SCHOOLS
K-12 EDUCATIONAL FACILITY CASE STUDY
THE CHALLENGE
THAT AIRBOX HELPED TO SOLVE
In order for schools to re-open and create a safer environment for the students, teachers and staff, the district had to address the Indoor Air Quality not only from an effective solution standpoint but also within a fixed budget covering initial cost, operating costs and replacement costs. The state of South Carolina allowed each district to implement their own plan spearheaded by the facilities management and environmental group. The school district looked to various sources including the CDC, OSHA, and ASHRAE for guidance for operating schools during COVID-19. Ultimately, they decided to implement some of their recommendations according to the following guidelines/data:
- Increase air filtration to as high as possible without significantly diminishing design airflow within HVAC system
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledgement that tiny airborne particles lingering in the air can spread coronavirus
- Use portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration to help enhance air cleaning, especially in higher risk areas such as the nurse’s office
- Replacing HVAC filters with MERV 13 or higher and introducing portable HEPA air purifiers to the classroom
THE SOLUTION
clean air, pure & Simple
In accordance to ASHRAE’s (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommendations, the client implemented a combination Safe Air Plan that included upgrading their HVAC filters to MERV 13 and installing portable HEPA air purifiers in each classroom. Based on the classroom size falling between 700-800 square feet with up to 20 occupants, ASHRAE recommends a minimum ventilation rate between 250-300 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of outdoor makeup air for acceptable indoor air quality. AirBox provided the school with the equivalent in fresh recirculated air to disrupt, displace and remove airborne particulate from the breathing zone.
- Two AirBox Peak units were placed in each classroom to maximize the air flow and create as much disruption as possible in the targeted breathing zone where respiratory droplets can linger for hours if not addressed
- Engineering Controls solution addresses Indoor Air Quality at the highest efficiency and effectiveness with certified HEPA air filtration.
- In addition to classroom placement, AirBox is also being used for remediation purposes where indoor air quality issues can occur periodically. Bringing them in as a temporary solution to scrub the air to address mold, bacteria, pollen and other airborne pathogens.
DISCUSSION
- The Safe Air Plan based on proven scientific technology, uses certified HEPA air filtration to mitigate the spread of airborne pathogens effectively.
- Client determined AirBox was the most cost effective solution to install considering initial costs, operating costs and the low cost and simple process of changing filters every 6 months.
- According to Harvard School of Public Health, air filtration in school buildings can help mitigate long-range airborne viral transmission by removing SARS-CoV-2 from any air that is recirculated through the building.
- The client wanted a proven method, something that would meet conformance. Certified HEPA filtration (U.S. Department of Energy standard) met that need. With all the other emerging unproven technologies out there, certified HEPA filtration, meets the true test for mitigation of airborne pathogens regardless of composition.
- AirBox filled an immediate need for the school district on time and within budget allowing for a long term sustainable solution to address the Indoor Air Quality for years to come.
- Other contributing factors were that AirBox is a high quality engineered solution, woman owned business and made in the U.S.A, which separated AirBox from most of the other companies the client researched.
- Phase II of the Safe Air Plan is to implement the larger Apex model for cafeterias, band rooms, auditoriums and other areas with greater square footage and higher occupancy. The Apex provides up to 900 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of airflow.
