Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis Helps Improve Indoor Air Quality

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis can diagnose risks of inadequate air distribution which can impacts both occupants and the building. Poor indoor air quality increases the risks of spreading illnesses between occupants (WHO), leads to uncomfortable occupants and reductions in productivity.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is a powerful tool to be used when developing the ventilation strategy. It can provide information such as likely average air age and thermal comfort across a space resulting from a proposed, or installed, design. This information would be used to address, highlight and remediate indoor air quality risks caused by inadequate ventilation rates, unintended recirculation, and/or inappropriate means of air distribution.

The assessment is typically iterative and should be considered early in the development of the ventilation strategy. It is particularly useful if the development will have:

• High occupation densities such as bars, theatres, schools;
• Used by vulnerable people such as care homes or hospitals;
• Have redundancy criteria such as data centres;
• Risks of contaminant exchange such as laboratories, hospitals;