Ventilation system performance and its influence on indoor bioaerosols and thermal comfort in a COVID-19-designated hospital, Tehran

《Ventilation system performance and its influence on indoor bioaerosols and thermal comfort in a COVID-19-designated hospital, Tehran》

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作者: Mohammadi, Hamzeh;Akbari, Hesam;Adibzadeh, Amir;Koozekonan, Aysa Ghasemi;Akbari, Hamed

来源: JOURNAL OF HOUSING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT,Vol.volumes-and-issues,Issue38-4,P.

语言: 英文

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摘要: This cross-sectional experimental study was conducted in 24 active coronavirus wards in an advanced hospital in Tehran. The performance of the ventilation system was initially evaluated according to ASHRAE 62.1, while thermal comfort was measured based on the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) using the Center for the Built Environment tool and ASHRAE 55. The airborne concentrations of bacteria, viruses, and fungi were evaluated according to NIOSH 0800, and the concentration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was also assessed. The relationship between ventilation parameters, indoor bioaerosols, and thermal comfort was also examined. Results showed a strong relationship between ventilation parameters, bioaerosol concentration, and thermal comfort. Increasing the ventilation rate led to a reduced concentration of bioaerosols and lower thermal comfort. The relationship between air temperature and bacterial and viral concentration was statistically significant. The outflow rate was directly related to the concentration of bacteria, fungi, and viruses but had a reverse relationship with PPD, PMV, and standard effective temperature. The relationship between the outflow rate and viral concentration was statistically significant. Considering the sensitivity of different groups within healthcare facilities, properly designing the ventilation system can result in thermal comfort, high indoor air quality, reduced infection risk, and improved patient health.