“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is: Ventilation
Standard 3.1: Design: The design of the facilities is appropriate for the operation of a service.
Regulation 110 requires indoor spaces to be well ventilated, therefore adequate ventilation in education and care services is not a new concept for service management and staff, however with the presence of COVID-19 there is an ever increasing need to ensure indoor environments are adequately ventilated.
Ventilation is the deliberate introduction of fresh, natural air and the removal of stale air from a space. It has been widely publicised that well ventilated indoor spaces reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Ensuring windows and doors are kept open is the simplest way to ensure adequate ventilation and will reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 because infectious particles are more quickly diffused in the open air than in spaces that are less ventilated.
Some other steps to safely improve ventilation include:
- avoid directing fans towards people’s faces by aiming them continuously towards the ceiling or floor. Limit oscillation and turbulence of fans
- regularly inspect, maintain and clean heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- avoid using only recirculated air in HVAC systems, and increase the outside air intake
- consider disabling ventilation controls with automated settings that reduce air supply based on temperature or occupancy
- ensure exhaust fans are operational if in place
Source; NSW Government COVID-19 guidance on ventilation
Where possible, services should opt for use of the outdoor environment and when this is not possible ensure that the appropriate measures have been implemented to increase ventilation in indoor environments. Management of services should collaborate with staff to develop strategies to implement to increase ventilation and ensure that all staff are familiar with these and remain vigilant with maintaining adequate ventilation when using indoor spaces.
Resources:
COVID safety in early childhood education and care services
Guide to the NQF- Operational requirements
Within System7 go to Quality Area 3/ Module 17 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links
National Quality Standard – QA 3/ 3.1- Design
National Regulations – 110
System7 Module – Quality Area 3/ Module 17
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