ON-SITE INDOOR AIR MANAGEMENT

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The COVID-19 pandemic has skyrocketed awareness around indoor air quality, putting pressure on site managers, administrators, and other professionals. Assuming responsibility for ensuring clean air in workplaces, shopping centers, offices and more has become one of the most important aspects of site management, and with such a dizzying array of options, it’s hard to cut through the noise and determine what system is the best fit for a particular institution or business.

Beyond COVID, poor indoor air quality is linked to a myriad of negative phenomena. An EPA report clearly links poor quality office air to more employee sick days, and a marked plunge in employee efficacy. The EPA also reports that bad indoor air in educational institutions means worse academic performance, increased absenteeism, and health issues ranging from mild to serious.

Fortunately, an air purification system can help you mitigate the risks and significantly improve indoor air quality at your site. This guide will help you learn about different types of indoor air purification technologies, including how they work, their efficacy and coverage, advantages, and disadvantages, and how to choose the right fit for your site, be it a school, office, or even a hospital.

As indoor transmission is far more common than outdoor, many have serious concerns around infections in schools, offices, and other public spaces. The longer people sit together in enclosed spaces, the higher the chances for a virus outbreak. The threat is especially potent when it comes to crowded spaces with large numbers of people from different households.

There are several technologies which can help remove various airborne pollutants, including biological contaminants like pollen, dust, viruses, bacteria, and other particulate matter from the air. However, it’s important to remember that not all technologies are created equal – some are able to neutralize a wide range of pollutants and even help reduce odors, while others are ineffective at snagging molds and other biological contaminants.

Let's explore the common technologies out there, examine their ups and downs and give you some tips on how to choose the right system for your needs.

Four different technologies can be found these days on the market: Filters, Ionizers, UV-Based and H202 DHP systems. We’ll start with filters:

Filter-based air purifiers mechanically force air through filters to remove airborne pollutants. There are two main types of filters: HEPA and standard. Standard filters contain holes, in which larger airborne contaminants get stuck, preventing them from recirculating throughout the room. HEPA - high efficiency particulate air filters - contain microscopic holes that can effectively trap airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

• Filters are effective and easy-to-use air cleaners and are often reasonably priced. We recommend that you think of air filters as your first line of defense against airborne contaminants. They’re great at trapping large floating pollutants, like chunks of dog hair, or dust and dirt.
  
  
• However, filters have a few drawbacks: Filter systems are high maintenance and requiring frequent hands-on replacements. The U.S. Department of Energy says that routinely replacing or cleaning an air conditioner’s filters is critical – otherwise, “clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow” and reduce a system’s efficiency. Because they are typically mechanical and fan-based they can be extremely noisy. Depending on the filter, they are usually less effective for biological contaminants, although HEPA filters have been proven effective against some viruses.
  
  
• If we look at the efficacy and coverage of filters, we can see that HEPA and standard filters work in one room only, and they’re not particularly effective at reducing odors or the presence of biological contaminants. Generally speaking, filters are not the best solution for larger spaces.

Next in the list of air purification technologies, are the Ionizers. These systems release an electric charge that attracts contaminants. Airborne particles stick to plates within the device, removing them from the room’s air circulation. The most common ionizer systems are Negative ions and Bipolar ions. While their method of air purification differs slightly, both Negative ions and Bipolar ions manipulate ions in the air to create a charge, similar to static electricity, that stops various airborne pollutants from continuing to circulate throughout a space.

• The Ionizers are particularly adept at stopping pathogens. Bipolar ionization, in particular, is super effective against SARS, norovirus, and some flu strains.
  
  Interestingly, a meta-analysis of research around air ionizers between 1957 and 2012 found a remarkable correlation between the use of ionizers and lessened symptoms of depression in people.
  
  
• The down side with Air ionizers is that they can lose efficacy and “clump” together. While research has found that ionizers are effective at removing particles from the air, the success rate of the technology plunges with distance. This means that they typically need to be used in collaboration with other methods (like filters) for effective coverage.
  
  
• What about efficacy and coverage?
  Most air ionizers are only effective at removing airborne pollutants in close-proximity, and they’re not great for volatile organic compounds or odors. Ionizers are not recommended for use in larger spaces.
  
  

Third on our list are UX-based systems. Leveraging Ultra-Violet light, these systems neutralize and sterilize contaminants that come into contact with the system’s light. The FDA ranks UVA rays as having the longest wavelengths, followed by UVB, and then UVC. The most common UV air purifying technologies are PCO with UVGI or UV LED, UVGI, and AHPCO. UV-based air purifiers are hyper effective at germicidal irradiation, making them a solid choice for spaces with a larger number of biological contaminants.

• The up-side is that UV-light based systems are highly effective at neutralizing airborne pollutants. Some recent initiatives have shown that UV light may be effective against some pathogens, including the coronavirus. Several UV systems have been found to cleanse pathogens present on surfaces. The main question is if those contaminants need to be in direct contact with the UV light - more on that later.
  
  
• Some challenges with UV light systems are that they can be high maintenance, with high-priced bulbs that can be difficult to replace. Additionally, this technology eliminates airborne biological contaminants, but not dust, smoke, or other particles that would be neutralized by a simple air filter.
  
  
• When we talk about efficacy and coverage, similarly to air ionizers and filter systems, UV air purifiers are not an ideal solution for larger spaces. Most particles need to be in the direct line of the light’s “sight” in order to be neutralized, or pass through the chamber itself, where the UV bulb is contained.

Fourth on our list, we have the H2O2 (DHP) systems. Hydrogen peroxide treatments utilize water molecules already in the air, converting them into cleansing H2O2. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly used disinfectant, found in everything from mouthwash to first aid kits, and small amounts are safe for human inhalation.

• The CDC lists hydrogen peroxide in particular as a compound with powerful germicidal, bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal properties. Despite its strength and efficacy, it’s considered a safe and mild cleansing agent that can be used to purify air in a public space or home.
  
  
• However, while H2O2 can be super effective at neutralizing everything from bacteria and molds to viruses, it can be less effective against particulate pollution and usually has only a small impact on surfaces.
  
  
• When it comes to coverage, generally speaking, H2O2 (DHP) systems are extremely effective for larger spaces. Hydrogen peroxide systems are ideal for large spaces and safe for adults and kids.