The Emerging from Lockdown series offers guidance on ventilation, air cleaning, recommissioning of buildings, and lift use and occupancy, free to all
CIBSE's COVID-19 guidance documents are available to all as free downloads below.
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COVID-19: Ventilation
Download now (Version 5, published 16 July 2021)
This COVID-19 ventilation guidance is for business owners, employers, building owners, managers, operators and those maintaining buildings.
It is intended to give business owners and managers an outline of ventilation systems commonly encountered in buildings and to advise on how they can be used, now and in the future, to maintain adequate air quality and reduce the risks of airborne infection.
It is also intended to assist building managers and those who operate and maintain building systems in identifying the areas of a building, and elements of ventilation systems, that may need particular attention in order to reduce risk to building occupants.
It is relevant to all types of building ventilation system, whether natural, mechanical or full air conditioning.
See also the CIBSE publications below referenced by SAGE.
- CIBSE Guide B Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (2016)
- CIBSE AM10: Natural ventilation in non-domestic buildings (2005)
COVID-19: Air cleaning technologies
Download Now (Version 1, published 16 July 2021)
COVID-19: Air cleaning technologies allows users to assess the variety of air-cleaning devices currently marketed for the removal of SARS-CoV-2, and to discover which air cleaner, if any, will effectively reduce transmission risk in a given space.
This guidance will be of use to lay-readers, and also to those requiring a detailed background of air flow performance metrics, pollutant and viral decay, and tools assessing the performance of air cleaners in context.
COVID-19: Relative Exposure Index Calculator
Download Now (Excel file Beta Version, published 16 July 2021)
The COVID-19: Relative Exposure Index Calculator provides a method for the risk of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A simple method is provided, allowing the user to describe the dimensions, breathing rate, respiratory activity, occupation duration and ventilation provision in a given space, allowing users to compare scenarios that involve air cleaners with those that do not.
A more complex calculation is also provided, allowing users to assess the impact of mitigation measures in reducing relative risk of secondary transmission.
COVID-19: Emerging from lockdown - Safely re-occupying buildings
Download now (Version 3, published 19 May 2020)
As businesses start to consider bringing staff back into work premises, a number of issues need to be considered for the safety of everyone entering the building. Government guidelines should be followed.
This brief document is intended to give business owners, managers and employers an outline of the main areas that need to be considered concerning both safe working practices and the assessment of building services. It includes links to a new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website on minimising the risk of legionella
COVID-19: Recommissioning of lifts and escalators
Download now (Version 3, published 23 August 2021)
Many lifts and escalators will have been switched off for lockdown. Whilst most will go back into service without any glitches there are some precautionary steps that should be taken before returning them to regular service.
COVID-19: Lift use and occupancy
Download Now (Version 2, published 29 June 2020)
This document provides guidance on reducing the risk of using lifts in the current circumstances. It is primarily intended for application in offices, but may be applied to other buildings subject to an appropriate risk assessment.
Additional or updated information from CIBSE or the Engineering Council may be issued in due course.