Wind-Driven Roof Turbines: A Novel Way to Improve Ventilation for TB Infection Control in Health Facilities

Tuberculosis transmission in healthcare facilities contributes significantly to the TB epidemic, particularly in high HIV settings. Although improving ventilation may reduce transmission, there is a lack of evidence to support low-cost practical interventions. We assessed the efficacy of wind-driven roof turbines to achieve recommended ventilation rates, compared to current recommended practices for natural ventilation (opening windows), in primary care clinic rooms in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Association between wind speed and room ventilation (m³/hour) for measurements with the roof turbine and air intake grate, all rooms combined.

<p>Association between wind speed and room ventilation (m³/hour) for measurements with the roof turbine and air intake grate, all rooms combined.</p

Median ACH, range and number of measurements that are above the WHO recommendation for each room, comparing window only and turbine and grate only.

<p>*Calculated by using the measurement of actual flow through the turbine, at the same time as overall ACH measurement.</p

Distribution of measured wind speed (km/hr) by clinic.

<p>Distribution of measured wind speed (km/hr) by clinic.</p

Installation of roof turbines and air-intake grates.

<p>A: Roof turbine with ducting from roofline to ceiling, B: roof turbine without ducting (no roof space), C: photograph of outside of clinic room, showing roof turbine and air-intake grate, and D: design of louvred air-intake grates used (effective opening area is 0.68 of actual grate area).</p