Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial in all buildings where we spend the majority of our time. Numerous studies indicate that indoor air pollutants can lead to a range of health issues such as fatigue and allergies as well as impact productivity and comfort.
Ensuring exceptional IAQ is important in schools, as it can impact the health, concentration, and academic performance of students and staff.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also further highlighted the importance of IAQ in schools, emphasizing the need for effective ventilation and air filtration to minimize the spread of airborne viruses.
Crowded, high dense spaces with poor ventilation and airflow can increase health risks. Schools often have a large number of students and staff in relatively small areas, leading to higher concentrations of people per square foot than many other buildings. Schools also may have inadequate ventilation systems which can lead to a buildup of indoor air pollutant and pathogens.
“Many schools have been built years or decades ago, which followed older building codes. Modern buildings use more strict building codes, which include meeting minimum fresh air requirements by the ASHRAE 62.1 standard. However, the problem is many older schools have yet to be retrofitted to comply with these current building codes and standards,” says Will Elaridi, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Manager, Ventilation Products, HVAC Division.
To improve IAQ in schools, proper ventilation, air filtration, source control strategies and HVAC maintenance are key considerations.
In addition to installing ventilation equipment, schools should also be equipped with high efficiency filtration with a minimum of MERV 8 rating where possible. High efficiency filters ensure small particulate matter is continuously filtered out in the space. UV lighting is available on certain products for additional protection against microbes. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends using a minimum MERV 8 and sometimes MERV 13 filter in schools to contribute to a healthier learning environment.
For effective ventilation, an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a critical component to an overall HVAC system.
“Its purpose is to replenish old, stale air inside the building and replace it with fresh air being drawn in from the outside,” explains Elaridi. “There is a built-in heat exchanger inside the unit, which helps pre-heat the outside air in the winter and pre-cool in the summer by utilizing the return air as a source for heat exchange as it exhausts back outside. Humidity transfer is also performed to help balance humidity levels inside the building. This entire process is done by using two fans – one for supply air and one for exhaust air.”
As a leader in energy recovery ventilation solutions, Mitsubishi Electric has worked with a number of schools to help decarbonize and improve IAQ within their buildings. Mitsubishi Electric offers various solutions including energy recovery ventilators, air purifiers and VRF systems. These solutions help to remove pollutants and enhance ventilation, creating an environment that supports the well-being and academic success of students and staff.
Mitsubishi Electric offers efficient and high performance ventilation options including:
- Lossnay ERV, which is a unitary ERV, only provides unconditioned fresh air into a building and sometimes ties into separate heating/cooling equipment. Lossnay heat-exchange technology is highly effective, minimizing energy loss and contributing to substantial energy savings. By introducing fresh, filtered air and managing humidity, Lossnay systems enhance indoor air quality and create a more comfortable environment.
- Premisys DOAS is a complete packaged ‘dedicated outdoor air system’ capable of providing fresh air using ERV with heating, cooling, and dehumidification for conditioning a space. It will provide a consistent and comfortable environment, leaving air temperature of typically 21℃ no matter the climate zone.
Finally, don’t forget a well-maintained HVAC system runs more efficiently, lasts longer and delivers better air quality.
With increasingly stringent building codes, a ventilation system that is both effective at bringing in fresh air and also highly energy efficient is now top of the requirements for occupant comfort.
To learn more about how energy recovery ventilation solutions can enhance indoor air quality, visit www.MitsubishiElectric.ca.
