Modern Building Services

22 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES MARCH 2023 FEATURE WORKING BUILDINGS E nhance Human Health, Planetary Health, and Building Health with amicro air leak detector. Plus, save time andmoney by ensuring you’ll pass themandatory pressure test, first time and every time. Human Health Covid-19 has been the first global pandemic in history to have affected the entire world population. The last 3 years have shown enhancing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) to be as effective in reducing aerosol transmission of viruses as vaccinating 50-60% of the population. Landlords and business owners are now challenged with optimising the operational performance of their buildings to the greatest extent possible, in conjunction with enacting behavioural change to minimise risk and to give occupants peace of mind. With significant links to cognitive function and risk of disease, historic efforts regarding indoor environmental quality have typically focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. However, modern threats have led to a broader focus encompassing humidity, temperature, and lighting, all of which play an important role in determining virus survivability, immune system health and infection potential. We must not lose sight of the unique characteristics of individual buildings. For example, increasing natural ventilation might be a sound strategy for some buildings at certain times of the year but could create poor temperature and humidity in another. This can lead to a reduction in immune system health and an overall increase in viral transmission risk. At present, air quality has a direct and wide impact upon society. Understanding how biological contaminants and viruses can rapidly build up indoors, in the context of human health and user comfort, has become ever- more relevant since the Covid-19 outbreak. Place people within a poorly ventilated roomwhere coronavirus containing aerosols are trapped, with nowhere to go, the risk of getting Covid-19 skyrockets. Planetary Health The Construction Industry contributes up to 40% of global carbon emissions and the total area of additional floor space in the world will double in the next 30 years. It is daunting to see how we can affect the industry anytime soon. But we can make a difference with one building, one strategy Achieving Passive House levels of airtightness by Major Bernard Hornung , Head of Built Environment, Coltraco Ultrasonics Limited. Find the leak fix the leak seal the leak