Conference Agenda

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public spaces have been identified as major sites for airborne transmission, especially in densely occupied and poorly ventilated spaces. In Belgium, many public spaces are still insufficiently ventilated and need to be equipped with a ventilation system. However, economic factors and technical constraints hinder the implementation of ventilation systems in practice. There is thus a need for practical and cost-efficient solutions that are easier to integrate in existing buildings and retrofit projects.

The aim of this study was to identify innovative ventilation systems and strategies that address economic and technical constraints, while taking into account the specific needs of public spaces and health aspects.

An economic study was conducted with specialized engineering offices for different settings (restaurant, concert venue,…) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these solutions compared to standard ventilation systems. Additionally, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations were used to assess IAQ performance, including airborne transmission in the presence of a contagious occupant.

The results indicate that several innovative ventilation solutions are relevant alternatives for existing buildings. For example some systems are based on alternative ventilation strategies with mechanical exhaust in occupied spaces rather than supply. Others are based on the combination of a basis system and a boost system for temporarily higher capacity. In this paper, one of these solutions is presented. Depending on the context and performance requirements, these solutions are cost-effective and easier to implement in existing buildings while ensuring sufficient IAQ. Therefore, these innovative solutions show substantial potential to support the deployment of ventilation systems in existing public spaces, improving IAQ in alignment with the objectives of Belgium’s recent regulation.