better healthy life

ASHRAE 62.1 Defines:
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is defined as air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by Cognizant Authorities and with which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS (WHO) says:
The World Health Organization IAQ standards and guidelines outline a number of potentially hazardous organic and non-organic substances that can have adverse health effects in homes in large quantities or after long periods of exposure.
Good IAQ leads to be satisfied people in all the indoor areas.
Good IAQ improves the level of productivity.
Poor IAQ is one of the major environmental health hazards.
As an average, we spend more than 80% of our time indoor spaces such as homes/apartments, offices, gyms, mosques, restaurants, superstores, malls, etc. Indoor air pollutants are 2 – 5 times higher than outside air.
AIR POLLUTION CAN AFFECT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT & COGNITIVE FUNCTION (UNICEF – Dec. 2017)
Cognitive ability may be defined as a “mental capability that … involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience”.
SYMPTOMS & HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO LOW INDOOR AIR QUALITY:
Researchers confirm that more than 30% of all commercial buildings have significant IAQ issues – WHO.
v Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
v Headaches
v Dizziness
v Fatigue
v Colds or other viral infections
Air pollution from both outdoor and indoor sources represents the single largest environmental risk to health globally.
EPA – USA – Another approach to lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in your home is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating / cooling systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house.
GASEOUS COMPOSITION:
Carbon Dioxide / Carbon Monoxide
Measure the correctness of Ventilation Or Incorrect Ventilation.
Vehicle Exhaust.
Formaldehyde
Very low Volatile Organic Compounds.
Used in pressed wood products, adhesives, etc.
MAJOR OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS Particulate matter.
Ozone Nitrogen oxides
Carbon monoxide Sulfur dioxide.
Particles with a diameter less than 10 micrometers are named PM10;
Particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers are called PM2.5 (or fine particulates) and
Particles with a diameter less than 0.1 micrometers are called PM0.1 (or ultrafine particulates).
HOW TO IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY INDEX RATING:
This would be possible to improve the Air Quality index for major cities such as Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad in order to reduce solid waste burning, industrial emissions, the fining of over-polluting factories, home businesses or open burning.
Other initiatives would include the eventual removal of ancient vehicles off the road and a move over to cleaner fuel sources like Hybrid or Electric Cars.
Unexplained COVID-19 “community spread” incidents
Cast doubt on claimed Insignificance of airborne
transmission, Guangzhou, Restaurant.10 of 21 diners at three tables.
Infected by 1 person. Distance of up to 5m (16 feet).
Particulate Matter in Indoor Air
While there is no doubt that the Coronavirus SARS 2, which originates the disease COVID-19, is transmitted mainly through the particles exhaled by infected patients, it is important to start with a basic explanation of how the particulate matter, usually designated by the acronym PM, is classified.
ASHRAE’s statement on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.
Indoor spaces with human occupancy must be heavily ventilated due to the COVID situation, exclusively with fresh air, to decrease virus concentrations, in the event of possible contamination by suspended particles, and, thus, reduce the risk of infection.
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – 2013 contains two alternative procedures, the widely uses – Ventilation Rate Procedure and second is Indoor Air Quality Procedures (IAQP).
A. The VRP describes ventilation rates for the specific building.
B. On the other way, IAQP is a performance-based design approach to keeping contaminants of concern (COCs) concentration.
AIR CHANGE:
Here is a four-step process on how to calculate the room CFM:
A. Step One – Use the above Air Changes per Hour Table to identify the required air changes needed for the use of the room. Let’s say it’s a conference room requiring 10 air changes per hour.
B. Step Two – Calculate the volume of the room (L’ x W’ x H’).
C. Step Three – Multiply the volume of the room by the required room air changes.
D. Step Four – Divide the answer by 60 minutes per Hour to find the required room CFM.
AIR FILTRATION:
TYPE OF FILTERS COMMONLY USE – PRE-FILTERS + BAG FILTERS & HEPA / ULPA FILTERS (Robust)
EN 779: 2012 is the only one and now using ISO 16890 is the new way to evaluate filters.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and is a filtration rating that captures microbes, dust, and particulates down to 0.3 Micron.
ISO 16890 – 1: 2016 establishes an efficiency classification system of air filters for general ventilation based upon particulate matter (PM). It also provides an overview of the test procedures and specifies general requirements for assessing and marking the filters, as well as for documenting the test results.
MERV Rating is known as Minimum Efficiency Rate Value and A MERV rating chart shows a numerical value. The range is from 1 (lowest efficiency) to 20 (highest efficiency).
Outdoor Air Intakes. Ventilation system outdoor air intakes shall be designed properly.
The temperature of the room should be designed. Normally design is 24 C.
Humidity should be between 40% to 60%.
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE IAQ are UGVI and Bipolar Ionization.
Designing a building’s HVAC system requires designers to meet or exceed minimum outdoor air requirements, maximize energy savings, and meet all state and local codes.
CONCLUSIONS:
Air pollution is usually worst in urban centers. As more and more of the world urbanizes, and without adequate protection and pollution reduction measures, children, old and less immune people will be at risk in the years to come.
In case, the risk of outdoor air pollutions/contaminants are not high can incentivize natural ventilation and passive measures for rural areas, low budget buildings, or industrial applications especially for developing countries.
Parks, trees, and green areas within urban centers can improve local air quality as well as offer a refuge for children to play.
Better waste management can reduce the amount of pollution caused by waste that is burned within communities.
Proper disposal and recycling of paper, plastics, metals, and organic materials can help prevent harmful chemicals from being burned and reaching children’s lungs.
Try to maintain a low level of Carbon Dioxide less. Use sensors to increase ventilation.
Reducing Outdoor activities when Air Quality Index and pollution levels are unhealthy, protecting indoor spaces by closing windows during outdoor air pollution episodes, and using one of the above-defined strategies.
Since most of the countries implemented the combat measures against Contact and Droplets modes the above complementary measures should be put in place.
Avoid face-to-face meetings in case of a chance of spread out of virus. Use mas and keep a safe distance for any public place.
Better IAQ results, better healthy life and increase the productivity of the nation.n