FARMINGTON, Conn., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Otis Worldwide
Corporation (NYSE: OTIS) today released the results of a
three-month academic study that investigates how elevator airflow
affects potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus and a
science-based approach for how to mitigate that exposure in
elevators. Findings show the significant amount of air exchange
present in most elevators combined with simple mitigation
strategies, including all riders properly wearing a surgical-style
mask1 and the installation of a common type of air
purification2 system, puts an elevator ride on the lower
end of the exposure spectrum. The study concludes that a short
elevator ride represents a relatively low risk of exposure compared
to several everyday activities – less than outdoor dining and
comparable to a trip to the supermarket – when simple mitigation is
in place. Otis is the world's leading company for elevator and
escalator manufacturing, installation and service.
With science continuing to point to respiratory droplets and
aerosols as a principal means of transmission, the study focused on
airflow and the impact of ventilation rates and types, purification
technologies (specifically needlepoint bipolar ionization) and the
proper use of masks.
The study was led by Dr. Qingyan (Yan)
Chen, the James G. Dwyer Professor of Mechanical Engineering
at Purdue, who is widely recognized for
his research into the spread of infectious disease through indoor
air systems – and how to prevent it. Dr. Chen uses sophisticated
computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling in his research, which
has focused on indoor environments, aircraft cabins and building
design and analysis. He has published three books and over 470
journal and conference papers. He previously served as Principal
Director of the Federal Aviation Administration's Center of
Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research.
Dr. Chen and team looked at likely exposure to the virus, which
can be quantified by the frequency, duration and intensity of
exposure. The duration of a typical elevator ride is short –
usually less than a minute. Multiple scenarios of two-minute
elevator rides were modeled to assess relative risk.
Intensity of exposure is impacted by the level of air exchange
or ventilation. Elevators have significant air exchange by design,
compared to many other indoor spaces, and are required by code to
have openings for ventilation. Many elevators also have fans to
increase ventilation.
"Air exchange is important. Our findings concluded that the
higher ventilation in an elevator, relative to the compared
activities, results in lower exposure opportunity. If all
passengers properly wear masks, the relative exposure risk drops
50%. Air purification, called NPBI, can reduce this by an
additional 20-30%," said Dr. Chen. "We compared the relative
exposure risk of elevators to other common activities in a typical
workday, including an hour-long bus ride and eight hours in an
office environment. Riding an elevator was a lower exposure risk
activity, given the short duration of an elevator ride."
Qualitative comparisons place riding an elevator with all
passengers wearing masks in a low exposure risk category, with a
relative risk similar to that of shopping in a supermarket.
"Elevators are an essential part of everyday life for many,
often the first leg in your journey and the last on your route
home. We know many passengers have questions about exposure risks
associated with riding an elevator, and we want to provide answers
verified by science," said Robin
Fiala, Vice President, Marketing and Sales. "We're sharing
the study results broadly in advance of publication to keep riders
well-informed and limit misconceptions."
More details of the elevator airflow study, including a
technical whitepaper, are available on otis.com. The full technical
report, authored by the Purdue
University research team, is available by request and
expected to be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal later
this year.
About Otis
Otis gives people freedom to connect and
thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the
manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and
escalators, we move 2 billion people a day and maintain more than 2
million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service
portfolio. You'll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as
well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs
and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in
Connecticut, USA, Otis is 69,000
people strong, including 40,000 field professionals, all committed
to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in
more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more,
visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram,
Facebook and Twitter @OtisElevatorCo.
1All riders properly wearing (nose and mouth covered)
surgical-style masks as recommended by the World Health
Organization as compared to no riders wearing masks.
2Air purification called needle point bipolar
ionization (NPBI) as compared to elevators without NPBI air
purification.
Contact:
|
Ray
Hernandez
|
|
+1-860-674-3029
|
|
Ray.Hernandez@otis.com
|
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SOURCE Otis Worldwide Corporation