1.2 Cases of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in confined spaces
Cases of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in countries all over the world, including China
and Singapore. These transmissions took place in public facilities such as schools, sports buildings,
bars, shopping, and conferences, with the number of cases reaching between 50 and 100. There
was a direct correlation between the transmission rate and how many and how close people are in
a closed room the (Leclerc et al. 2020). Another case study of transmission was in Guangzhou,
China, which occurred in a restaurant. The restaurant is in the form of a 5-story building, does
not have window openings, and fully uses air conditioning (AC) which applies an air recirculation
system as a source of air conditioning. The incident involved three families (families A, B, and C)
who sat at different tables (next to each other and the position of the family table A was in the
middle) and the infected person came from family A. The position of the AC outlet and inlet was
above the family table C and air flow flows from family table C to family table A then family table
B and back to family table C. The distance of the infected person from family A to family table B
and family C > 1 m, but strong AC air flow causes droplet nuclei/aerosols (< 5 µm) spread to the
table of family B and family C. Droplet nuclei can remain in the air for some time and can move
far > 1m (Lu et al. 2020).
1.3 The role of ventilation and air conditioning systems in transmission of SARS-CoV-2
In modern times, humans spend most of their time in activities inside buildings, but many buildings
are poorly ventilated, have unhygienic conditions, and are overcrowded. The cost factor is more of a
priority than the user’s health because creating a good environmental condition in the building/room
requires high costs. The results showed that the rooms where we live and work are where SARSCoV-2 is spread. Poor ventilation and AC systems facilitated the distribution (Qian et al. 2020).
Therefore, it is important for us to know how the ventilation and air conditioning system facilitates
the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the room and how we can reduce the risk of such spread through
the proper application, operation, and maintenance of ventilation and AC systems.
2 RESEARCH METHODS
The first phase of the study was carried out by gathering various literature on SARS-CoV-2, the
spread of SARS-CoV-2, WHO standards, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as the
influence of the artificial environment in controlling outbreaks. The second step is to analyze the
literature, then make conclusions related to the role of ventilation and AC in transmission and reduce
the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In addition, based on the results of the analysis, conclusions
are drawn regarding the application, operation, and maintenance of ventilation systems and ACs
that were appropriate during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Data collection was carried out through
various literature in the form of guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
journals published during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic since late 2019.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Relationship between ventilation and airborne disease transmission
Based on the results of the study, a link was found between ventilation and transmission of diseases
through the air, including WHO (2009):
• Inadequate ventilation and low rates of ventilation through ventilation have an effect on
increasing airborne disease transmission.
• The high air exchange through ventilation (ventilation rate) can increase the dilution capability
so as to reduce the risk of transmission.
115
Cases of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in countries all over the world, including China
and Singapore. These transmissions took place in public facilities such as schools, sports buildings,
bars, shopping, and conferences, with the number of cases reaching between 50 and 100. There
was a direct correlation between the transmission rate and how many and how close people are in
a closed room the (Leclerc et al. 2020). Another case study of transmission was in Guangzhou,
China, which occurred in a restaurant. The restaurant is in the form of a 5-story building, does
not have window openings, and fully uses air conditioning (AC) which applies an air recirculation
system as a source of air conditioning. The incident involved three families (families A, B, and C)
who sat at different tables (next to each other and the position of the family table A was in the
middle) and the infected person came from family A. The position of the AC outlet and inlet was
above the family table C and air flow flows from family table C to family table A then family table
B and back to family table C. The distance of the infected person from family A to family table B
and family C > 1 m, but strong AC air flow causes droplet nuclei/aerosols (< 5 µm) spread to the
table of family B and family C. Droplet nuclei can remain in the air for some time and can move
far > 1m (Lu et al. 2020).
1.3 The role of ventilation and air conditioning systems in transmission of SARS-CoV-2
In modern times, humans spend most of their time in activities inside buildings, but many buildings
are poorly ventilated, have unhygienic conditions, and are overcrowded. The cost factor is more of a
priority than the user’s health because creating a good environmental condition in the building/room
requires high costs. The results showed that the rooms where we live and work are where SARSCoV-2 is spread. Poor ventilation and AC systems facilitated the distribution (Qian et al. 2020).
Therefore, it is important for us to know how the ventilation and air conditioning system facilitates
the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the room and how we can reduce the risk of such spread through
the proper application, operation, and maintenance of ventilation and AC systems.
2 RESEARCH METHODS
The first phase of the study was carried out by gathering various literature on SARS-CoV-2, the
spread of SARS-CoV-2, WHO standards, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as the
influence of the artificial environment in controlling outbreaks. The second step is to analyze the
literature, then make conclusions related to the role of ventilation and AC in transmission and reduce
the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In addition, based on the results of the analysis, conclusions
are drawn regarding the application, operation, and maintenance of ventilation systems and ACs
that were appropriate during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Data collection was carried out through
various literature in the form of guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
journals published during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic since late 2019.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Relationship between ventilation and airborne disease transmission
Based on the results of the study, a link was found between ventilation and transmission of diseases
through the air, including WHO (2009):
• Inadequate ventilation and low rates of ventilation through ventilation have an effect on
increasing airborne disease transmission.
• The high air exchange through ventilation (ventilation rate) can increase the dilution capability
so as to reduce the risk of transmission.
115