Daily moments made potentially risky by COVID-19, such as cramming into a crowded bus or elevator, sitting in a packed classroom, and visiting a vulnerable relative in long-term care, may be rendered safer again thanks to new federally funded University of Saskatchewan (USask) research into ventilation systems.
With COVID-19 rapid-response funding from Canadas Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), USask engineering researcher Carey Simonson (PhD) is leading a team, along with industry partner Aldes Canada, to develop testing equipment to measure how airborne viruses are transferred in building ventilation systems.
SARS-CoV-2 virus may remain airborne for hours and can be transported tens of metres indoors and even further within air ducts, said Simonson. We want to see whether airborne viruses in the exhaust air of buildings are returned to the fresh supply air used to ventilate and reduce contaminants in buildings.….