Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Dec 1, 2024 19:33:54 GMT
Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures - Published Aug 9, 2022
Highlights
•Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported in many high-rise buildings.
•Viral aerosols diffuse into different flats through faulty wastewater stacks.
•Viral spread is facilitated by extraction fans, wind shear, and temperature variances.
•Measures can be implemented to seal the sewer stacks from the indoor atmosphere.
•Research is still limited for updating standards of sewers in high-rise buildings.
Abstract
COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.
Highlights
•Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported in many high-rise buildings.
•Viral aerosols diffuse into different flats through faulty wastewater stacks.
•Viral spread is facilitated by extraction fans, wind shear, and temperature variances.
•Measures can be implemented to seal the sewer stacks from the indoor atmosphere.
•Research is still limited for updating standards of sewers in high-rise buildings.
Abstract
COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.