Checklist for Safer Indoor Dining

As we transition into spring and indoor dining remains prevalent, many pandemic-weary restaurant patrons are wondering what restaurant and building owners are doing to make their restaurant spaces healthier.  

As diners embrace the return to dine-in, people are paying attention to indoor air quality (IAQ) and they want to know if their favorite restaurants are taking precautions. The demand for better IAQ goes beyond the current pandemic, as science increasingly points to the correlation between healthier indoor air and overall well-being. Improved IAQ will be on the ‘must have’ list of diners this winter.

We encourage diners to follow the latest governmental guidance, such as the CDC’s Activities, Gatherings, & Holidays website.    In addition, here are a few questions that diners and restaurants can ask themselves in considering an indoor dining environment:

1. When was the building built and/or last renovated?

Before arriving at the restaurant, or when debating where to make a reservation, consider looking up when the building was last built or renovated. Newer restaurants are likely to have more recently updated ventilation systems as compared to those in older buildings. As ventilation is a core component of IAQ, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the incidence of COVID-19 was 35% lower in certain spaces[i] that improved ventilation by opening windows or doors and using forced ventilation through fans near windows or fresh air intake via heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems – and even lower using those solutions in combination with mechanical filtration.

There are steps that building managers can take to adjust ventilation – especially when the restaurant is occupied. Building managers can adjust ventilation in restaurants by extending the operating times of HVAC systems to run before the earliest staff arrive for the day and after the last occupants have left for the night, helping purge air from the building. Fresh air intake should be expanded through natural or mechanical ventilation to the maximum amount possible.

In addition to ventilation, restaurant spaces should consider other air quality parameters including air filtration, proper pressurization and meeting optimal temperature and humidity levels.

2. What other air quality measures are being taken?

Mobile air purifiers with HEPA filters and activated carbon filters are known to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns,[ii] offering an effective and cost-conscious option for restaurants to improve IAQ. Moreover, plug-and-play solutions like portable air purifiers do not require infrastructural changes as they operate independently of HVAC systems. They can be particularly useful in buildings that don’t have forced-air heating or ventilation.

In fact, a recent report from Honeywell, a leader in connected buildings, simulated air flow and movement of contaminated air in hotel common areas, including dining areas. The study found that 97% of small particles were captured by air purifiers, which made a significant impact on the improvement of air quality.[iii] More so, placing the portable air purifiers in the exact places that people are can effectively and quickly filter the air in a space before the particles disseminate.

Replacing of filters periodically within HVAC and portable HEPA air purifiers is equally important.

3. Does the restaurant actively monitor dining room occupancy?

Restaurants often have fluctuating occupancy levels as patrons enter and exit the dining room. While occupancy can impact IAQ, video analytics and sensors can help restaurants to track and manage occupancy and adjust indoor air quality parameters dynamically based on how many actual people are in a space.

Advanced video analytics technology allows restaurant managers to monitor and maintain compliance with social distancing and face covering guidelines, especially in common areas. Technology can also help to manage varying occupancy levels and pre-screen patrons and staff with health checks before arrival.

Optimal IAQ quality can be a helpful tool in creating a better experience for restaurant employees and customers.