HEALTHCARE VENTILATION


When we genuinely commit ourselves to improving IAQ, we can accomplish healthier air in buildings by creating nurturing, resilient, and sustainable environments for our homes, public spaces, and places of work. Technologies hold immense promise to transform our cities and buildings into pleasant and healthy living environments


Dr Iyad Al-Attar


Dr. Al-Attar is a mechanical engineer and an independent air filtration consultant. He is also a visiting academic fellow at the School of Aerospace, Transport, and Manufacturing at Cranfield University, consulting for air quality and filter performance relevant to land-based gas turbines. He is the first associated air filtration consultant and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) patron for Eurovent Middle East and EUROVENT, respectively, and an editorial member and referee for the Filtration Society (UK) and the Journal of Cleaner Production. His expertise focuses on designing and performing high-efficiency filters for HVAC and land-based gas turbine applications, particularly on the chemical and physical characterisation of airborne particles. Dr Al-Attar is reading for an MSc in sustainable urban development for air quality governance in sustainable cities at the University of Oxford. His current research at the University addresses the importance of air quality inclusion as a rudiment of sustainable urban development. He has authored many articles on air quality, filter design, performance, particle characterisation, and climate change.


air quality should be a standard expectation, rather than a luxury reserved for the fortunate few. This crucial equity aspect emphasises the need for building systems that foster healthier air quality for all occupants, regardless of socioeconomic status. The challenge of consistently delivering clean, fresh air is significant, yet recognising it as a priority in building design offers great potential. Today, we can enhance human productivity, health, and wellbeing, by addressing these important issues.


The emerging need for systems thinking Buildings have historically utilised technology that reflects the knowledge available during their time, often responding to environmental challenges and societal demands. As humanity progressed from basic mechanical systems to digital and sustainable solutions, technologies have become more complex, interconnected, and responsive to human needs. This evolution marks a shift from passive solutions to proactive, intelligent systems that aim to create healthier, more comfortable, and more sustainable buildings. However, a systems thinking approach is imperative to capitalise on the availability and potential impact of these technologies, particularly when it comes to HVAC, filtration, and air quality monitoring. Ultimately, embracing such an approach requires systems thinkers and building users who behave responsibly when interacting with their buildings. Each era represents a significant advancement in building technology, driven by the concurrent evolution of societal expectations and technological capabilities. This trajectory suggests an increasing dependence on integrated and adaptive systems, which are essential components in building design and operation. Air quality governance is crucial for transforming the potential of improved IAQ into a tangible reality. It is vital in protecting public health, enhancing wellbeing, and fostering sustainable indoor environments. Effective governance can tackle IAQ challenges in residential, healthcare, and commercial settings through regulatory standards, real-time monitoring, technological innovations, and public education. Successful case studies from the United States, Singapore, and the European Union demonstrate the positive outcomes that can arise from proactive IAQ governance.7,8


As urban areas expand and


buildings grow more complex, the demand for effective IAQ governance will continue to rise, placing more emphasis on air quality data acquisition. The knowledge provided by such data can help governments enact laws and regulations that foster public human health and wellbeing. Humanity can achieve sustainable and safe living by prioritising IAQ as a crucial environmental and public health policy component. This should be complemented by significant realignments, one of which is adapting social responsibility toward an environment that saves our planet. As we look to the future, the need to enact change and make critical decisions becomes increasingly crucial in our journey of realignment, especially in the light of


74 Health Estate Journal February 2025


the ongoing impacts of climate change. Perhaps William James was right when he said: ‘When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.’ We must acknowledge our shared responsibility to steer our planet toward a more sustainable trajectory where the promise of IAQ in healthy buildings can be realised. When we genuinely commit ourselves to improving IAQ, we can accomplish healthier air in buildings by creating nurturing, resilient, and sustainable environments for our homes, public spaces, and places of work. Technologies hold immense promise to transform our cities and buildings into pleasant and healthy living environments. There is more to weaving in the tapestry of air quality than installing high-efficiency air filters – such as continuous air quality monitoring accompanied by HVAC systems that can respond to a variation in IAQ and human occupancy. Humanity possesses the tools, led by our voices, to challenge and change the IAQ status quo, and we only require the appropriate conditions to propel and govern the cause of enhanced air quality. Amid growing climate change concerns, we must remember that we have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors, but borrowed it from our children. Therefore, we are responsible for leaving behind a cleaner planet, envisioning a future filled with clean, fresh air worth fighting for.


References 1 Singapore’s founding father thought air conditioning was the secret to his country’s success. Lee K. Vox online. Vox Media, 23 March 2015. https://tinyurl.com/5n7na9th


2 Wargocki, P. 2016. Ventilation, Indoor Air Quality, Health, and Productivity. Ergonomic workplace design for health, wellness, and productivity. pp.39-72. Taylor & Francis, 2016.


3 Deng Z, Dong B, Guo X, Zhang J. 2024. Impact of Indoor Air Quality and Multi‐domain Factors on Human Productivity and Physiological Responses: A Comprehensive Review. Indoor Air 2024; (1): 5584960. 8 April 2024. Wiley Online Library.


4 Ukpene AO, Molua OC, Ukpene CP, Emagbetere JU, Igbogbor JC. 2023. Health Impact of Indoor Air Quality: Biological, Physical and Economic Considerations. Journal Healthcare Treatment Development December 2023-January 2024. 2023; 41: 27-38.


5 Kumar P, Singh AB, Arora T, Singh S, Singh R. 2023. Critical review on emerging health effects associated with the indoor air quality and its sustainable management. Sci Total Environ 2023; May 10:872:162163.


6 Gherasim A, Lee AG, Bernstein JA. 2024. Impact of climate change on indoor air quality. Immunology and Allergy Clinics 2024; 44(1): 55-73.


7 Pérez-Bou S, Kishnani N, Dutta, A. 2024. Human factors for a successful Integrated Design Process in Zero Energy Buildings: leadership, trust, and goal orientation. A case study in Singapore. Architectural Engineering and Design Management 2024: pp.1-18.


8 Morawska L, Allen J, Bahnfleth W, Bennett B, Bluyssen PM, Boerstra, A et al. 2024. Mandating indoor air quality for public buildings. Science 2024; 383 (6690): 1418-1420.


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