AMCA: Warehouse Air Quality and Airborne Pathogens

The Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) has announced the results of a twelve-month-long study on the effects of ceiling fans on the aerosol transmission of airborne pathogens, specifically, Covid-19.

With the start of the pandemic, and the goods scarcity, it became increasingly clear for our communities to continue to function, the safety of the workers who kept our goods moving was paramount. Even though the pandemic has progressed, and we’re seeing changes in the way many companies do business, we’re also seeing that more of our supply chain has become e-commerce focused. We’re relying even more on warehouse and dock-loading staff to keep our busy world moving. Protecting the human part of our supply chain is a necessary and key tool in a successful logistics strategy.

This study put together by the AMCA and scientists in air quality, infectious diseases, computer modeling, and epidemics concluded that high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) ceiling fans in warehouses affected risk of transmission of airborne pathogens.

Out of 223 computer-modeled simulations, the numbers overwhelmingly showed high-speed operations of two twenty-foot fans in a warehouse space of 325 ft x 150 ft x 25 ft decreased the number of infectious particles in the air, and therefore minimized risk of transmission.

Researchers also suggested that the optimal setting to mitigate risk of transmission of these pathogens was having the fans set to the highest speeds tolerable by workers, and with a downward air flow. The reason for this being it was this strong downward flow which forced the infectious particles out of the breathable air and onto available surfaces.

Mitigating risk is all part of a good logistics strategy. If you’re wondering what we’re doing at SecurCapital to mitigate your risks, or would like to discuss your cargo strategy, reach out to us. Let’s see what solutions we can tailor to support your long-term success.