Airborne Infection Reduction through Building Operation and Design for SARS-CoV-2 (AIRBODS)
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Architecture, Building and Civil Eng
Abstract
This research will deliver robust guidance on ventilation operation and future building design to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in buildings - such as primary healthcare settings, theatres, open plan offices and retail spaces - in response to increasing evidence of aerosol transmission.
This work brings together leading UK scientists and engineers to address this using experimental methods, mathematical modelling and field work. By undertaking small-scale experiments and field tests to investigate the transport of aerosols carrying virus particles under various scenarios, the team will develop guidance on how to design and operate buildings to minimise the risk of airborne transmission, and develop a range of modelling techniques and simulation tools for others to use to enable immediate deployment of knowledge.
With CIBSE as a project partner, and a work package dedicated to dissemination, we will operate a very transparent channel of regular communication with stakeholders. Through this channel the team will provide advice and guidance, as it becomes available, on mitigating airborne transmission. However, the longitudinal nature of the research means we will refine our models using feedback from field studies and be in a position to respond to the changing demands for information and advice to help society "reopen for business".
Our approach to the research will mean the knowledge and tools we generate will be relevant for mitigation of a wide range of airborne hazards across the spectrum of indoor environments for many years to come.
This work brings together leading UK scientists and engineers to address this using experimental methods, mathematical modelling and field work. By undertaking small-scale experiments and field tests to investigate the transport of aerosols carrying virus particles under various scenarios, the team will develop guidance on how to design and operate buildings to minimise the risk of airborne transmission, and develop a range of modelling techniques and simulation tools for others to use to enable immediate deployment of knowledge.
With CIBSE as a project partner, and a work package dedicated to dissemination, we will operate a very transparent channel of regular communication with stakeholders. Through this channel the team will provide advice and guidance, as it becomes available, on mitigating airborne transmission. However, the longitudinal nature of the research means we will refine our models using feedback from field studies and be in a position to respond to the changing demands for information and advice to help society "reopen for business".
Our approach to the research will mean the knowledge and tools we generate will be relevant for mitigation of a wide range of airborne hazards across the spectrum of indoor environments for many years to come.
Publications
Adzic F
(2022)
A post-occupancy study of ventilation effectiveness from high-resolution CO2 monitoring at live theatre events to mitigate airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
in Building and environment
Adzic F.
(2022)
Post-Occupancy study of indoor air quality in university laboratories during the pandemic
in 17th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2022
Burnside G
(2024)
COVID-19 risk mitigation in reopening mass cultural events: population-based observational study for the UK Events Research Programme in Liverpool City Region.
in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
Cook M
(2021)
AIRBODS: A brief overview
Hajaali A
(2024)
Cloud and droplet dynamics during a human coughing event under fully mixed and unmixed room conditions
in Physics of Fluids
Iddon C
(2022)
A population framework for predicting the proportion of people infected by the far-field airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 indoors.
in Building and environment
Jones B
(2021)
COVID in schools - how ventilation can help to combat spread of virus
in The Conversation
Jones B
(2021)
Modelling uncertainty in the relative risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus by airborne aerosol transmission in well mixed indoor air.
in Building and environment
| Description | The key findings so far are associated with the monitoring of indoor and outdoor air quality. They are summarised as follows: > Very large buildings need to be considered in context as a set of different spaces, all of which may experience different ventilation rates and occupancy depending on their use. > In addition to ventilation rate, the distribution of air within a space, or ventilation effectiveness, is a key parameter when assessing the risk of airborne transmission. > The nature of many events and the design of some public spaces means people are crowded together which inhibits the free flow of air around the occupied zone. > A useful measure of the spaces as a whole, obtained by calculating average values and maximum values. > Monitoring may not have to be deployed long-term in every building. Useful lessons can be learned from a temporary installation in real world conditions and high occupancy levels, if high resolution monitoring is deployed and the ventilation system of a building is surveyed and analysed in depth. > Understanding the intended ventilation strategy and its control is an important part of the solution. |
| Exploitation Route | We will discuss this with our Advisory Board, but we intend to ensure this by dissemination through our partner, CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers). |
| Sectors | Construction,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Retail |
| URL | https://airbods.org.uk/ |
| Description | Through our work with DCMS, we have made a significant input to government guidance documents on the safe reopening and operation of sports, entertainment and hospitality venues. In particular we advised on the monitoring and operation of ventilation systems and indoor air quality. These documents formed the basis of government advice to this sector. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Let's clear the air: Evaluating a behavioural intervention to reduce COVID transmission through effective ventilation in hospitality venues |
| Amount | £33,078 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | National Core Studies in COVID Prevention: COVID Secure Ventilation for Hospitality |
| Amount | £169,679 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2022 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Ventilation for hospitality |
