CDC Offers Update on School Reopening Guidance with Emphasis on Clean Air
ISO-Aire™ air purification models can be installed in almost any commercial space configuration from office buildings to gyms to child-care centers. Plug ISO-Aire™ into a standard electrical outlet, turn the unit on, and it immediately begins cleaning the indoor air. This particular RSF500 unit is built with three layers of unmatched medical-grade filtration to capture and destroy 99.99% of pathogens and microscopic indoor air contaminants including mold, pollen, dust, VOCs, and smoke.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its guidelines for schools to follow as more students, teachers, and staff return to the classroom. The CDC announced five key mitigation strategies, such as mask wearing and physical distancing, and additional recommendations as part of its full Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation.
When it comes to indoor air quality in schools, our ISO-Aire team was encouraged – as we reviewed the CDC’s press conference transcript – to hear the very first question from the press corps, on behalf of the New York Times, was related to proper air ventilation. Several other media outlets followed suit, trying to better understand and clarify the best-practice guidance on proper school ventilation to improve indoor air quality.
Currently, the government’s recommendation on bringing cleaner air into schools is listed under Cleaning and Maintaining Healthy Facilities. The CDC specifically encourages use of portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems to help “scrub” the air, removing both harmful pathogens such as viruses and bacteria as well as indoor air pollutants such as mold and pollen. ISO-Aire™ utilizes a 12-inch, medical-grade HEPA filter inside our models, which removes 99.99% of airborne particulates at .3 microns. CDC explains that HEPA filtration is particularly effective in higher-risk school spaces, such as a nurses’ offices.
The CDC also recommends an in-space air purification system that will “generate clean-to-less-clean” air flow, which is the air-throw technique used on our ISO-Aire™ models. Our signature approach to maximizing safe and continuous air flow involves pulling air and airborne contaminants away from the source utilizing a quiet yet high-powered fan. Our recirculation models continuously capture and destroy harmful aerosolized particles and return purified air into the building environment.
Last, the CDC suggests utilizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplemental air purification solution. The UVC bulbs found inside ISO-Aire™ units work to inactivate the DNA and/or RNA of viruses and bacteria, preventing them from replicating and thus rendering them unable to spread infection. The CDC notes that the ultraviolet sterilization technology is recommended to help inactivate SARS-CoV-2, particularly if “options for increasing room ventilation are limited.”
Schools and daycare facilities across the U.S. have installed ISO-Aire™ units to purify the air inside classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, libraries, and isolation rooms. With over 55 years of expert indoor air ventilation and HVAC expertise, our team is here to help. Contact us for information on how ISO-Aire™ can help safeguard your school community.