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Stephen Finkel, DriSteem regional sales manager says recognising the pivotal role of humidity in indoor spaces and investing in cutting- edge humidity control technologies to regulate it can unlock many benefits for both buildings and their occupants
ith recent global health challenges, humidity management has emerged as a critical consideration, particularly in shared spaces. The control of indoor
relative humidity (RH) levels can reduce the spread of airborne viruses and pathogens since they thrive in environments with low humidity. Dry air will cause respiratory droplets to shrink quickly, suspending infectious particles for extended periods and increasing the risk of transmission. Conversely, higher humidity levels cause these droplets to become heavier, making them more likely to settle on surfaces rather than remain airborne. Research suggests that maintaining humidity levels between 40% and 60% RH can help reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses like influenza and COVID-19.
Humidity control can benefit every indoor environment. In offices, maintaining appropriate humidity levels contributes to the comfort and productivity of employees.
Similarly, proper RH control is essential for creating a comfortable and healthy learning environment in schools. Maintaining optimal humidity levels helps prevent mould growth and can enhance the longevity of educational materials and equipment.
In retail spaces, humidity control is vital for preserving merchandise quality and customer comfort. Maintaining stable humidity levels helps prevent damage to products and can create a pleasant shopping experience for customers.
Efficient humidity control also translates into energy savings while optimising the operation of buildings and facilities. Various systems have been developed to regulate indoor humidity effectively. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are commonly used to add or remove moisture from the air and maintain humidity within the desired range. Modern heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems often incorporate humidity control features, regulating temperature and moisture to create a comfortable indoor environment. There are two main humidification methods for commercial applications: isothermal and adiabatic. Isothermal (steam) humidifiers function by boiling water inside the humidifier tank and then distributing it into the ductwork, through a steam manifold, or directly into the space. Several types of isothermal systems are available, including electric resistive, electrode, steam exchange, and gas-fired humidifiers. On the other hand, adiabatic (evaporative) humidifiers utilize the heat in the air to evaporate water into the ductwork or directly into the space. These humidifiers not only provide humidification but also offer evaporative cooling simultaneously. When selecting a humidification system for commercial use, various factors need consideration, such as the available energy
source, required capacity, supply water, available space, maintenance requirements, and more.
Considering the significant benefits of maintaining optimal indoor humidity, implementing humidity control systems in public spaces like offices, schools, and shopping centres is crucial. This proactive measure can create healthier environments, reducing respiratory infections and allergies, particularly in crowded areas.
Protecting health, safety, and materials while ensuring energy efficiency is crucial for today’s buildings. DriSteem provides innovative humidification solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of different environments.
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As temperatures drop, people naturally spend health concern - indoor air can become more polluted than and managing director Siggins, sheds some light on changing rules
hese changes are numerous and industry professionals need to be aware of them.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of the air within and around buildings, relating to the health and comfort of the people living there. Poor indoor air quality can be detrimental to the health of occupants, both in the short-term and long-term. It can cause respiratory issues, headaches, and even decreased cognitive function. To maintain good IAQ, properties should be assessed for problems like damp and mould, volatile organic compounds and by-products from combustion. Solutions should also be investigated, including air filtration, proper ventilation and measures to reduce or eliminate pollutant sources.
In the UK, there isn’t an overarching legislation currently in place. That said, there are a number of different standards and guidelines that encourage compliance with indoor air quality regulations.
These 2021 amended regulations mandate higher ventilation rates and mechanical ventilation for airtight new homes to improve indoor air quality.
These protect public health from a number of chemicals found in indoor air that can have negative health effects in homes if found in large
12 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2024
quantities, or for long periods. Three main groups of indoor pollutants are identified, including biological indoor pollutants (dampness and mould), chemical pollutants, and pollutants from the combustion of indoor fuels.
These guidelines focus on indoor air quality in homes. They offer advice on how to achieve good air quality in homes and include recommendations for architects, designers, builders, and developers to follow to comply with building standards.
This legislation was driven by the death of 2-year- old Awaab Ishak from exposure to mould in his home. It aims to enforce more stringent and timely action for landlords to ensure safe living conditions and better regulation of social housing.
Also known as Ella’s Law, named after Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah, the first person in England to have air pollution named as the cause of death. This is a proposed legislation in the UK that aims to make it a legal human right to breathe clean air and bring air quality in every community to minimum WHO standards.
BS40102 (part one) is the first British Standard for health and well-being in buildings, created by BESA. It offers a framework for evaluating, tracking, and documenting indoor environmental quality (IEQ) across non- residential buildings. It includes evaluation and rating methodologies for various factors
impacting IEQ, including air quality, lighting, thermal comfort and acoustics.
The UK government has pledged to implement new standards, guidelines and regulations that will require all newly constructed homes from 2025 onward to generate 75-80% fewer carbon emissions compared to homes built according to the current regulations.
• Increase ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial for improving indoor air quality. Consider mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems during construction or renovation. These solutions provide continuous filtered fresh air while recovering heat to improve energy efficiency.
• Controlling the source of pollutants: Identify and reduce sources of indoor pollutants, such as combustion appliances, building materials, and cleaning products.
• Air purification: This helps remove particulate pollutants, gases and odours. Consider installing whole-home air purification systems.
• Cleaning and maintenance: Regularly clean or replace filters, vents, and ductwork to prevent recirculation of dust and pollutants, and upgrade older ventilation equipment.
• Check if recirculation is efficient: Ensure any air ventilation systems are not recirculating stale indoor air excessively by checking the outdoor air intake, filter condition, and overall airflow balance through testing and balancing.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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