Covid-19 Resources

Humidify to Reduce Virus Transmission

Higher outdoor air ventilation rates, better filtration, and surface cleaning in our buildings all reduce the risk of disease transmission. Humidity matters, too, because it has been proven that viruses that cause influenza and other flu-like illnesses survive best when the relative humidity (RH) is low.

Carefully controlled indoor humidity levels are a safe, easy, and efficient way to reduce the spread of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses in our buildings and protect occupant health. The addition of humidity to an indoor space can render viruses inactive and less infectious quickly.

For the healthiest buildings, the goal is to keep the relative humidity level in buildings between 40 and 60% RH to:

• Reduce the amount of viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces.
• Protect our body’s built-in barriers to illness.
• Assist the self-clearing mechanism of the airways in our respiratory system, which is our innate antiviral defense.
• Ensure proper tissue repair function, especially in our lungs.

In healthcare facilities, senior living communities, schools, offices, factories, and other buildings, a smaller commercial humidification system can be quickly installed on the wall and add moisture immediately to keep spaces at that optimal level of 40 to 60% RH. Larger humidification systems fit inside a facility’s HVAC system and can keep an entire building humidified.

Professional humidification systems offer precise control over the relative humidity in any indoor space. The small humidifiers found in stores can add humidity to a small area, but they cannot measure and control their output of steam or vaporized air, running the danger of rooms that are too damp or dry.

The best way to ensure that moisture in indoor air stays between 40-60% RH is to use a humidification system that offers precise control to consistently keep our spaces within this range so we all stay healthier.