Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities

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dc.contributor.authorCox, Helenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorEscombe, Roden_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMcDermid, Cherylen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMtshemla, Yolandaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSpelman, Timen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAzevedo, Virginiaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLondon, Leslieen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-28T06:52:57Z
dc.date.available2015-12-28T06:52:57Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.description.abstractObjective Tuberculosis transmission in healthcare facilities contributes significantly to the TB epidemic, particularly in high HIV settings. Although improving ventilation may reduce transmission, there is a lack of evidence to support low-cost practical interventions. We assessed the efficacy of wind-driven roof turbines to achieve recommended ventilation rates, compared to current recommended practices for natural ventilation (opening windows), in primary care clinic rooms in Khayelitsha, South Africa. METHODS: Room ventilation was assessed (CO 2 gas tracer technique) in 4 rooms where roof turbines and air-intake grates were installed, across three scenarios: turbine, grate and window closed, only window open, and only turbine and grate open, with concurrent wind speed measurement. 332 measurements were conducted over 24 months. FINDINGS: For all 4 rooms combined, median air changes per hour (ACH) increased with wind speed quartiles across all scenarios. Higher median ACH were recorded with open roof turbines and grates, compared to open windows across all wind speed quartiles. Ventilation with open turbine and grate exceeded WHO-recommended levels (60 Litres/second/patient) for 95% or more of measurements in 3 of the 4 rooms; 47% in the remaining room, where wind speeds were lower and a smaller diameter turbine was installed. CONCLUSION: High room ventilation rates, meeting recommended thresholds, may be achieved using wind-driven roof turbines and grates, even at low wind speeds. Roof turbines and air-intake grates are not easily closed by staff, allowing continued ventilation through colder periods. This simple, low-cost technology represents an important addition to our tools for TB infection control.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationCox, H., Escombe, R., McDermid, C., Mtshemla, Y., Spelman, T., Azevedo, V., & London, L. (2012). Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities. <i>PLoS One</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16076en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationCox, Helen, Rod Escombe, Cheryl McDermid, Yolanda Mtshemla, Tim Spelman, Virginia Azevedo, and Leslie London "Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities." <i>PLoS One</i> (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16076en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationCox, H., Escombe, R., McDermid, C., Mtshemla, Y., Spelman, T., Azevedo, V., & London, L. (2012). Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities. PloS one, 7(1), e29589. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029589en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Cox, Helen AU - Escombe, Rod AU - McDermid, Cheryl AU - Mtshemla, Yolanda AU - Spelman, Tim AU - Azevedo, Virginia AU - London, Leslie AB - Objective Tuberculosis transmission in healthcare facilities contributes significantly to the TB epidemic, particularly in high HIV settings. Although improving ventilation may reduce transmission, there is a lack of evidence to support low-cost practical interventions. We assessed the efficacy of wind-driven roof turbines to achieve recommended ventilation rates, compared to current recommended practices for natural ventilation (opening windows), in primary care clinic rooms in Khayelitsha, South Africa. METHODS: Room ventilation was assessed (CO 2 gas tracer technique) in 4 rooms where roof turbines and air-intake grates were installed, across three scenarios: turbine, grate and window closed, only window open, and only turbine and grate open, with concurrent wind speed measurement. 332 measurements were conducted over 24 months. FINDINGS: For all 4 rooms combined, median air changes per hour (ACH) increased with wind speed quartiles across all scenarios. Higher median ACH were recorded with open roof turbines and grates, compared to open windows across all wind speed quartiles. Ventilation with open turbine and grate exceeded WHO-recommended levels (60 Litres/second/patient) for 95% or more of measurements in 3 of the 4 rooms; 47% in the remaining room, where wind speeds were lower and a smaller diameter turbine was installed. CONCLUSION: High room ventilation rates, meeting recommended thresholds, may be achieved using wind-driven roof turbines and grates, even at low wind speeds. Roof turbines and air-intake grates are not easily closed by staff, allowing continued ventilation through colder periods. This simple, low-cost technology represents an important addition to our tools for TB infection control. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0029589 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - PLoS One LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities TI - Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16076 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/16076
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029589
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationCox H, Escombe R, McDermid C, Mtshemla Y, Spelman T, Azevedo V, et al. Wind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilities. PLoS One. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16076.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.en_ZA
dc.rights.holder© 2012 Cox et alen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.sourcePLoS Oneen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosoneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherWinden_ZA
dc.subject.otherTuberculosisen_ZA
dc.subject.otherExtensively drug-resistant tuberculosisen_ZA
dc.subject.otherInfectious disease controlen_ZA
dc.subject.otherSouth Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.otherCarbon dioxideen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHealth care facilitiesen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPrimary careen_ZA
dc.titleWind-driven roof turbines: a novel way to improve ventilation for TB infection control in health facilitiesen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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