What happens when people take off their masks?

The UK is slowly easing out of lockdown, which means shops can open again and people can return to their offices. The British public can return to normality – safely, of course. But many of these shops and offices have been closed for months, leaving a build-up of dust, dirt, mould, and bacteria.

And we aren’t just referring to desks and surfaces – you can see how dirty they are and we know they need cleaning regularly. What you need to be most careful of are the building systems you can’t see. Electrical systems, pipes, and ventilation can all be health and safety hazards if you don’t deal with them appropriately. Ventilation will be one to pay close attention to. Here’s why.

What’s the problem?

The truth is, we don’t know everything about the coronavirus. There are a lot of question marks around how it works, which is why we need to be extra careful with our office systems.

The virus hangs in the air and settles on surfaces for around 72 hours. Systems that have been sitting idle will also be a breeding ground for mould.

Ventilation systems are necessary for replacing stale air with fresh air, removing bacteria in the process. They manage temperature, eliminate humidity, and make indoor spaces comfortable. And will be important in eliminating potential COVID-19 molecules from the working environment.

What can you do?

We know that offices, retail and leisure spaces are being deep cleaned ready for socially distanced use. But don’t forget to clean the ventilation and air conditioning systems as well, before you allow anyone in.

It is a good habit to activate your HVAC system two hours before people come in and two hours after they leave. This ensures you start the day as clean as possible and get rid of the day’s build-up at the end. Use only fresh air, not recirculated air.

If you can, open your doors and windows. Again, this promotes a healthy cycle of air and removes ‘used’ air. If you can’t do this – for example, if you’re in a modern high-rise office – we recommend that you run it 24/7, only lowering ventilation rates when people aren’t there. Toilets are a critical place where you need to keep it running all day as this will be a hot spot for the virus.

At GLD Technical Consulting, we are dedicated to helping others operate in the safest way possible. If you have any questions about your ventilation and air conditioning systems, feel free to get in touch with us on 0161 641 7097.