A post-occupancy study of ventilation effectiveness from high-resolution CO2 monitoring at live theatre events to mitigate airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Adzic, Filipa; Roberts, Ben M.; Hathway, Elizabeth Abigail; Edirisinghe, Mohan; Ciric, Lena; Wild, Oliver; Cook, Malcolm; Malki-Epshtein, Liora

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109392

Cited by 19 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The research progress on the transmission mechanisms cannot match the speed of evolving mutations. In fact, there has been much research on the extent of aerobic transmission of particles in different environments, and this has been linked to the analysis of existing mutations, such as buses in large cities [ 56 ]; live theatre events [ 57 ]; work/indoor/outdoor environments [ 58 ]; cricket games [ 59 ], etc.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their analysis was mainly based on the condition of poor ventilation and high population density, posing a greater risk of getting infected to drivers as they have the most prolonged exposure duration [ 56 ]. On the other hand, Adzic et al [ 57 ] found that suitable ventilation strategies effectively prevent long-range transmission of COVID-19 or other airborne diseases for relative occupancies. It is also suggested that ventilation should be used with other precautionary methods like isolation of infected people, good hygiene practices, vaccination, social distancing, and so on [ 57 , 60 , 61 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, Adzic et al [ 57 ] found that suitable ventilation strategies effectively prevent long-range transmission of COVID-19 or other airborne diseases for relative occupancies. It is also suggested that ventilation should be used with other precautionary methods like isolation of infected people, good hygiene practices, vaccination, social distancing, and so on [ 57 , 60 , 61 ]. Another study reveals that social distancing, combined with general COVID-19 awareness, can significantly reduce exposures with proximity <1 m by 98% [ 59 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Space and social distancing in managing and preventing COVID-19 community spread: An overview

Cheshmehzangi

Jin

et al. 2023

Heliyon

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Space and social distancing in managing and preventing COVID-19 community spread: An overview

Cheshmehzangi

Jin

et al. 2023

Heliyon

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“…The study evaluated the ventilation relative to crowd density and long-range airborne transmission risks at ten indoor and hybrid indoor/outdoor venues of different types, functions, sizes, and layouts. The following paper and our previous papers 22 , 33 present the methodology that was developed, for rapid, high-resolution measurement of indoor air quality (IAQ) during live mass gathering events in large venues and provides evidence-based information on some factors for building operators to consider, to limit the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne viruses. To the author’s knowledge, there was no previous published research around the world that presented significant IAQ data from mass gathering live events, during normal operations, so it had previously been difficult to create formal guidance on how venue ventilation schemes should be operated to maintain an acceptable level of transmission risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a realistic situation where there are multiple people exhaling CO2 and possibly only a handful of infected people present, the CO2 values would not be expected to correlate to virus-laden aerosols in the same manner. Further studies are reviewed in our previous paper (22). Some field studies have monitored indoor CO2 concentration during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess ventilation effectiveness in a variety of building types and sometimes attempted to assess actual transmission risk based on CO2 values.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement and rapid assessment of indoor air quality at mass gathering events to assess ventilation performance and reduce aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Malki-Epshtein

Adzic

Roberts

et al. 2022

Building Services Engineering Research and Technology

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To assess risk factors for COVID-19 transmission and address the closure of mass gathering events since March 2020, the UK Government ran the Events Research Programme (ERP), following which it reopened live events in sports, music, and culture in July 2021. We report the rapid post-occupancy evaluation of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and associated long-range airborne transmission risk conducted in the Environmental Study of the ERP. Ten large venues around the UK were monitored with CO2 sensors at a high spatial and temporal resolution during 90 events. An IAQ Index based on CO2 concentration was developed, and all monitored spaces were classified in bands from A to G based on their average and maximum CO2 concentrations from all events. High resolution monitoring and the IAQ Index depicted the overall state of ventilation at live events, and allowed identification of issues with ventilation effectiveness and distribution, and of spaces with poor ventilation and the settings in which long-range airborne transmission risk may be increased. In numerous settings, CO2 concentrations were found to follow patterns relating to event management and specific occupancy of spaces around the venues. Good ventilation was observed in 90% of spaces monitored for given occupancies. Practical applications: High-resolution monitoring of indoor CO2 concentrations is necessary to detect the spatial variation of indoor air quality (IAQ) in large mass gathering event venues. The paper summarises COVID-19 ventilation guidance for buildings and defines a methodology for measurement and rapid assessment of IAQ during occupancy at live events that can be implemented by venue managers. Comparisons of the CO2 concentrations measured during the events identified the spaces at high risk of long-range transmission of airborne pathogens. Building operators should be mindful of the ventilation strategies used relative to the total occupancy in different spaces and the occupant’s activities.

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Airborne infections related to virus aerosol contamination at indoor cultural venues: Recommendations on how to minimize

Salthammer

Moriske

2023

Public Health Challenges

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Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in many live events being canceled or held without spectator participation. As a result, a series of investigations were carried out and strategies developed to determine the requirements under which cultural activities can be maintained. This work summarizes published studies and provides recommendations for performing cultural events under pandemic conditions. Methods The available literature search was evaluated in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses. The results were combined with findings, guidelines, and regulations for conducting courses in other indoor environments under pandemic conditions, for example, school classrooms. Recommendations were derived, the consideration of which can enable the continuation of cultural events. Results The published studies can only take into account the previous conditions of the pandemic situation with the known virus mutations. However, the number of experimental investigations including analytical and medical proof of infections, surveys, and simulations is comparatively small. This is due to the complexity of the events as well as the priority and urgency of the school issue. Cultural events take place under very different conditions. It is therefore practically impossible to predict the risk of infection for a specific situation with many potential virus spreaders attending or to derive general rules that go beyond the known measures of vaccination, testing, masks, and distance. Conclusion Cultural events can be held under pandemic conditions provided certain requirements are met. Most study results agree on this. Any recommendations on hygiene, safety, and ventilation measures in cultural facilities under pandemic conditions can reduce the risk of infection but cannot completely eliminate it. It is also of considerable importance that visitors protect themselves individually and act responsibly.

show abstract

A post-occupancy study of ventilation effectiveness from high-resolution CO2 monitoring at live theatre events to mitigate airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Cited by 19 publications

References 32 publications

Space and social distancing in managing and preventing COVID-19 community spread: An overview

Space and social distancing in managing and preventing COVID-19 community spread: An overview

Measurement and rapid assessment of indoor air quality at mass gathering events to assess ventilation performance and reduce aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Airborne infections related to virus aerosol contamination at indoor cultural venues: Recommendations on how to minimize

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