Clean Air Basics
All respiratory viruses are spread through inhaling small particles (aerosols) that float in the air like smoke. In an indoor space with poor air flow, viruses can stay in the air for several hours. It’s easy to see why sickness spreads so easily at crowded indoor events.
Hand hygiene is NOT enough to stay healthy. The most effective defense against airborne infections is through cleaning the room air and increasing the amount of fresh air coming into a room (ventilation). Here are a few ways you can do that:
4 Steps to Healthier Events
1) Host your event outdoors. This can drastically reduce the spread of illness and doesn’t require any special equipment.
2) Look for an indoor event space with windows that can be opened or cracked. This adds fresh air and improves indoor air flow, making viral particles less likely to hang around.
3) At an indoor event, set up portable air purifiers throughout the space. Harvard’s online calculator can tell you how many you need and where to put them. Check out our list of recommended air filter brands. Look for purifiers that use true HEPA filters and don’t emit ozone.
4) Set up Far UVC lights in an indoor space in combination with air filters. Far UVC, unlike UV light, is safe for skin and eyes and kills pathogens on contact. Check out our recommended brands.
I can’t afford to buy air purifiers, or I don’t have anywhere to store them. Can I borrow some?
Reach out to your local clean air lending library. There are many throughout the USA and abroad. Check out the map to find the nearest one.
If you’re handy, you can also assemble Corsi-Rosenthal boxes for about $15 each using HVAC filters and a box fan.
Is there a way to find out how clean the air is at an event or how good the airflow is?
Yes! The simplest way to do this is to use a portable CO2 meter. The CDC recommends indoor spaces keep concentrations below 800 ppm to mitigate the risk of respiratory viruses. Additional studies show that when readings are below 500 ppm, it’s much more difficult for viruses to spread. For comparison, outdoor air in places with minimal air pollution typically measures in the 350s-450s ppm.
One thing to keep in mind when reading CO2 meters is that they don’t account for air filtration. In other words, you could have a room with adequate air purifiers but still get high CO2 readings if there isn’t enough outside air coming into the room. Higher CO2 readings (above 800 ppm) on their own aren’t inherently unsafe from an infection perspective, but if you have a high reading and don’t see working air purifiers in a room, you can assume the risk of infection is elevated.
ACLAIM recommends all indoor music events who have the budget for it display CO2 meters as a means of accountability and informed consent.