Thread by @marwa_zaatari

Ventilation air,
Ventilation air,
Where are you?

🧵 Hotel and COVID-19 part 2.

You can find Part 1 here 👇 (still waiting for lab results - 1 more week).
@DavidElfstrom

This week, I stayed at an hotel and this time I came prepared.

Here are some observations about shared air, system type, filtration, and outside air rates.

Air conditioning system type = fan coil unit = fan + filter + cooling and heating coil.

➡️This system does not introduce any outside air. It only filter the air in the room by recirculating it through a filter then a coil then supplying back to the room.

This system does not share any air between rooms.
Air in your room stays in your room.

Windows do not open!

I was able to find the filter and its rating:
-MERV 6 (low efficiency)
- last changed = 9/20/21

Checked exhaust - only exhaust is from bathroom.
But the exhaust fan was not working! Measured 0 airflow.
(I reported the issue but they said it not something they can fix, only if I have issues with TV or AC).

What about outside air (OA) supply to the room?
- no OA was supplied directly to the room
- no OA was supplied to the corridor

👇With no exhaust and no OA: meaning the room was a closed sealed box 📦

Room did not have shared door with another adjacent rooms - did not use blue tape this time.

Took CO2 measurements:
- CO2 values varied between 1000 ppm and 1200 ppm. 1 person in room.
- I did not measure while I was sleeping.
(Sensor = REED SD 9901, can log a large amount of data).

I double checked what the hotel policy on COVID-19. It was about PPE, cleaning and desinfection, and remote check in.

No mention of ventilation or filtration.

In room, there was a tiny complimentary hand wipes.

Luckily I came prepared. I brought my desk small Levoit and turned it on high.
CADR = 140 CFM.

(Was inconvenient to bring it but Southwest airlines allows checked in bag for free).