Ventilation and air cleaning can help limit the spread of viruses (such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus) through the air in indoor environments, also known as airborne or aerogenic transmission. But there is currently insufficient insight into what performance requirements ventilation systems and mobile air cleaning systems must meet to contribute effectively to the prevention of airborne transmission.
CLAIRE develops practically applicable knowledge about the effectiveness of various interventions in indoor environments using deployment of ventilation, air cleaning systems and/or a combination of the two. Properties of air cleaners and ventilation systems are investigated, while aerosols and (infectious) viruses in the air are quantified. In addition to the architectural, technological and virological aspects, the feasibility and acceptability of the interventions are also examined.
Experimental research is conducted in real-life settings in primary schools and care homes (classrooms, communal areas such as living rooms). The project is organized into multiple research streams, which are strongly interconnected through use of uniform intervention scenarios, sampling and measurement methodologies and research settings across the streams.
The performance under realistic conditions of both ventilation systems and air cleaning technologies is investigated experimentally. Research set-up and objectives take into account possible interdependencies between ventilation systems and air cleaners. For both types of technology, CLAIRE’s research approach also looks towards the development of improved and easier-to-use measurement and modelling methods to assess and predict systems performance.
To build up knowledge on aerogenic dispersal patterns of and exposure risks to pathogens, sampling of indoor air will take place in a selection of test environments also used for the systems performance workstream. This research will make use of controlled release of inactivated and/or proxy viruses as well as sampling of naturally occurring viruses when appropriate and feasible. Sampling methodologies will be combined and optimized to improve reliability and representativeness of sampling outcomes. These measurements will be used as input for risk analysis models, which evaluate the risk of infection under the different interventions.
Sociological and psychological, mostly qualitative research methods will be brought to bear to investigate and map risk awareness, willingness and capability to invest, performance expectations and trust mechanisms among potential users (aged care providers and primary education trusts) of ventilation systems and air cleaning technologies to chart developmental avenues for mainstreaming and upscaling of effective solutions.
This public-private partnership provides a scientific basis to evaluate ventilation systems and air cleaning equipment during different intervention scenarios. The use and validation of effective indoor air interventions that are acceptable and fit-for-purpose for end-users is of great importance to Dutch society: not only in light of possible resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, but also and especially as a means to be better prepared for future pandemic threats.
