By Dominic Butler, Assistant Project Manager
Building owners and operators are taking this time to think about resiliency and what that means for their spaces. COVID-19 has disrupted human-to-building interactions in terms of how we work, shop, and live. As stay-at-home orders are lifted and people return to spaces, owners are faced with the task of preparing buildings and convincing tenants that protocols are in place to keep them safe. Many teams are turning to building wellness certifications like Fitwel to ensure that buildings do their part to help mitigate risk of exposure and establish trust with building users. A Fitwel certification can communicate active and conscientious leadership at the building level. The following Fitwel strategies can help with COVID-19 mitigation and spearhead occupant reintegration:
Indoor Air Quality Policy
Educational Hand-Washing Signs
Occupant Satisfaction Survey
Emergency Preparedness Plans
Indoor Air Quality Policy
The implementation of a Fitwel compliant Indoor Air Quality Policy will incorporate ventilation strategies that address: filtration maintenance, ventilation system maintenance, and increased outdoor air when appropriate. The spread of respiratory infections has been linked to small, warm, and high traffic areas, ventilation can help mitigate viral transmission. Aerosol transmission is a mode of infection involving airborne particles small enough to travel long distances within a space and lead to exposure. For this reason, aerosol transmission is a key area of interest regarding COVID-19 contraction in buildings. Fitwel proposes that increased ventilation and filtration can be an effective strategy to mitigate viral transmission. Studies regarding communicable respiratory diseases found that ventilation rates of 25 L/s/person were associated with lowered prevalence of individuals who presented symptoms.
Filtration is also seen as an effective mitigation strategy. HEPA filters can remove 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger. MERV 16 filters can removed 95% of particulates between 0.03 and 1 micron. Filtration combined with increased ventilation, dramatically reduces chances of viral transmission. Filtration concerns do not stop at the installation of a filter. Filter maintenance and cleaning protocol will ensure the prolonged safety of building operators and inhabitants. Increased filtration directly correlates with more frequent maintenance and must be addressed in the indoor air quality policy. Materials treated with UV-light have been studied to deactivate aerosolized influenza viruses. Incorporating UV-light treatment for air filters can be vital in ensuring the holistic indoor air quality plan is maximizing the safety of all building stakeholders
Educational Hand-Washing Signs
Occupant behavioral changes will be key in ensuring building communities establish enough trust to return to spaces. One of the strongest influences of behavioral change is data supported signage. Healthy Programming signage for handwashing for 20 seconds is shown to be one of the best defenses against person-to-surface transmission rates. The signage should cover the benefits of hand-washing, and provide details on proper technique. This strategy aims to keep hygiene and human health on the minds of all building users.
Occupant Satisfaction Survey
Trust will be one factor that determines how quickly building occupants return to spaces. Actions like increased filtration, emergency preparedness, and increased cleaning can contribute to the trust established between operators and inhabitants; but, complete trust will come from addressing the unique concerns from tenants and developing solutions based on tenant feedback. The survey serves to communicate to the occupant that the operators are aware of tenant fears and open to addressing concerns. To close the communication loop at the building level, communicate results of the survey to tenants and list out ways that preparedness plans reflect survey results.
Emergency Preparedness Plans
After addressing tenant needs, developing a unique preparedness plan will help ensure the building is resilient. For example, fever screenings can be a strategy to move spaces forward and establish trust, however without developing and communicating ways to handle sick individuals, cannot be considered a holistic strategy. In this example, clearly defined protocols for symptomatic individuals getting the help they need, and cleaning possibly exposed areas will be the most effective method to mitigating spread.
Safe mass return to buildings will take reflection and planning by all building stakeholders. Argento/Graham’s team of Fitwel Ambassador engineers and consultants can provide your team with support and guidance to develop unique plans for your space and on-going resiliency. For more information on Fitwel’s extensive research on COVID-19, please visit: https://www.fitwel.org/covid-19/