Optimal relative humidity range 40-60% RH

Maintaining indoor relative humidity between 40 and 60% is essential for health, comfort and overall building performance. In his article, Giovanni Bonesso, Application Manager, HVAC Commercial, at CAREL, examines the scientific evidence supporting this range and its impact on indoor environments.

From the Scofield-Sterling diagram to the behaviour of airborne droplets and the proliferation of mould and bacteria, the article explores why RH below 40% increases dehydration and airborne transmission, while RH above 60% raises the risk of condensation and microbial growth.

The analysis also highlights how inadequate humidity affects the human body, impairing mucociliary clearance and contributing to symptoms linked to sick building syndrome, with measurable declines in cognitive performance in low-humidity conditions.

Read the full article here: