The City of Melbourne has unveiled an innovative new project to minimise COVID-19 transmission in office buildings by retrofitting ventilation systems.
The City of Melbourne has unveiled an innovative new project to minimise COVID-19 transmission in office buildings by retrofitting ventilation systems.
The pilot research project ‘BREATH’ will trial and evaluate different ventilation systems in a vacant CBD building, in partnership with the University of Melbourne and CBUS Property.
As part of project ‘BREATH’, University of Melbourne researchers will trial three types of ventilation systems. A cost-analysis will be performed to determine how much each retrofit measure will cost per square metre.
Findings from the three-month trial will be made available to building owners, tenants and partners to inform how best to improve their workplaces.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“We know that fear of infection and mask mandates are two of the biggest barriers to a large-scale return of office workers to the city.
“Most conventional ventilation systems offer only low levels of protection from air-borne contamination. The ‘BREATH’ pilot will investigate the most cost-effective systems needed to improve air quality and reduce COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.
“This project also has the potential to create hundreds of jobs, as we step up to the challenge and implement these important changes to protect the 310,000 people working in offices in Melbourne’s CBD.”
Quotes attributable to Sustainable Building portfolio lead Councillor Elizabeth Doidge
“This project will be critical in helping to develop a framework to return office workers back to our city.
“Building owners will also be able to see the cost benefits and environmental outcomes in updating their ventilation systems.
“We need to lead the way on how to best retrofit our office spaces to take advantage of the energy efficiency benefits and continue our hard work to reduce municipal carbon emissions.”
Quotes attributable to The University of Melbourne’s Head of Mechanical Engineering Professor Jason Monty
“Our team of fluid dynamics experts will be measuring the complex airflow patterns between occupants that can carry infectious disease.
“We’ll combine that with monitoring energy use, temperature and human comfort to determine the most efficient ventilation systems.
“This is the first time such a team has come together to solve this massive problem from energy-use and infection control perspectives simultaneously.”
Quotes attributable to The University of Melbourne’s Vice-President of Strategy & Culture Dr Julie Wells
“This work reflects the University of Melbourne’s ongoing commitment to supporting the recovery of the City of Melbourne as we emerge from the pandemic.
“Our academics are great innovators and, in partnership with the City, community and industry, help us to face the future with optimism.”
Quotes attributable to Cbus Property’s Chief Executive Officer Adrian Pozzo
“Cbus Property has been involved with trialing and implementing new technology and practices at 423 Bourke Street, Melbourne, which has been earmarked for redevelopment, so we can keep our tenants safer by increasing levels of fresh air in the workplace.
“One of the key challenges has been to implement new technology that enhances indoor air quality, mitigating potential transmission of airborne viruses such as COVID-19, without impacting too significantly on energy performance.
“As Australia’s highest-rated NABERS Energy portfolio for the past two years, we are particularly interested in trying to overcome this challenge, which is why we have partnered with the City of Melbourne and the University of Melbourne to pilot these technologies.”
