This chapter examines the emerging paradigm of infection resilience and indoor air quality (IAQ) regulation within Indian public buildings, situating the discussion at the intersection of environmental science, building engineering, and public health policy. Drawing on legal developments, regulatory interventions, and original empirical datasets, the chapter argues that the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a structural shift in India’s approach to the built environment—from a narrow emphasis on thermal comfort and energy efficiency toward a broader mandate of health-centered building performance. The chapter traces the regulatory genesis of indoor air governance in India, beginning with the landmark interventions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the subsequent formation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Joint Committee on Indoor Air Quality Management. It critically analyzes the committee’s interim guidelines, proposed monitoring protocols, and the evolving roadmap toward national IAQ standards for public places. Particular attention is given to India-specific constraints, including extreme occupant densities, high ambient pollution, climatic diversity, and the prevalence of recirculatory cooling systems lacking fresh air integration. A distinctive contribution of this chapter lies in its empirical foundation. Using the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005 as a formal data acquisition tool, the author presents original datasets on HVAC typologies, ventilation provision, filtration adequacy, ultraviolet disinfection, and carbon dioxide monitoring across airports, educational institutions, mass congregational spaces, and nationally significant administrative buildings. These findings reveal systemic deficiencies in ventilation infrastructure, demonstrating that even critical national and institutional buildings frequently operate without meaningful infection-resilient design. The chapter further integrates scientific literature on aerosol transmission, ventilation effectiveness, filtration technologies, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, chemical indoor pollutants, and behavioral risk factors to formulate contextually appropriate engineering and operational recommendations for Indian public buildings. Sector-specific analyses are presented for schools, hospitals, transport hubs, religious spaces, offices, and mixed-mode buildings. Overall, the chapter positions indoor air as a form of public infrastructure and frames ventilation as a public health intervention. It concludes that achieving resilient, healthy buildings in India requires not only technical retrofits but also legal enforcement, institutional accountability, and a cultural shift in how indoor environments are perceived, managed, and regulated.

Recommendations for Indian Public Buildings

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发表日期：

2026年

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Raja Singh,
Nirupam Madaan,
Anil Dewan

摘要

This chapter examines the emerging paradigm of infection resilience and indoor air quality (IAQ) regulation within Indian public buildings, situating the discussion at the intersection of environmental science, building engineering, and public health policy. Drawing on legal developments, regulatory interventions, and original empirical datasets, the chapter argues that the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a structural shift in India’s approach to the built environment—from a narrow emphasis on thermal comfort and energy efficiency toward a broader mandate of health-centered building performance. The chapter traces the regulatory genesis of indoor air governance in India, beginning with the landmark interventions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the subsequent formation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Joint Committee on Indoor Air Quality Management. It critically analyzes the committee’s interim guidelines, proposed monitoring protocols, and the evolving roadmap toward national IAQ standards for public places. Particular attention is given to India-specific constraints, including extreme occupant densities, high ambient pollution, climatic diversity, and the prevalence of recirculatory cooling systems lacking fresh air integration. A distinctive contribution of this chapter lies in its empirical foundation. Using the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005 as a formal data acquisition tool, the author presents original datasets on HVAC typologies, ventilation provision, filtration adequacy, ultraviolet disinfection, and carbon dioxide monitoring across airports, educational institutions, mass congregational spaces, and nationally significant administrative buildings. These findings reveal systemic deficiencies in ventilation infrastructure, demonstrating that even critical national and institutional buildings frequently operate without meaningful infection-resilient design. The chapter further integrates scientific literature on aerosol transmission, ventilation effectiveness, filtration technologies, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, chemical indoor pollutants, and behavioral risk factors to formulate contextually appropriate engineering and operational recommendations for Indian public buildings. Sector-specific analyses are presented for schools, hospitals, transport hubs, religious spaces, offices, and mixed-mode buildings. Overall, the chapter positions indoor air as a form of public infrastructure and frames ventilation as a public health intervention. It concludes that achieving resilient, healthy buildings in India requires not only technical retrofits but also legal enforcement, institutional accountability, and a cultural shift in how indoor environments are perceived, managed, and regulated.