How can you prepare your HVAC System for back to School?

It is easy for the HVAC system to get forgotten in the midst of the all back-to-school preparation! But it is very important that the HVAC system receives some attention this time of the year, especially with the transitioning from summer to fall. Before schools start heavily using their heating systems this season, Greystone wants to ensure that schools are set up for success for a brand-new school year! 

Importance of good Air Quality in Schools and Impact on Learning

Schools are basically a second home where kids spend most of their time indoors, which makes Classrooms more congested than other workplaces, with an occupancy density of approximately 4 times that of office buildings.

Good indoor Air Quality is an essential component of a healthy environment and significantly affects human health and well-being. Especially kids, their vulnerability is higher than adults, and they are more exposed to the poor indoor environment, also being more sensitive to heat/cold and moisture.

Schools should ideally serve as optimal learning environments for students, but poor air quality may affect proper development and have long-term negative consequences, such as respiratory diseases, ability to concentrate, low cognitive function, affect alertness, as well as academic performance.

What causes poor indoor Air Quality in Schools

What causes poor indoor Air Quality in Schools

Multiple scientific studies have published research that confirms that poor IAQ can greatly affect individuals from a condition such as Sick Building Syndrome. Ensuring safe operations in schools requires maintaining healthy facilities – this includes adequate ventilation for good indoor air quality. It is estimated that pollutants are up to five times higher indoors than outdoors. This is important as children spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

There are several variables that can cause poor indoor air quality:

• Indoor/Outdoor air pollutants (including mold, chemicals, fumes, etc.) 
• Poor air filtration and air flow
• Improper room pressurization/ventilation
• Temperature (either too hot or too cold)
• High or low humidity

Air pollutants can be gases or particles. Indoor pollution such as CO2, PM, VOCs are recognized as indoor contaminants causing severe health problems.

Carbon dioxide mostly comes from exhaled air from students and teachers in the classroom and can be compounded with poor ventilation. CO2 monitor is useful for indicating when outdoor air ventilation may be inadequate. Especially in schools, where the risk of cross-contamination is usually higher than in other indoor environments, is very important to measure CO2 and reduce the risk of viruses spreading.

VOC pollutants are among the leading indoor air pollutants causing severe health issues. Construction materials, resins of wood products, adhesives, polyester resins, glues, paints, cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, carpets are examples of VOC emission sources in schools. Another VOC found in schools is formaldehyde, which is frequently utilized to produce construction materials and a variety of other products.

Particulate Matter (PM) is also a major source of indoor air pollution and a serious health concern since it can carry heavy metals. Particulate pollutants come from various sources, including chalk dust, soil dust, new furniture, cleaning operations, combustion sources, and outdoor sources (traffic, industrial emissions, and wildfires).

Preventive Maintenance

The power of the air filter often is underestimated. It is very important to change the Air Filter to start off with a fresh school year. This essential component of your HVAC system functions to prevent allergens, dust, loose particles, and other airborne contaminants from infiltrating inside. With fall arriving soon in North America, so are all the fall germs! It’s inevitable, and there’s no way around it. The only thing we can do is stay ready and gear up by keeping the HVAC system’s air filters changed. Think of it as starting a new school year off with a fresh, clean slate!

Cleaning ducts is also very important. The ductwork and registers are the mediums used to distribute air throughout your inside space. It’s important these stay clean and clear of dust buildup so as not to clog the air from being circulated correctly. Dirty air ducts will result in your HVAC system overexerting itself, which can lead to system issues and a shorter lifespan.  

One product: 6 Solutions

Greystone has designed many different individual detectors for IAQ applications but has recently launched a Multi-Sense Total Indoor Air Quality solution. The new IAQ will monitor up to 6 parameters that include Particulate Matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM4 & PM10), Volatile Organic Compounds, Carbon Dioxide, Formaldehyde, Humidity & Temperature and provide either a BACnet® or Modbus signal for connection to a building automation system.

The IAQ features field-replaceable sensor modules, a full-color capacitive touch screen LCD that’s user-configurable, and a configurable alarm relay output. All this is housed in a new modern, quick-mount enclosure.

• Measures 5 or 6 parameters
• Field replaceable sensor modules
• BACnet® or Modbus communications
• Full-colour configurable touchscreen LCD
• Configurable alarm relay
• Modern, quick-mount enclosure

Click here for more details