People who are required to serve a large number of customers at a checkout or counter are at a particularly high risk of exposure to COVID-19. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, a type of air lock was therefore developed to shield work stations from the surrounding air using constant ventilation. This “protective canopy” will be unveiled to the public from January 13 to 15, 2021, at the online BAU trade fair.

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way that many people think about hygiene. Who would have thought a year ago that we would be wearing masks in public and disinfecting our hands several times a day? People who work at counters or checkout areas, or who deal with many customers in general, are particularly affected. Many companies have improved virus protection with acrylic glass screens. However, these do not offer comprehensive protection because the air can also carry viruses behind screens. To achieve better protection of affected workers, Fraunhofer IBP in Holzkirchen has developed the “protective canopy,” a kind of air lock that shields people at the checkout or counter from the air in the rest of the room. This technology will be exhibited to the public for the first time at the BAU trade fair, which is taking place online from January 13 to 15, 2021.

Portable protective canopy

The protective canopy is a handy air filter device no larger than a room humidifier that is easy to move to the work area on castor wheels. The device draws in the ambient air and filters it. The filtered air is then directed through a hose to an air outlet positioned above the work station, similar to a modern cantilever parasol with the umbrella attached to a long arm. The filter built into the unit is a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that is so fine it can even hold back virus particles.

The air then flows out of the outlet like in a shower. This constant flow of air prevents ambient air from entering the work area. “When developing the unit, it was important for us to build a small, practical device that can be supplied with power using a standard plug,” says Dr. Victor Norrefeldt, group leader of aircraft and vehicle air conditioning at Fraunhofer IBP. “That way there is no need to interfere with the overall entire building control system. Instead, we can create a simple, individual solution.”

Indoor climate laboratory tests

Victor Norrefeldt and his team are currently testing the protective canopy in the Fraunhofer IBP indoor climate laboratory. The aim is to adjust the system so that the airflow does not cause an unpleasant draft but is still strong enough to keep out the surrounding air. “We can create air currents in the laboratory and then determine where the air is flowing by adding a tracer gas,” Victor Norrefeldt explains. “Our goal is a reliable protective canopy that separates the air while ensuring a pleasant working environment.”

The inspiration for such a protective canopy came from the “Air-Conditioning Canopy” project, which has occupied the experts at Fraunhofer IBP for a long time. They developed a system that can specifically cool the head area. “A common problem indoors is that your feet get cold on the floor, but your head is warm because hotter air rises,” explains Norrefeldt. “With the air-conditioning canopy, we can target cooler air at individual areas. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to set the room temperature so that your feet remain pleasantly warm, but your head stays cool.”