On the basis of the E3 research project, purifying indoor air reduces the spread of viruses
18.12.2024 – The extensive interdisciplinary E3 research project launched during the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end at the end of October. The project has produced fresh information on the effect of air purification on the spread of viruses in different properties.
The E3 project (Excellence in Pandemic Response and Enterprise Solutions) is one of the largest joint projects of enterprises and research institutes ever conducted in Finland. Granlund was one of the 22 companies participating in the project. The project studied the different transmission routes of diseases and ways to ensure healthy indoor air.
“Interdisciplinary cooperation proved to be the recommendable method as even the best research data cannot be implemented on the market without companies,” says Jukka Vasara, Vice President of Granlund and chair of the project’s steering group.
According to Piia Sormunen, Development Director, Granlund, who worked as a project manager in the research project, the E3 project has produced crucial information for designing space-specific ventilation solutions for hospitals.
“In addition to the expertise of doctors and personal protection measures, important factors to take into account in pandemics are the role of thebuilt environment and the importance of clean indoor air for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.”
Interdisciplinary cooperation proved to be the recommendable method as even the best research data cannot be implemented on the market without companies.
Jukka Vasara, Vice President, Granlund
Airborne infections were reduced by 18% in daycare centres
Granlund took part in two sub-projects, the first of which looked into the effect of air purification technologies on the spread of airborne virus infections in daycare centres in Helsinki. Granlund was in charge of the operation and remote monitoring of the air purifiers. Illnesses decreased by approximately 18%. The results have sparked widespread debate for and against. For Sormunen, this goes to show the importance and sensitivity of the topic.
“Studies show that the purification of indoor air can significantly reduce morbidity. However, the placement and size of the air purifiers must be correct in terms of the way the space is used. You also need to make sure that the air purifiers actually remain in operation.”
Important factors to take into account in pandemics are the role of the built environment and the importance of clean indoor air for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Piia Sormunen, Development Director, Granlund
Air purifiers improve health and safety in patient rooms
The second sub-project aimed to establish the way ventilation solutions and indoor air purification affect health and safety in hospitals in pandemic-like scenarios. The air purifiers were placed in two Finnish hospitals of different ages with mechanical ventilation as well as a Romanian infection hospital without a ventilation system.
“We measured the particle concentrations in the indoor air of patient rooms. In the Finnish patient rooms, the air purifiers achieved a level of clean air nearly comparable to isolation rooms,” says Sormunen.
As such, individual technical solutions, such as air purifiers, can during pandemics improve health and safety on premises with both infected and healthy people.
Modular hospital design expedites project launches
As part of the E3 project, Granlund and the AW2 architects executed their own development project to create a modular hospital design model. The operational and technical requirements of patient rooms and other repeatedly used facilities were compiled in a room file. There were also technical standards drawn up for MEP systems and entire room groups, such as hospital wards. The final step was to calculate the life cycle costs and carbon footprint of the typical hospital.
According to Vasara, the modular design models are based on experience gained from more than 10 hospital projects.
“Modular hospital design expedites the project launch as the initial plans can be devised for typical rooms and departments. It shortens the turnaround time and saves costs for the entire hospital project.
The E3 project provided a research basis for designing the ventilation system of the modular hospital concept so that the spread of airborne diseases can also be factored in in hospital design solutions.
The final Tackling Pandemics seminar of the E3 project took place in Helsinki on 30 October 2024. The final public report was published and the latest research results presented at the seminar.
Additional information
Jukka Vasara
Piia Sormunen
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