Case study: Reducing the risk of SARS-COV-2 transmission in an closed space
Vectors of Infection Transmission
A year later, we don’t know everything yet about SARS-COV2 and its variants, but there are some certainties about the main vectors of transmission:
- Airborne transmission
- Contact with an infected person
- Contact with a contaminated surface
At the beginning of the epidemic, surface hygiene was the main concern. However, most specialists affirm today that the risk of transmission by air, droplets, and other aerosols, is much greater.
The latest guidelines from the High Council for Public Health (HCSP) in France recommends the installation of air treatment systems in order to control the spread of the virus in closed places (Read the publication here)
The risk of transmission by air, droplets, and other aerosols, is much greater
Model of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments
What is the best air purifier ?
According to the HCSP, an effective air purifier should use absolute filters of the type HEPA13 or HEPA14. Their installation must be the subject of a preliminary analysis by a qualified person in order to assess the volume of the room to be treated, the number of devices to be provided to ensure sufficient filtration of the air in the room to be treated, among other recommendations.
It’s not enough to claim 99{01e3c5e93231d16e008ef94f2b1d6fd0127ff363a7cc717001d1444d838f865e} elimination of pathogens. In today’s context, it’s is essential to demonstrate a device’s effectiveness in a real situation:
- A school full of children
- Taking off the mask for lunch
- Difficult application of social distancing
- People wandering the corridors
- Inability to open windows for ventilation, etc.
How do you know efficiency of air purifier?
It is important to make the difference between the efficiency of a filtration system, and the true efficiency of a device in a context of potential SARS-COV-2 transmission in a closed place.
Multizone 800 filtration unit manufactured by ATA Medical© makes it possible to divide by 4 the risk of transmission – all modes of transmission combined – in closed spaces with many people.
According to a test carried out in a real situation in a classroom and school canteen, the ATA Medical© purifier reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection by 4. This is mainly due to the very efficient filtration of ultrafine particles, that transport the virus in indoor environments.
Depending on the size of these particles, the virus can remain in suspension for several minutes, or hours. In addition, the ionization system of the device allows particles drop, reducing much faster the risk of airborne contamination.
What advice to take full advantage of Multizone 800 purifier?
In order to dramatically reduce the risk of airborne transmission, you can apply the following recommendations:
- Make sure the purifier air rate air is powerful enough to treat the volume of the room. Rooms with potential airborne infection require not only one air change: A certain number of minimum air renewals must be reached in order to effectively control the risk.
- Turn on the air purifier one hour before beginning the activities. This allows fine particles concentrations to be lowered to their minimum levels before the public arrives.
ATA medical devices have been used in operating theaters and other high-risk environments for over 30 years. They guarantee the microbiological quality of the air in accordance with standard NF-S 90351, one of the most exigent in the world.
This document specifies the health safety requirements for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and procedures for using air treatment and control installations in health establishments and other risk environments.
For a successful installation, ask here one of our business engineers for advice.
Do you want to know all the details of this case study? Ask here a copy of the study carried out by Octopus Lab.
