Air Quality & Ventilation
2 Formal CPD Points

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed our vulnerability to the risks of diseases that spread through the air, including SARS-CoV2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19.

The risk of COVID-19 infection is higher in indoor spaces, and it’s even higher when those indoor spaces are poorly ventilated.

Poor ventilation in public buildings, workplace environments, schools, hospitals, and aged care homes contribute to viral spread. Research has shown that good ventilation is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, in concert with other mitigations, including vaccination, density limits, the use of PPE and air purifying devices.

In a recently published article “A paradigm shift to combat indoor respiratory infection”, Morawska et al (2021) calls for transformative change to the way ventilation systems are designed with an emphasis on healthy air rather than comfort. This approach could lead to a revolution in ventilation and air conditioning practices like the changes in water supply and sewerage that followed Edwin Chadwick’s “Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain” in 1842.

Such strong recommendations from the academic community highlight a potential disconnect between researchers and the construction industry about the objectives of ventilation and air conditioning systems in buildings. It also points to inadequacies in the current regulatory regime for ventilation and air conditioning of buildings.

This CPD presentation will summarise the current state of building ventilation and indoor air quality requirements and examine different strategies to ensure buildings deliver healthy air. Practical strategies to deliver better ventilation, particularly in naturally ventilated Aged Care Facilities and Schools, will be examined.

It will also highlight areas where a shift in traditional approaches and design benchmarks could transform mechanical systems from a minimum-standards approach to making the internal environment healthier. Could such a transformation change our relationship with the built environment and underpin a revolutionary improvement in public health outcomes?

Join our panel of experts on October 6, 2021, who will look at these issues in detail and consider strategies to ensure buildings are designed and operated to deliver healthy indoor environments.

Our expert panel will focus special attention on practical design strategies to deliver better ventilation for high-risk locations for disease spread particularly in aged care facilities, apartment buildings, restaurants and pubs, offices, and schools.

Cost to attend is $90 per person plus GST. Save 10% when you buy 2 or more tickets. Purchase includes access to live studio recorded webinar, course notes, MP4 recording of the session and CPD certificate

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Patrick Chambers
Stantec

Patrick is a Principal Mechanical Project Engineer and Australian Discipline Leader for the Stantec Buildings ANZ team. His contribution to diverse projects, sectors, and geographies allows him to cover technical mechanical design in buildings, creating physics and urban sustainability initiatives. Patrick has championed research surrounding novel approaches to the challenge of indoor air quality and is recognised as a thought leader on the subject of ventilation systems and air quality. He has written widely on the subject including an article (Nov 2020) for the Property Council of Australia " Innovative ideas to enhance air quality” and presented on the airborne transmission of Coronavirus within buildings for AIRAH (Sept 2020), Australian Healthcare Week (Feb 2021) and the European Healthcare Design Congress (June 2021).

Professor Geoff Hanmer
ARINA

Geoff is an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Adelaide, an Honorary Professional Fellow at UTS and the Managing Director of ARINA, an architectural consultancy. Geoff is a registered architect and a writer on construction and buildings both contemporary and historical. He is a member of the ICC NEMA Pandemic Taskforce and has recently appeared on ABC-TV, The Project and A Current Affair speaking about ventilation and COVID-19. Articles on ventilation that he jointly authored for ‘The Conversation’ with Professor Bruce Milthorpe of UTS have been widely read around the world. He is now working with several clients on practical pandemic mitigation strategies.

Andrew Orfanos
Division Director, Occupational Hygiene for VA Sciences

Andrew is a Certified Occupational Hygienist and immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists. His career extends over 20 years, having spent significant time in academic, research, consulting, operational and corporate roles. Andrew has extensive experience across a wide range of industries, workplaces, and exposure to a diverse range of workplace hazards and risks. Andrew is a sought-after media commentator on Health and Hygiene related issues in workplaces

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CPD Learning Outcomes - at the conclusion of this webinar attendees will be able to:

1. Explain how air quality can be measured in buildings.
   (4.4 Design: Schematic Design)

2. List two ventilation strategies for reducing infectious disease transmission in buildings
   (5.2 Documentation: Detailed Design)

3. Explain the link between poor air quality and ill health.
   (4.4 Design: Schematic Design)

4. Explain how to improve the indoor air quality of existing and future buildings.
   (6.2 Documentation: Documentation)