TITLE:
The Effects of Structural Design on Ventilation of Buildings in Ghana and Its Effect on Transmission of Infectious Diseases
AUTHORS:
Samuel Kafui Awuku, Deling Wang
KEYWORDS:
Ventilation, Building, Ventilation Design, Thermal Comfort, Infectious Disease, Indoor, Air, Occupants, Prevention, Transmission, Ghana, Sunyani
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.10,
October
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: The physical design of buildings is an essential component of its infection control measure to minimize the risk of transmission of any infectious disease. Many buildings in Ghana have poorly designed ventilation systems for various uses. To this end, a survey was conducted in the Sunyani Municipality to investigate how ventilation designs help to prevent infectious diseases. In this study, buildings within the Sunyani municipality were assessed for the type of ventilation system(s) used, ventilation routes such as the number of exits, the materials used for buildings, history of infectious diseases and the effects of these building specifications on the incidence and spread infectious diseases. Findings of the study indicated that Ghana’s Building Code regulation on ventilation design was not used by majority of building owners and builders (including masons, engineers etc.) alike. Poor ventilation was as a result of change and/or modification in the original use of the buildings as designed. The study concludes that data on ventilation design of the buildings did not provide the full evidence as solely responsible for occurrence and transmission of diseases. However, it could be a predisposing factor for the spread of diseases especially infectious diseases. The study recommends among other things that builders and designers should consider the use of green materials such as bamboos and plant based building materials which absorb and transmit less heat to ensure thermal comfort of buildings.