IAQ Monitoring: A Key Defense Against Viral Transmission

SOURCE: Facility Executive

As concerns rise over indoor air quality (IAQ) during the winter, Dr. Serene Almomen emphasizes the importance of real-time monitoring in public facilities like schools, offices, hotels, and commercial buildings to protect occupants from airborne viruses. With outdated HVAC systems prevalent in many U.S. schools, and heightened worries about IAQ among parents and office workers, Almomen underscores the critical role of IAQ control strategies in reducing the risk of pathogen transmission and improving cognitive function. Highlighting the contrast between building health and needed measures, she advocates for proactive IAQ management strategies and the installation of high-efficiency air filters. Almomen cites a case study with Boston Properties and Attune, demonstrating the effectiveness of IAQ controls during the Canadian Wildfire crisis in Boston, New York City, and Washington D.C., where more than 90% of PM2.5 was removed, protecting occupants from health risks. In the face of a potential triple endemic, she asserts that IAQ monitoring is essential for assessing air filtration and distribution system effectiveness in buildings with outdated infrastructure, urging the adoption of universal standards for proactive IAQ management to ensure occupant safety.

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