School building air is a melting pot of airborne illness carrying droplets, fine particulate matter, and chemical pollutants. From sick kids coughing to the floor cleaning spray the janitor uses at night, the air inside your local school may not be the best for healthy learning.
School boards, facility managers, superintendents, and principals are constantly looking for solutions to make spaces as safe as possible for staff and students. Studies by environmental specialists have shown that cleaner air improves cognitive functions. Clean air is essential in all educational buildings, from the lunchroom to lecture hall. Each school and space is different, and there are a few different approaches to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).
The Challenge for Schools
Often school facilities directors start by replacing current HVAC and air handling unit (AHU) filters with ones that have higher minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) ratings. While MERV filters are more effective, they can restrict airflow. This approach is beneficial for air filtration, but could be challenging and, in some cases, more costly in the long run. Many schools, daycare centers, and other primary education facilities are in old buildings with alternative heating and cooling systems or HVAC systems that can't sustain airflow through a denser media filter. Simply putting in MERV filters can strain fan motors, increase energy usage, and even cause airflow imbalances leading to hot/cold areas.
All school districts nationwide are looking for a solution, while trying to keep up with the local, state, and federal guidelines. Some will invest in HVAC upgrades, and other districts have purchased portable air purifiers to improve indoor air quality. This solution is often the best option available. As recommended by the CDC, school leaders can look into high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or better portable air purifiers to enhance air cleaning, increase air exchange, and reduce particle load.
Handling Airborne Contaminants
Air purifiers, especially those with true HEPA filters, play an important role in reducing the spread of cold and flu viruses by capturing airborne pathogens and improving indoor air quality. HEPA filters are highly effective at removing 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger, including respiratory droplets that can carry airborne viruses like flu and coronaviruses. Studies have shown that at a 7.1 ACH rate HEPA filter equipped purifier can reduce SARS-CoV-2 droplets by over 99.97% and eliminate 80% of airborne viruses in real-world settings (when appropriately sized.)
A well-equipped air circulation system is critical for removing airborne contaminants. School ventilation systems tend to be centralized with large air handling units (AHUs) being the most efficient heating/cooling solution. This means that contaminants can spread from one room to another. That is why whole school air purifiers and portable air purifiers are necessary to keep virus transmission and other harmful aerosolized particles from spreading.
Using an AHU mounted air purifier in large areas of the school will make the air cleaner. For classrooms with low air circulation or not connected to a centralized HVAC system, portable air purifiers are a good solution.
Considerations for Using Air Purifiers in Schools
It’s becoming more apparent that using air purifiers in school is important. An air purifier is one way to protect classroom occupants from pollution as well as germs such as cold and flu viruses. It is difficult to focus on one specific type of airborne pathogen, but it is possible to clean the air in general for better health.
When using an air purifier in a school setting, we have to consider not just the floor space, but the total air volume. Air purifiers are measured by their clean air delivery rate (CADR).
Using an air purifier that is not rated high enough means there won’t be enough air changes per hour (ACH). Ideally, all the air in a classroom should be changed/cleaned five times per hour. The recommendation of five ACH is based on a classroom population of 25 students per 1,000 square feet (ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2019).
Multiple portable air purifiers can be used in building areas with poor circulation to achieve the desired CADR. Using more than one unit may also allow for lower fan speeds and less noise.
Air Purifier Design Considerations
While improving the air quality is the main goal of using an air purifier in the classroom, there are other important features to consider when choosing a unit:
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Mobility - A portable air purifier should be easy to move around. There are times when a classroom needs to be rearranged for projects, activities, or just cleaning. Look for a portable true HEPA air purifier with a built-in handle or casters for easy maneuvering.
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Filter Type - HEPA filters are the most commonly used in air purifiers (some units even have dual HEPA filters). Any high-quality air purifier should have a filter that meets or exceeds HEPA level efficiency. In addition to a physical media filter, there are also volatile organic compound (VOC) filters that remove chemicals and odors. VOC filters often use activated charcoal to remove harmful compounds.
