A few weeks ago we made a last minute cancellation of our badminton game because of the haze. It was a mixed decision. Some of us though that there was no harm playing badminton when it’s hazey outside because badminton is indoors. The others thought there’s no difference anyway because the air still comes from the outside.
I don’t know how to explain it but somehow when I’m in the badminton court I hardly smell the haze I do outside.
Pierre challenged me. He said he can understand why it’s okay to play in an air-conditioned badminton court because the air con filters clean the air but for a non air-conditioned court what’s the logic?
Most courts after all are non air-conditioned.
I didn’t have an explanation so we went on to cancel the game that day. I tried Googling “Is it safe to play badminton indoors when there is haze?” and I found nothing.
Then today I was just talking to my father about it. My father is very health conscious. When there’s haze outside, he makes it a point to wear a mask and minimize all the going out time. On the other hand, haze or not… he will always make it for his indoor table tennis game.
I asked him the same question Pierre asked me.
Why is it okay to play table tennis or badminton indoors when it’s a non air-conditioned court? Isn’t the air the same. It all comes from the outside anyway.
His explanation blew me away.
He said dust particles are heavier than air. In an outdoor environment, the air is always moving from wind or a breeze so it keeps the dust particles in the air.
Indoors or in a court though there is no breeze and no wind. The air is very still. So much of the dust particles will then fall on to the floor and don’t remain in the air anymore.
I don’t know how well this explanation holds up scientifically but it makes sense to me and my friends. The reason why the haze isn’t so bad indoors even in the absence of an air filter is the same reason why badminton courts often feel stuffy (because the air is still).
Now of course in an extreme case when the haze is at like 200-300 API/PSI then that’s another matter. It’ll probably still be best to cancel your game. But at the level of 100-150, I find it hard to cycle outside but I find it totally fine to play badminton indoors.
So there you have it. Does my Dad’s explanation make sense to you?
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space