Displacement Ventilation Emergence in Healthcare (DiVE)

This study will directly compare how DV and MV affect people’s exposure to infectious aerosols, such as those that can spread respiratory viruses. Using computer models (CFD) validated by lab testing, the research team will simulate how coughs and normal breathing spread tiny droplets in different hospital rooms. The goal is to figure out how DV can achieve equal or better infection control with less energy use.

The study will also explore which hospital spaces—like waiting rooms, nursing stations, labs, or cafeterias—are good candidates for DV. Results will lead to design guidance and tools to help engineers and architects apply DV confidently, and may support future updates to Canadian and U.S. ventilation standards.

Key Technical Questions Being Investigated:

• Comparing Infection Risk
  • The team will analyze how droplets that contain viruses move and settle in rooms with each ventilation type. The goal is to estimate how much virus a person might inhale and compare the resulting infection risk between DV and MV systems.
• Finding the Ideal Ventilation Rate
  • More airflow isn’t always better—too much or too little can both worsen comfort or infection risk. The study will identify the “sweet spot” ventilation rate that maintains both comfort and low exposure under real-world conditions where the number of people and their body heat vary.
• Testing Ceiling vs. Wall Air Outlets
  • Traditional DV uses low wall diffusers, but these can be expensive or impractical. Researchers will test whether modified ceiling diffusers—placed slightly lower—can achieve similar results by letting clean air rise gently around each person.
• Avoiding Airflow “Lock-Up”
  • In some cases, excess heat from equipment or sunlight can stop air from rising properly, trapping contaminants. The study will model how much heat gain is acceptable before DV performance drops and explore fixes such as radiant panels or adjusted supply air temperatures.
• Integrating Heating and Cooling Systems
  • The team will examine how radiant panels and small supply-air temperature adjustments affect both comfort and infection spread, and whether low-cost options can perform well.
• Addressing Washroom Airflows
  • Because hospital washrooms often pull air from patient rooms, the study will test ways to prevent this from interfering with DV airflow patterns.
• Adapting to Other Hospital Areas
  • Finally, the research will assess whether insights from other building types can apply to specialized hospital spaces (like sterile processing areas or waiting rooms) and identify what unique factors need to be considered.

The interim and final research reports will consolidate the findings from the CFD modeling.

Expected Outcomes: