An experimental analysis of the effects of ventilation, airflow and door configuration on the transmission of synthetic respiratory aerosols in a hospital

This study describes the aerodynamic behavior of seven (7) synthetic respirable particle size groups (0.5μm, 0.7μm, 1.0μm, 3.0μm, 5.0μm, 7.0μm, and 10.0μm) at a decommissioned hospital in two (2) patient room types (general and airborne infectious isolation-AIIR). Five (5) questions regarding particle size group behavior, sampling height (0.6m, 1.2m and 1.8m), airflow pathway between the supply and exhaust, ventilation rate (2.0ACH and 5.0ACH), directional airflow (0.0Pa and -2.5Pa), and door configurations were answered. Analysis techniques included graphs of particle concentrations over time and statistical analysis. Statistical findings confirm, five (5) of the seven (7) particle size groups were statistically significantly different from each other. The percent above background concentration levels in the general patient room-test 2 were statistically significantly different from each other at all three sampling heights. Airflow pathways were statistically significantly different in the AIIR-test 2, percent above background concentration levels were statistically significantly different in the general patient room with 2.0ACH and the AIIR with 5.0ACH. Finally, there is a steep and statistically significant decline in the percent above background concentration levels in all four room scenarios when the corridor door is opened