Protecting Students in Classrooms Helps Maintain a Safe Environment
Since the spread of SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19 disease) it has become essential we protect the health, safety and welfare of the students at all levels who attending schools. After all, this is what each parent would expect regardless of the age of their child.
Experts in the field of epidemiology all agree the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be mitigated. This means schools should make changes to their buildings, including the operation of ventilating and air-conditioning systems, can reduce exposure to airborne spread diseases like COVID-19.
One aspect of protecting students is having an upper-air system which can constantly recirculate the immediate air to purify it from microorganisms some of which are harmful. Stand-alone systems, like our product, helps to improve air quality. Although, most HVAC systems claim they can effectively kill pathogens the problem is they operate far away from where the potential airborne viruses are being spread. Think of an infected person coughing, sneezing, or speaking loudly where droplets can be aerosolized which are then suspended in the surrounding air. HVAC systems which might use HEPA filters even a UV light component would not be able to treat air where a student or teacher might release a virus into the area. Of course, it is hoped if COVID is still active mask should be worn by all.
Our system is one part of the defense as part of a broad-based solution to protect students and staff in educational facilities. We would highly recommend retrofitting where possible bring in outside air to the space, but this is not always practicable.
We recommend facilities retrofit and plan for the improvement of indoor air quality and to slow the transmission of viruses via stand-alone commercial air purifiers. Whether you choose our product or a competing product this is an important step to protect indoor air in hallways, lunchrooms and of course the classrooms.
When designing a new school, the underlying effort of the designer should be to increase outside air to the spaces. The designer should also consider including stand-alone air purifiers to filter the local air for the reasons stated above. Every school is a little different in design so facility managers and/or administration must be all involved in decisions to retrofit their common areas.
Keep in mind retrofits and modifications must not contradict ASHRAE guidelines and must continue to meet or exceed the standards and codes adopted by local jurisdictions (AHJ) who have authority.
It is a new world when it comes to protecting indoor air quality. Budgets should consider retrofitting their schools to help prevent the spread of infectious airborne diseases. Air purifiers can help this along with other problems which mold presents to students with allergies. This is also a reason to implement air purifiers.