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Safety - Ideally, an air purifier should have a child safety lock or safety switch that disables the unit if tampering occurs. For example, if the front cover of the Intellipure Compact is removed, the unit shuts down. Electrical power sources need to follow local electrical code exactly, especially any rules specific to educational spaces.
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Fan Speeds - Having multiple fan speeds allows an air purifier to be flexible with changing demand during the day. For study or nap time, a lower speed setting is usually quieter. When issues arise, like nearby wildfire smoke, the speed can be increased to clean more air. The Intellipure Compact has four fan speeds to choose from based on classroom needs.
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Maintenance Reminders - Having a built-in filter replacement indicator or timer helps keep track of filter lifetime. Filters can be changed based on a schedule, but a built-in filter change indicator is sometimes more accurate.
Improving School Indoor Air Quality
Schools benefit from using HVAC systems designed to reduce transmission of viruses and infectious diseases. Many ventilation systems can be switched between bringing in outside air or recirculating internal air. Fresh air is the most common way to achieve a desired number of air changes per hour, but there are times when outdoor air is actually worse. In these cases, cleaning the indoor air is the only option.
Removing common allergens from the air also benefits schools. Aside from seasonal allergies like pollen, improved air quality can remove harmful year-round contaminants (dust mites, mold spores) that can trigger allergy and asthma sufferers. Cleaner air can reduce sick days and keep students focused on learning instead of on a runny nose or itchy eyes.
Which Air Purifier for Classrooms?
School districts are looking for a solution with the highest level of air filtration and least amount of classroom disruption. Options range in size, sound, efficiency, looks, and more. At the end of the day, efficiency is critical for improving indoor air quality. To learn more about air purifiers and some of the most commonly found on the internet, we recommend comparing decibels (dB), cubic feet per minute (CFM), and single-pass efficiency.
Air cleaning efficiency is one of the most important criteria for an air purifier, but before you go and buy 30 new air purifiers, you need to know that not all air purifiers are created equally.
We recommend an air purifier that achieves HEPA efficiency according to DIN EN 1822 standards, is certified to emit no ozone, and passes California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations.
In addition, a few classroom studies have suggested that proper portable air purification can result in a 5x reduction in airborne particles. A recent study by Well Living Lab in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic used Intellipure air purifiers to arrive at their findings. To learn more about this study, check out the Good Morning America segment.
The Intellipure Compact holds and passes all of these standards:.
- HEPA - Total system better than HEPA performance
- California Air Resources Board
- Zero Ozone - Verification from Intertek
The Compact is plug-and-play, which allows schools to target specific areas based on the need and density of students, staff, and teachers. Intellipure knows that small classrooms have a limited amount of space and offers wall mounts for every Compact air purifier.
It can be challenging to improve indoor air quality in a school setting, especially with so many potential sources of pollutants. In some cases, a sick student could be the pollutant. Once identified and basic disinfecting steps are taken, , the Compact air purifier can be put on Turbo fan speed to clear out any remaining airborne pollutants.
Schools That Are Choosing Portable Air Purifiers
New York City Schools
The largest school district in the United States has invested in over 30,000 Intellipure Compact air purifiers and placed two in every classroom. They also purchased new filters for all existing units to make sure they are working at peak efficiency.
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools have installed over 20,000 Intellipure air purification units provided through Delos in an ongoing effort to improve occupant safety. These units are part of a comprehensive Classroom-Based Air Purification program.
"Nothing is more important than creating the safest possible in-person learning environments for our students and dedicated staff, which is why we are going beyond public health recommendations to place air purifiers in every classroom," says Dr. Janice K. Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools.
Syracuse City Schools
Syracuse City Schools have installed 3,000+ Intellipure air purification units as part of an overall safety program to improve student and teacher wellbeing across the district. Two units are installed in classrooms and high-traffic areas throughout every school. They describe their entire safety plan including air purification here.
Intellipure Can Help You Get Started with School Air Purification
Intellipure portable air purifiers are being used in educational environments around the world. From local schools to districts across the country, Intellipure can support nearly any size campus or district. We improve safety for students, staff, and faculty with industry-leading air purification.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to air filtration, school building administrators should contact us to speak with an indoor air quality expert. Find a solution for your facility and get more information on our air purification products for education.