| Amount | £171,867 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Sheffield City Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Title | A population framework for predicting the proportion of people infected by the far-field airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 indoors |
| Description | An analytical model is used to predict the dose of viral genome copies of an individual person and associated individual and population infection risks of infection. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | New model, awaiting impact. |
| Description | Collaboration meetings with CO-TRACE academic programme |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Cambridge Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Participated in 2No (as of March 2022) collaboration meetings to share knowledge the RA presentations hosted by Cambridge University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Reciprocal RA presentations. |
| Impact | Presentations and recordings shared. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration meetings with ventESI programme |
| Organisation | ESI Group |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration meetings with ventESI programme (@no. as of March 2022) sharing experiences associated with aerosol modelling using CFD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Separate presentations given and material shared. |
| Impact | Sharing of presentation material. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with SAGE and Events Research Programme |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Extensive fieldwork studies working within Event Research Programme on multiple events supporting the opening up of the UK hospitality sector during Summer 2021. Contributions made to multiple policy publications now hosted on gov.uk website. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Additional material contributions to policy documents. |
| Impact | See Events Research Programme on airbods.org.uk |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Breathing Cities Webinar: The New Paradigm for IAQ -- Quantifying the health impact of exposure to common contaminants found in indoor air |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online talk for the Breathing Cities webinar. The Future Urban Ventilation Network (FUVN) is a new UKRI funded research network, under the SPF Clean Air Programme, that brings together researchers and practitioners across the UK to develop a new "Breathing City" methodology to manage exposure to air pollution by considering the airflows between indoor and outdoor environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/FStWO1_tbA4 |
| Description | CIBSE We Champion Webinar - Estimating the Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 by Airborne Aerosols |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The aim of the seminar series is to drive to improve the performance, safety, health and sustainability of the built environment, and we support and celebrate the talented people who make it happen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.cibse.org/what-s-on/wechampion-webinars |
| Description | COVID: how the disease moves through the air (The Conversation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Piece written for "The Conversation" outlet. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/covid-how-the-disease-moves-through-the-air-173490. |
| Description | Invited talk: The Big Picture of Microorganisms at Large Public Gatherings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The aim of BioAirNet is to act as the leading voice for the UK BioPM science community by taking a transdisciplinary approach to understand the complexity and connectivity among people, BioPM exposure and resultant health impacts and the indoor-outdoor continuum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Multimedia exhibition on need for ventilation - Festival of the Mind 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Festival of the Mind is a free 10 day exhibition and performance based festival. Working with a local artist we created a multi media exhibition hosted on Sheffield's main shopping street and presented a public talk. Feedback from the public showed an increased awareness of need of ventilation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Music Venues Trust/Mayor of London Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The aim was to raise awareness of the importance of ventilation in small music venues able to host up to 2000 people. The event took place on the 25th of May 2022 at The Macbeth pub in North London and a talk and training was given on the importance of ventilation, how to assess it, and results observed in previous field studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Resilient Design: Climate change, COVID, and ventilation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This one-day workshop will help Architects, Engineers, Developers, Planners and Researchers catch up with the latest research, developments and thinking on the three great challenges of our times: How do we protect occupants indoors from ever more extreme climate trends and weather events? Can we learn to create pandemic-proof buildings? How might we adapt our designs to incorporate the multiple benefits of natural and mixed-mode ventilation? Over the day, nine leading experts will tackle related issues to inform and educate us on how to design for 'resilience' - keeping people affordably safer, healthier and more comfortable in buildings. Plenty of time will be allowed for questions from the audience, and the final session will engage the audience in exploring their own attitudes on the subject, and to map the differences in understandings and approaches to the challenge of creating designing safer, healthier and more comfortable buildings in our increasingly unpredictable world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://aecb.net/resilient-design-climate-change-covid-and-ventilation/ |
| Description | Sing Say Spray - Exhibit at Bloomsbury Festival 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Description: The AIRBODS team presented the exhibit Sing, Say, Spray! at the Bloomsbury Festival in October 2022. The event was attended by >400 primary school and >100 secondary school pupils as well as >300 members of the public. The exhibit demonstrated how humans produce aerosols when they breathe, talk, shout, sing, etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Discovery-Hub-A5-WEB.pdf |
| Description | Ventilation for Environmental Health Officers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An online workshop on the topic of "Ventilation for Environmental Health Officers". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |