Reasons for the ventilation plan in public spaces
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, France and Belgium agreed on a ventilation plan for all places open to the public, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters and gyms. The legal basis "to improve indoor air quality in enclosed spaces open to the public" reflects the lessons learned from the pandemic:
- Improving air quality: Fresh air supply dilutes and removes pollutants and unpleasant odors, improving the overall indoor air quality.
- Prevention of disease transmission: The ventilation plan is not only intended to contain Covid-19, but also to minimize the risk of transmission of other respiratory diseases. This requires good ventilation, which reduces the concentration of pathogens such as influenza in the air.
In addition to the corona-specific aspects, good air quality contributes to general well-being and can reduce health complaints such as headaches and fatigue. To ensure that the measures can be tracked, the agreement stipulates that air quality must be monitored.
Air quality in public spaces: the contents of the ventilation plan
Europeans spend 85 percent of the day indoors, and not just within their own four walls. Whether it's a workplace, bar or movie theater, you should know what's in the air and what substances you're breathing in. However, the importance of good ventilation in public spaces is often underestimated. In addition to air exchange, air quality is significantly influenced by the size of the room and the number of people present.
With each exhalation, the oxygen saturation decreases, the carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂) increases and the room air can be enriched with pollutants or pathogens. The amount of CO₂ in the room air is therefore used as an indicator of the air renewal rate: If the CO₂ value exceeds the limit value, an air exchange is necessary. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the CO₂ limit value is 1,000 ppm.
Obligations under the Indoor Air Quality Act
A well-designed ventilation plan includes various measures and guidelines to ensure sufficient air circulation and fresh air supply in public spaces. From October 1, 2024, all enclosed public places that wish to implement the law on a voluntary basis must comply with these key elements of the ventilation plan:
- Measuring the air quality: Continuous monitoring of the air quality, especially the CO₂ concentration, is essential to ensure that the ventilation is sufficient.
- Transparent display of air quality using a CO₂ meter: A CO₂ meter must be available for air measurement and be clearly visible to the public. This allows visitors to the indoor spaces to assess the level of indoor air quality. In order not to falsify the measured values, the measuring device must not be installed in the immediate vicinity of a door or window.
- Carrying out a risk analysis: According to the ventilation plan, managers of public places are required to carry out a risk analysis. This should list all factors that influence indoor air quality - such as existing ventilation and air purification systems. Furthermore, an action plan should list planned measures to achieve better indoor air quality.
- Regular, demand-oriented ventilation: Public buildings should be ventilated regularly. The ventilation intervals should be based on the measurement results of the CO₂ measuring device so that stale indoor air is exchanged depending on the air quality. This can be done either by natural ventilation (e.g. opening windows and doors) or by mechanical ventilation systems.
- Installation & maintenance of ventilation systems: Where possible, mechanical ventilation systems should be installed and regularly maintained to ensure a constant supply of fresh air.
- Minimization of aerosol formation: Measures to reduce aerosol formation, such as wearing masks and limiting the number of people in enclosed spaces, are also part of the ventilation plan.
The ventilation plan contains two (non-mandatory) target values. These reference levels are regarded as guide values. They are therefore not binding, but should be seen as a guide for assessing the existing air quality:
- Level A: A CO₂ concentration of less than 900 ppm (parts per million) should be achieved - this means that 0.09% of the air volume is enriched with CO₂. Ventilation and/or air purification at a rate of at least 40 m³ per hour and person must be ensured for these. At least 25 m³ per hour and person must be accounted for by ventilation with outside air.
- Level B: A CO₂ concentration of less than 1,200 ppm (this means a percentage of 0.12 % of the air volume). In addition, a ventilation flow of at least 25 m³ per hour and person should be achieved.
The higher the ventilation rate, the greater the air exchange and the lower the concentration of viruses and other pollutants in the room.
From 2025, visitors to public places in Belgium and France will be informed about indoor air quality by means of a seal of approval. The certification and labeling system will inform the public about how indoor air is measured and controlled. From next year, certification officers will assess the presence of ventilation or air purification systems, the number of people admitted, but also the measures taken by the manager, and award the certificates. In addition, the labels will be listed in a central database so that targeted measures can be taken for different public areas in the event of another pandemic.
Fulfilling the ventilation plan - with the air-Q air measuring device
Air measuring devices such as the air-Q meet the standards of the Indoor Air Quality Act and can be used to implement a ventilation plan. With its LED display and the ability to visualize the development of air quality at all times via smart widgets, the air measuring device is a valuable aid in complying with a ventilation plan. The advanced air analyzer not only measures CO₂, but also detects up to 14 other air pollutants and reliably warns of dangerous situations such as fire, gas and burglary. You can use it to measure a wide range of pollutants such as particulates (PM₁ - PM₂,₅ - PM₁₀), carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOC), Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), relative & absolute humidity, temperature (T), dew point (Td), air pressure (p), noise (Lp).
In addition to the air analysis, the air-Q offers you alarms for various scenarios:
- Fire & smoke: The sensitive sensors warn you of fires in good time.
- Toxic & flammable gases: The air-Q detects even the smallest quantities of dangerous gases and alerts you to an impending gas explosion via push message and LED display.
- Cigarette smoking: Smoking is not permitted in your public space? The air-Q recognizes violations.
- Access/intrusion: If you are on vacation or your indoor areas are closed to the public, the air measuring device informs you of unauthorized access.
- Offline/power failure: If the air-Q fails due to a power failure, you will receive a message about this.
Conclusion
The law on indoor air quality in Belgium and France represents a significant step towards promoting public health. The measures in the ventilation plan can improve air quality in public spaces, reduce the spread of disease, improve well-being and increase productivity. Although these requirements do not currently exist in Germany, awareness of the need for good indoor air quality for health is increasing. Comparable regulations are therefore conceivable in the future.
The air-Q air quality monitor helps you to continuously monitor the air quality and thus comply with legal requirements. The LED display and smart widgets make the development of the air quality visible at all times. This ensures that the specified standards are met at all times. This not only protects the health of the population, but also creates a more pleasant and safer environment.
