Some thoughts on ventilation and cross contamination of air between mid/high-rise suites that I've observed over 10 years of working in condos, apartments, hotels, and group homes.
So you've checked that the ventilation in your suite is working but where is that air going? /1
Many exhaust ducts especially in older buildings break and become disconnected inside wall and ceiling spaces. Let's remember many of these ducts are held together with a few screws and "duct tape". /2
Drains, drain stacks and water supply risers are replaced for renos and repairs. The sleeves (holes through the concrete floor which pipes/ducts travel through) are supposed to be sealed as per local fire code but that is up to the repair tech and is almost never inspected. /3
Exhausted air from suites can fill wall cavities, pass between floors, and enter neighbouring suites through gaps around drains, water lines, access doors or ceiling vents. /4
Sanitary plumbing vent stacks can also break inside walls allowing contaminated air to leak into wall and ceiling spaces and penetrate into suites through the cracks and gaps displayed previously. /5
I've seen neglected, poorly managed and maintained buildings with make up air supplying suites from hallways combine with ventilation in suite issues create suites so negatively pressurized and deprived of air they begin to pull air from every possible source. /6
Sometimes these negatively pressurized suites can pull air from sanitary drain stack from under loose rockings toilet with a dried out toilet gasket seal. /7

Makes for one smelly bathroom!
👃 🚽😬
I was first skeptical when many suggested Covid could pass between high rise residential neighbouring suites.
I'm not an expert in aerosol transmission but what I have come to believe is that there is enough convincing evidence that #COVIDisAirborne /8
There have been numerous outbreaks in high rise residential buildings with too many cases to simply dismiss airborne transmission from suite to suite. /9
What I've tried to highlight in this thread with photos I've taken and evidence I've seen working throughout this pandemic and before is that in my experience there are numerous routes for an airborne transmitted virus like Covid to travel from residential suite to suite. /10
I hope this thread helps inform and adds to the growing evidence that a disease that can be transmitted through the air has more than enough routes to pass from suite to suite in high-rise residential buildings. /11
Thanks to all those who have educated so many about aerosol transmission and air movement and those who have faced enormous criticism for their advocacy and beliefs. 🙏 /12
@jljcolorado
@linseymarr
@kprather88
@DFisman
@jmcrookston
@DavidElfstrom
@smjevnikar
@healthyheating
Here is an even better thread from an Engineer on the risks of Covid spread through multi-unit residential buildings..../End

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Mark Gilmore

Mark Gilmore Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(