IAQ
Reimagining Air Purification in Classrooms After COVID-19
Pandemic brings renewed focus on importance of indoor air quality in schools.
From adjusting to hybrid learning models to sanitizing
desks between classes to wearing personal protective
equipment, the way classrooms operate has changed due to
COVID-19. As the vaccine slowly rolls out across the country,
faculty, parents, and students are all wondering what classroom
changes are here to stay in 2021 and beyond.
PHOTO CREDIT DENIS STAROSTIN
One thing that will certainly remain a top priority for the
foreseeable future is maintaining clean and sanitary public
places, including classrooms. Most notably, the pandemic has
vastly increased awareness of the importance of indoor air
quality. During the onset of the virus, it was quickly confirmed
that COVID-19 is an airborne virus, and maintaining
proper indoor air quality became a top concern.
Upgrading HVAC systems is one way for school systems
to maintain indoor air quality, although installation can be
costly and may not be feasible for all. Additionally, HVAC
systems are designed to accommodate comfort by controlling
humidity and temperature, not airborne pathogens such as
COVID-19. Adding a high-grade air purifier to a classroom
is a simple yet effective way to ensure the indoor air is free of
contaminants.
When it comes to clean air in the classroom, there are four
main components worth considering as educational environments
continue to adapt and change to prioritize indoor air
quality. These components are performance, size, sound, and
design.
Growing, Thinking and Learning
Air pollution is a major health threat to children, who are
particularly at risk because their lungs and brains are still
developing. Children also breathe more rapidly, taking in 50%
more air in relation to their body weight than adults. This puts
them at greater risk and makes them more susceptible to common
air pollutants like dust, smoke, and chemicals often found
in cleaning products. Studies have shown that children are up
to four times more likely to have significantly reduced lung
function in adulthood if they live in highly polluted areas.
Even further than that, air pollution can exacerbate underlying
health issues. Long-term exposure has been associated with
both new-onset asthma and the exacerbation of pre-existing
asthma.
Because indoor air can be up to five times more polluted
than outdoor air, those with children living in cities or areas
with higher air pollution should consider air purifiers for their
classrooms and main educational areas like cafeterias. Studies
have shown that dirty air can have negative effects on cognitive
development and coordination—which can have lifelong
implications in terms of schooling outcomes and future careers.
Clean air helps support children so they can achieve their full
potential.
Air Purifiers Can Help
Maintain Attendance
According to the CDC, asthma-related illness is one of the
leading causes of school absenteeism, accounting for more than
14 million missed school days per year. An air purifier in a
crowded classroom of sneezing students can help reduce the
spread of colds and flu by filtering out bacteria and viruses. By providing clean air, schools can help students focus on the
subjects at hand instead of being distracted with sneezes and
the discomfort of not being able to take a deep breath.
Importance of Proper Ventilation
Another step towards improving indoor air quality in schools is to
improve overall ventilation. The California Energy Commission
reports that ventilation rates in most schools are below recommended
levels, both in the United States and in Europe. In fact, in
a California study, one in every three schools had ventilation rates
that were less than half the recommended levels. A new law signed in Sept. 2020, Assembly Bill 841, set aside $600 million for public
school energy improvements like improved HVAC systems.
Opening windows periodically can help balance the flow of
outdoor air inside to improve air quality. Removing pollution
sources can also greatly increase air quality indoors. Common
sources of pollution in schools include toxic cleaners, paints, and
materials with formaldehyde. The Environmental Protection
Agency offers a list of technological solutions specific to air quality.
On top of these efforts, using an air purifier has the potential
to eliminate 99.97% of airborne pollutants with an immediate
effect, maintaining optimal air quality levels in the classroom.
Finding the Best
Air Purifier for Your School
There are many variables that come into play when considering
an air purifier for your classroom or learning space.
- Performance: Above all, it’s important that your air purifier
maintains a certain level of performance. A single-pass
filtration rate (99.97% down to 0.3 microns) is one indicator,
but the best indicator is the Clean Air Delivery Rate, or
CADR. This takes the single-pass filtration rate into consideration
but also looks at the amount of clean air that the
unit produces. The higher the CADR, the greater volume
of clean air it produces. The AHAM Verifide program from
the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
is an independent testing program that tests for CADR and
makes recommendations on appropriate room size based on
this performance. Look out for products that have tested
through this program to be sure you are getting a high level
of performance.
- Classroom space: Depending on how large or small your
classroom is, different air purifiers can circulate air into a
range of different size rooms through the CADR. Also for
consideration is the Changes Per Hour (ACH). Some air purifiers
will change the air in your room only once per hour,
so look for those that have higher air changes per hour for
better performance.
- Sound: Some air purifiers are louder than others. Do your
research before buying an air purifier. As many teachers
know, anything can be a distraction for students, so consider
purchasing a purifier that makes minimal noise.
- Design: The days of bulky, obtrusive air purifiers are long
gone. There are many options in the market that can easily
fit within the aesthetic you are looking to achieve in your
learning space.
Student and faculty health has always been a top priority
for schools and will remain so as we embark on this new post-COVID-19 era. While 2020 was a stressful year for everyone,
it also served as an opportunity to usher in change and prioritize
health. Classrooms will continue to adapt to create the
safest and most efficient learning environments.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Spaces4Learning.
About the Author
Kevin Luo is a Senior Air Filtration Specialist for Blueair, a Unilever brand focusing on air purification solutions for home and professional use.