Indoor Air Quality Pioneers

By the 19th century, the importance of good air renewal in enclosed spaces was well known. And we even knew how to measure it, thanks to CO2. The limits recommended at the time are similar to those recommended in 2024. All this has been well known for a century and a half.

In the 19th century, school buildings were constructed to comply with hygiene regulations and promote the circulation of fresh air and light. In the 20th century, buildings were progressively constructed more for practical reasons and to be easy to heat, with poor air renewal.

Some theatres, the first in the late 19th century, also developed highly efficient ventilation systems with fresh-air intakes under the audience seats.

Early adopters

Around the world, we can find places where indoor air renewal quality is monitored and CO2 levels displayed. Below, examples. And in Boston, Berkeley, Lübeck and Latvia, CO2 levels of classrooms and social centers can be freely consulted in real time on web dashboards. A remarkable effort of transparency.

research

Below, an infographic related to an article about masking efficiency, ventilation efficiency and an framework proposal: to study the risk associated with airborne contamination and the means of controlling it, we feel that there is a lack of a large multidisciplinary framework in which all disciplines could express themselves fully.