28/01/2025
Environment and Society (Thermal Comfort and IAQ)
Spending more than 80% of peoples’ time indoors reveals the importance of IAQ on the health and comfort of occupants. Studies have shown that low IAQ decreases the work performance of occupants
IAQ in buildings, such as temperature, humidity, airflow, and cleanliness, is directly related to HVAC systems and is considered the respiratory system of buildings. However, improperly designed or operated HVAC systems could contain and develop various microbial contaminations and cause serious health issues for occupants. Recently, various outbreaks of severe epidemic diseases, such as COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and H7N9, and the importance of controlling the spread of various microbial contaminations in HVAC systems, have become critical subjects to consider in the sustainability development of such systems. The microbial contaminations could have been generated in different ways, such as by people (talking/sneezing), pets, carpets, and toilets. These viruses could survive and grow in various HVAC components, such as air ducts, filters, heat exchangers, and fan coils because of their suitable environmental conditions for microbial contaminations.
