Effect of HVAC Systems on Pathogen Transmission and Indoor Air Quality in Buildings

The COVID-19 pandemic and airborne transmission of the virus put focus on the
importance of maintaining a healthy and safe environment in high-occupancy buildings and
indoor air quality (IAQ). In particular, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)
systems have been recognized as crucial to maintaining healthy conditions for occupants
and limiting the transmission of pathogens. The increased importance of IAQ in buildings
resulted in revised guidelines for HVAC systems, which include increased ventilation,
improved filtration systems, and indoor monitoring. 

The goal of this Research Topic is to assess the effects of HVAC systems on the
transmission of pathogens in buildings, such as offices, schools, hospitals, healthcare
facilities. Contributions can, for example, examine the dynamics of pathogen transmission,
the effects of temperature and humidity control, the effectiveness of filtration systems, the
use of antiviral and antibacterial materials, the effect of the revised HVAC guidelines on
maintaining a healthy environment for building occupants, and innovative technologies that
could limit or suppress pathogen transmission.

Potential themes of this Research Topic might include but are not limited to:
• The identification of factors affecting the risk of pathogen transmission, such as
transmission routes as well as the effects of temperature and humidity;
• The effects of HVAC configuration on the risk of pathogen transmission;
• Strategies to limit the transmission of pathogens such as ventilation (including
computational fluid dynamics simulations), use of filters and lights, air quality
monitoring systems;
• Innovative technologies to suppress pathogen transmission, such as liquid desiccant
technology;
• Case studies on the effects of the revised HVAC guidelines for buildings and IAQ.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Indoor air quality, airborne viral transmission, HVAC building practices, temperature and humidity control, innovative technologies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.