Approaches for effective negative pressure isolation space control to minimize airborne transmission of contaminants in residential homes
- FSEC Energy Research Center, University of Central Florida, Cocoa, FL, USA
Controlling airborne transmission of contaminants including respired viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 is necessary to protect occupants living in the same house with a contagious person. The effectiveness of interventions requiring minor efforts that create a negative pressure isolation zone (IZ) for a contagious person has yet to be systematically tested for residential homes. In this study, ASHRAE Standard 170, which offers guidance for negative pressure isolation space control in healthcare facilities, was used in developing practical and attainable recommendations for residential single-family homes. The relative effectiveness of several control strategies was evaluated through experimentally conducting 17 different test cases in a manufactured single-family house laboratory. These cases were designed based on various heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) operating scenarios, intervention measures including closing the IZ door and/or sealing over supply and return air grilles in the IZ, and utilization of bathroom exhaust or portable window fans for pressure control. Four out of 17 test cases were identified as having the potential for strong containment with adequate depressurization in the IZ. The most effective IZ depressurization was achieved through continuously operating the exhaust fan in the bathroom attached to the IZ, by installing a portable window fan that extracted air out of the IZ, and a portable room air conditioner with the AC unit exhaust duct installed in one of the IZ windows.
- Research Organization:
- US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States). Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1983032
- Journal Information:
- Indoor + Built Environment, Vol. 31, Issue 5; ISSN 1420-326X
- Publisher:
- SAGE - International Society of the Built Environment
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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