Pandemics or not, facility managers know the dangers of exposing young children to indoor air pollution. And as the subject of indoor air quality (IAQ) emerged as a high priority among building occupants during the pandemic, the public became more aware of the dangers associated with poor air filtration.
Institutional and commercial facilities have responded to air quality threats posed by events such as the pandemic and wildfires by increasing the quality of the air filters that they install in their HVAC system.
It’s generally understood that the higher the quality of your air filters, the better your air quality. But how much can it improve? According to a study from Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE), better filters can greatly improve air quality – by as much as 83 percent.
WHE, a non-profit based in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, installed portable air filters in eight daycare centers in the Philadelphia area to assess the amount of PM 2.5 concentrations in childcare centers when operating at the highest filter speed.
PM 2.5 is particulate matter that when people are overexposed to it can contribute to respiratory ailments such as asthma as well as heart disease and cancer. Respiratory ailments such as asthma, heart disease and cancer are also linked to increased exposure to particulate matter. Children are especially vulnerable to the pollutants.
The study was conducted over two weeks at the daycare centers and revealed a marked improvement in air quality.
Facility managers at daycare centers are advised to follow these best practices to ensure air quality remains high in their buildings:
Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facility market.
