Façade Materials
Use of Copper on Façades to Reduce COVID Spread
D
efining Façade and Fenestration Façade - In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important aspect from a design standpoint, as it sets the tone for the rest of the building. From the engineering perspective of a building, the façade is also of great importance due to its impact on energy efficiency. Fenestration – The term is still used to describe the arrangement of windows within a façade, as well as defenestration, meaning to throw something out of a window. Here are some notable facts and study regarding COVID on its spread in reference to façade materials, climate and us. HOW DOES COVID SPREAD? COVID-19 spreads mainly by droplets produced as a result of coughing or sneezing of a COVID-19 infected person. This can happen in two ways: Direct close contact: One can get the infection by being in close contact with COVID-19 patients (within one metre of the infected person), especially if they do not
26
WFM | JUL - AUG 2020
cover their face when coughing or sneezing. Indirect contact: The droplets survive on surfaces and clothes for many hours. Therefore, touching any such infected surface or cloth and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes can transmit the disease. This also means that virus is not an airborne transmitted. CAN THE CORONAVIRUS SURVIVE ON SURFACES? It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems likely to behave like other coronaviruses. A recent review of the survival of human coronaviruses on surfaces found large variability, ranging from 2 hours to 9 days. The survival time depends on a number of factors, including the type of surface, temperature, relative humidity and specific strain of the virus. However, the two viruses differed in staying power on copper and cardboard. No viable SARS-CoV-2 was detectable on copper after 4 hours or on cardboard after 24 hours. In contrast, SARS-CoV-1 was not viable beyond 8 hours for either copper or cardboard.
Surface
SARS- S A R S CoV-2 C o V - 1 (hr) (hr)
Copper
3.4
3.76
Cardboard
8.45
1.74
Steel
13.1
9.77
Plastic
15.9
17.7
Table: Median Half-Life on Surfaces
COULD YOU BECOME INFECTED FROM JUST A SINGLE PARTICLE OF CORONAVIRUS? There is a certain amount of viral particle that you need to be exposed to become infected. If you just had one viral particle on your finger, it is unlikely that you are going to be infected. Some viruses are very potent, you only need like 10 particles to get infected, while others you [may] need millions. The fewer viral particles you are exposed to, the less likely you’re going to get infected. That is why the amount of virus on a surface is important.
