An urgent need for air purification in schools
Addressing indoor air quality (or “IAQ” if you’re hip to acronyms) is near the top of every priority list for school district superintendents, facilities managers, and building owners in general in 2022. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that healthy indoor air is critical for the short- and long-term health and well-being of our communities. Clean air is a win for everyone. With the overwhelming majority of students, teachers, and faculty back in school across the country, state and local governments are emphasizing the importance of air purification.
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq
The EPA is clear in its guidance that schools must implement strategies for ensuring adequate ventilation and filtration in every classroom. Beyond entire HVAC overhauls, which may be economically or geographically prohibitive, schools should consider alternative solutions such as increasing filter efficiency and supplementing filtration with air purifiers.
Filter Effectiveness and Efficiency
Chances are, you’ve heard the word “HEPA” thrown around (or High-efficiency particulate air if you’re into scientific names). HEPA is the efficiency standard for air filters. Filters meeting the HEPA standard must satisfy certain levels of efficiency in capturing particulate matter such as pollen, dirt, dust, moisture, bacteria, etc.
While HEPA filters are effective at detaining very fine particles, they do not filter out gasses or odor molecules. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemical vapors, tobacco smoke, pet, and other odors can be further mitigated with activated carbon filters which can replace or supplement HEPA filters.
Supplement HVAC with additional, effective air filtration
Air purifiers supplement HVAC ventilation and filtration systems and may use any combination of filters mentioned above. If nothing else, make sure that your air purifier’s filters are rated no less than HEPA-13, and make sure each purifier is placed strategically within each room. They should be sized and located properly to effectively treat indoor air and should not be placed in a manner that blows air directly from one person to another. For this reason, overhead air purifiers are beginning to gain traction.
Right: Lateral air flow can blow from person to person, increasing the chance of contagion
Overhead air purifiers, such as INVZBL’s N-AIR, draw air up and away from surfaces and people – meaning less chance of air contamination and future infections. Both overhead and portable purifiers can be a great way to supplement existing indoor air purification without completely overhauling the building’s HVAC system.
More tips to safely improve indoor air quality
- Due diligence is always prudent for any educated consumer. It’s important to be wary of companies making unsubstantiated claims and remember there are some products that do more harm than good. In the case of air purifiers, there are technologies on the market that produce ozone and introduce pollutants and harmful by-products back into the same air they claim to be cleaning.
- Additionally, regardless of your solution of choice, remember to stay on top of preventative maintenance. Cleaning and replacing filters per the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines are easy and effective ways to help maintain safe, comfortable indoor air quality levels over the long term.
- Did you know? You should always wear PPE (face mask, gloves, eye protection, etc.) when cleaning and/or replacing filters to avoid breathing in the harmful particles that may be present.
Improve indoor air quality with INVZBL’s air purification solutions
Government guidance (and funding!) emphasizes the need for action to improve the air in our schools and protect our students and faculty. INVZBL offers two indoor air quality solutions that match the EPA’s recommendations: the portable Air Base One purifier, and the in-ceiling N-AIR purifier. Both utilize powerful HEPA and carbon filtration, along with UV-C technology designed to eradicate bacteria and viruses, keeping students safe. To learn more about how INVZBL can help protect your schools, please contact us today!
