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Gilkeson, CA, Camargo-Valero, MA, Pickin, LE et al. (1 more author) (2013) Measurement of ventilation and airborne infection risk in large naturally ventilated hospital wards. Building and Environment, 65. 35 - 48 . ISSN 0360-1323
Abstract
Airborne pathogens pose a significant threat to human health and this is especially the case in hospital environments which house patients with weakened immune systems. Good ventilation design can reduce risk, however quantifying ventilation performance and its influence on infection risk is difficult, particularly for large naturally ventilated environments with multiple openings. This study applies a pulse-injection gas tracer method to assess potential infection risk and local ventilation rates in a naturally-ventilated environment. Experiments conducted in a 200 m3 cross-ventilated Nightingale ward show that local external wind speeds in the range 1–4 m/s lead to indoor ventilation rates of between 3.4 and 6.5 air changes per hour (ACH). Natural ventilation is shown to be effective in open wards with an even distribution of potential airborne infection risk throughout patient locations. Comparison with a partitioned ward highlighted the potential for protecting neighbouring patients with physical partitions between beds, however, higher tracer concentrations are present in both the vicinity and downstream of the source. Closing the windows to represent winter conditions dramatically increases infection risk, with relative exposure to the tracer increased fourfold compared to the scenarios with the windows open. Extract fans are shown to alleviate this problem suggesting that a hybrid approach utilising the respective strengths of natural and mechanical ventilation may offer the best year-round solution in this and similar settings.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2013, Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Building and Environment. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) > Inst for Pathogen Control Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 May 2013 11:04 |
Last Modified: | 29 Mar 2018 17:29 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.03.006 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.03.006 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:75485 |
Available Versions of this Item
- Measurement of ventilation and airborne infection risk in large naturally ventilated hospital wards. (deposited 13 May 2013 11:04) [Currently Displayed]