LoRaWAN. Ventilation systems.

Mask, social distance, and hand washing. Through repetition and after more than a year, we have all internalized these measures. They are our main asset of protection against COVID-19 at an individual level and require each of us to have a high degree of responsibility to comply with them.

But, what other measures protect us and are not only the responsibility of the individual?

According to a study by the Ministry of Health, carried out by a group of experts in aerosols and in the transmission and prevention of infectious diseases, it has been shown that COVID-19 is transmitted by aerosols containing viable viruses generated by the infected person, especially in closed and poorly ventilated spaces. Therefore, transmission from aerosols implies incorporating some measures such as:

• Limit capacity in indoor spaces.
• Limit activities that increase the emission of aerosols (shouting, singing, speaking loudly, etc.).
• Ensure proper ventilation of these spaces.

I Ventilation of Enclosed Spaces

For the same particle emission rate, the increase in ventilation flow reduces the concentration of particles in the air, and, therefore, the probability of risk of infection. All this, understanding ventilation as the renewal of indoor air with outdoor air.

Ventilation can be by natural means by opening doors and windows, forced (mechanical) or a combination of the two systems. If the ventilation is natural, cross ventilation is recommended (opening doors and/or opposite windows or at least different sides of the room), to promote air circulation and ensure effective sweeping throughout the space. In the case of forced ventilation, the system configuration must be reviewed to maximize the amount of outside air and reduce the amount of recirculated air.

This is where the CO2 concentration in the room comes into play. This parameter is a good indicator of the air renewal rate in a space. A threshold of 800-1000 ppm of CO2 concentration could be established that should not be exceeded as a guarantee of good ventilation.

I Temperature and Humidity Control

The temperature and relative humidity also affect the degree of transmission of COVID-19. The virus is more stable at low temperatures and remains in suspension longer in dry air. Thus, it can be said that in indoor environments the value of ideal relative humidity is between 40% and 60%. On the other hand, the temperature recommended by the WHO to reduce the time in which COVID-19 remains viable in indoor environments is above 21ºC.

I Solution: LoRaWAN Technology

LoRaWAN is a low-power, bidirectional wireless communication technology for transmitting a low volume of data over long distances.

In a LoRaWAN network, the sensors communicate with the Gateway, which translates the data into a conventional format or sends it to the network manager. In both cases, it is easy to integrate the information from the devices into a control or monitoring system.

These characteristics allow to completely sensorize a building without the need for costly installation work to power and communicate with each of the sensors: A single Gateway is capable of covering hundreds of meters and receiving information from hundreds of sensors.

In this way, the investment and time required to adapt an existing installation is considerably reduced. This reduction is due to the simplicity of its installation and its easy integration with monitoring and/or control systems.

The LoRaWAN technology allows us to monitor the key variables when defining whether appropriate measures are being taken in terms of ventilation, occupancy, etc. In short, it helps us maintain strict control of the main parameters linked to minimizing the risk of contagion in closed rooms: temperature, humidity, CO2 level and number of people.

Do you want to keep your facilities open to the public safely? Are you looking for a tool to define their capacity at all times? Get in touch with us, we will help you solve all these doubts.

Source: www.mscbs.gob.es