Air Quality & Ventilation webinar
Join Mecca Events’ panel of experts on Wednesday 6 October for a discussion on air quality, ventilation and how to deliver healthy indoor environments. ACA members can access a 20% discount. Book now!
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?
Mecca’s expert panel includes Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Adelaide, an Honorary Professional Fellow at UTS and the Managing Director of ARINA; Patrick Chambers, Mechanical Project Engineer, Australian Discipline Leader and Principal of Stantec; and Andrew Orfanos, Certified Occupational Hygienist and immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.
The 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.
For more information about the webinar and the speakers, head to the booking page.
When
5–7.30pm Wednesday
6 October 2021
Cost
$90 per person plus GST, 20% discount for ACA members applies (see discount code below)
Purchase includes live studio recorded webinar, course notes, MP4 recording of the session and CPD certificate.
Booking
To reserve your place, make your booking here.
CPD
2 formal CPD points
See the booking page for the Learning Outcomes.
NOTE: Member Only Content