Dynamics of Industrial Revolution 4.0: Digital Technology Transformation and Cultural Evolution –
Wulandari et al (eds)
© 2021 The Author(s), ISBN 978-1-032-04451-4
Literature study on ventilation and Air Conditioning (AC) systems
associated with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
I. Sudarisman
Universitas Telkom, Bandung, Indonesia
M. Mustafa & M.H.M. Isa
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
F.A. Birwaz
Universitas Telkom, Bandung, Indonesia
ABSTRACT: Based on research on SARS-CoV-2, transmission is generally found to occur in
a closed room. The medium through which the virus transmits is droplets. Droplet nuclei can be
carried by air flow, causing airborne transmission. Ventilation and air conditioning also play a role
in this type of transmission, so it is important to know how it happened and how to deal with it. The
study was conducted through the collection of literature related to SARS-CoV-2 and ventilation and
air conditioning. The literature data is analyzed and conclusions are drawn. The results obtained
are weakness of the ventilation system, improper selection of air conditioners, and poor quality
of the indoor environment as a facilitator of transmission. The solution to these problems is the
need for careful planning related to building design, ventilation systems, and the right type of air
conditioner. All these efforts have consequences in the form of high costs.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, airborne, ventilation, air conditioners
1 INTRODUCTION
SARS-CoV-2 (new coronavirus) has caused a global pandemic. This virus can cause deadly pneumonia. About 15% of sufferers require hospital treatment and one third require intensive care (ICU).
This virus has a value of R0 (basic reproductive number for infectious diseases) 3.28 or each patient
can infect three other people (National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health 2020). This
R0 value can increase sharply (5 to 14) in a closed room (building) (Dietz et al. 2020). The number
of infected people in the world has reached 17,660,523 people, with the number of deaths up to
680,894 people, and this virus has entered 216 countries (World Health Organization 2020). Based
on SARS-CoV-2 experiments, it can be deactivated at high temperatures, its infectivity decreases at
high humidity, and can be removed (disinfection) using UV-C light (National Collaborating Centre
for Environmental Health 2020).
1.1 Conditions that allow for SARS-CoV-2 to occur
The effectiveness of virus transmission is determined by the number of virus particles that enter the
body through breathing and the length of exposure to the virus. The main transmission media of
SARS-CoV-2 is through large droplets (>5 µm diameter) resulting from coughing or sneezing from
an infected person when making direct contact. In addition, transmission can also occur through
droplet nucle/aerosols (diameter <5 µm) as a result of breathing, talking, screaming, or singing.
This transmission through aerosols occurs when virus particles accumulate in a closed room with
poor ventilation that is crowded with people and contact between people occurs for a long time
(National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health 2020).
114
DOI 10.1201/9781003193241-21
Wulandari et al (eds)
© 2021 The Author(s), ISBN 978-1-032-04451-4
Literature study on ventilation and Air Conditioning (AC) systems
associated with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
I. Sudarisman
Universitas Telkom, Bandung, Indonesia
M. Mustafa & M.H.M. Isa
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
F.A. Birwaz
Universitas Telkom, Bandung, Indonesia
ABSTRACT: Based on research on SARS-CoV-2, transmission is generally found to occur in
a closed room. The medium through which the virus transmits is droplets. Droplet nuclei can be
carried by air flow, causing airborne transmission. Ventilation and air conditioning also play a role
in this type of transmission, so it is important to know how it happened and how to deal with it. The
study was conducted through the collection of literature related to SARS-CoV-2 and ventilation and
air conditioning. The literature data is analyzed and conclusions are drawn. The results obtained
are weakness of the ventilation system, improper selection of air conditioners, and poor quality
of the indoor environment as a facilitator of transmission. The solution to these problems is the
need for careful planning related to building design, ventilation systems, and the right type of air
conditioner. All these efforts have consequences in the form of high costs.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, airborne, ventilation, air conditioners
1 INTRODUCTION
SARS-CoV-2 (new coronavirus) has caused a global pandemic. This virus can cause deadly pneumonia. About 15% of sufferers require hospital treatment and one third require intensive care (ICU).
This virus has a value of R0 (basic reproductive number for infectious diseases) 3.28 or each patient
can infect three other people (National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health 2020). This
R0 value can increase sharply (5 to 14) in a closed room (building) (Dietz et al. 2020). The number
of infected people in the world has reached 17,660,523 people, with the number of deaths up to
680,894 people, and this virus has entered 216 countries (World Health Organization 2020). Based
on SARS-CoV-2 experiments, it can be deactivated at high temperatures, its infectivity decreases at
high humidity, and can be removed (disinfection) using UV-C light (National Collaborating Centre
for Environmental Health 2020).
1.1 Conditions that allow for SARS-CoV-2 to occur
The effectiveness of virus transmission is determined by the number of virus particles that enter the
body through breathing and the length of exposure to the virus. The main transmission media of
SARS-CoV-2 is through large droplets (>5 µm diameter) resulting from coughing or sneezing from
an infected person when making direct contact. In addition, transmission can also occur through
droplet nucle/aerosols (diameter <5 µm) as a result of breathing, talking, screaming, or singing.
This transmission through aerosols occurs when virus particles accumulate in a closed room with
poor ventilation that is crowded with people and contact between people occurs for a long time
(National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health 2020).
114
DOI 10.1201/9781003193241-21