COVID-19

We have long known that buildings play a critical role in infectious disease transmission. We’re making sure they’re part of the coronavirus conversation, too.

We have established that healthy building environments play an important role in combatting the spread of infectious disease, including coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Read about the latest news, research, reports, and tools we’ve developed to fight COVID-19 transmission and ensure that healthy buildings can be used to control the spread both now and as we move forward

COVID-19 Risk Calculator

We created a tool to help you better understand how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments using affordable control strategies. Learn how mask wearing, social distancing, personal hygiene, portable air cleaners, ventilation, and activity can contribute to the likelihood of COVID-19 exposure. Creation of this tool was based off of modeling of multiple super-spreader events in some of our latest research (Azimi et al., 2021).

Portable Air Cleaner Sizing Tool (PACS)

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the importance of indoor air quality since airborne transmission is the dominant exposure pathway for SARS-CoV-2. Proper ventilation and filtration can help improve building occupants’ health by removing airborne particles from the air.

The Harvard Healthy Buildings Team developed a portable air cleaner sizing tool (PACS) to choose properly sized air cleaners for indoor spaces based on the room dimension, ventilation level, and air changes per hour. In reverse, the calculator can also be used to define the appropriate room size for air cleaners.

Maximum CO2 Concentration Calculator

The maximum CO₂ Concentration Calculator supports the use of real-time carbon dioxide (CO₂) sensors indoors. Users enter their target air changes per hour, room size, and occupancy. In return, the tool calculates the estimated CO₂ concentration to help evaluate ventilation rates in indoor environments.

Engagement with The Lancet COVID-19 Commission