Legal regulation of ventilation rates in homes in Europe 2010–2022: Evolution and comparison study regarding Covid-19 recommendations

Abstract

The airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease, has been recognized as an essential route of contagion, so adequate ventilation is vital indoors. For this reason, the research goal focuses on carrying out the study and evolutionary and comparison analysis of the regulation of ventilation rates in dwellings in Europe (2010–2022) and on determining whether modifications are necessary for the said regulation based on the recommendations of competent international organizations. To do this, the methodology followed initially starts from the study carried out in 2010 by Christine Dimitroulopoulou, in which the existing regulation in various European countries regarding ventilation in dwellings was studied. Once this study has been analysed, it continues to update and compare the regulation of the different European countries cited in the said work, detecting during the process if a modification is necessary based on the recommendations indicated by international organizations such as the WHO or ECDC. The results and conclusions indicate that few countries have significantly changed their ventilation rates. Although the existing ones may be admissible, requiring controlled ventilation in the different regulations would be convenient. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd