The indoor air quality and HVAC in schools are crucial components for protecting students and teachers from COVID-19.
As students, teachers, and education staff return to school buildings, academic administrators and facilities managers are under extreme pressure to provide safe spaces and clean air with rapidly changing requirements.
Long before the pandemic, the education system was confronting air quality issues, with one-third of U.S. school districts needing significant HVAC system repair or replacement.
In-depth studies show that air quality is critical for health and strongly connected to student performance and well-being. With heightened attention to indoor air due to the pandemic, now may be the right time to consider other technologies that address current concerns and take on longstanding school ventilation improvement needs.
There is a vast range of complexity, flexibility, age, and condition of HVAC systems in educational facilities. Therefore, a qualified professional should evaluate all adjustments or enhancements to equipment to ensure that they will not negatively impact the building environment. Each school is different, and it may not be practical to implement some or all of the CDC and ASHRAE recommendations. School administrators should consider the guidance combined with cost, benefit, energy usage effect, maintenance, and other factors to determine the best approach for their schools.
The U.S. Department of Education encourages the use of American Rescue Plan funding to improve ventilation and indoor air quality in schools and it provides resources to support investment. Beyond the CDC and ASHRAE guidelines, the IAQ Tools for Schools program promotes ventilation best practices to improve IAQ in schools long term.
- Provide Quality HVAC – quality HVAC and planned maintenance ensure better air circulation and fewer pollutants.
- Conduct an HVAC Assessment – evaluate the conditions and proper operation of the entire system. Make sure everything is working as it should.
- Consider Ventilation Design and Upgrades – the EPA IAQ Design for Schools provides guidance on various aspects of school construction and renovation and includes a section on HVAC.
The EPA has a webinar series specifically dedicated to maintaining healthy learning environments.
Comprehensive system assessments can help bring students, teachers, and families peace of mind now that most schools have reopened. We provide school administrators and facilities managers with independent evidence of the efficacy of their systems, and we can also give them recommendations on how to improve their building operations.
Things have gotten complicated. Contact us if you have questions or need any assistance.
Ubora wa hewa ya ndani na HVAC katika shule ni sehemu muhimu kwa ajili ya kulinda wanafunzi na walimu kutoka COVID-19. Wanafunzi, walimu na wafanyakazi wa elimu wanarudi kwenye majengo ya shule, wasimamizi wa chuo kikuu na wasimamizi wa vifaa wako chini ya shinikizo kubwa la kutoa nafasi salama na hewa safi na mahitaji yanayobadilika haraka. Muda mrefu kabla ya janga hilo, mfumo wa elimu ulikuwa ukikabiliwa na masuala ya ubora wa hewa, na theluthi moja ya wilaya za shule za Marekani zilihitaji ukarabati mkubwa wa mfumo wa HVAC au kubadilisha. Uchunguzi wa kina unaonyesha kuwa ubora wa hewa ni muhimu kwa afya na unahusiana sana na utendaji wa mwanafunzi na ustawi. Kwa kuzingatia hewa ya ndani kwa sababu ya janga hilo, sasa inaweza kuwa wakati mzuri wa kuzingatia teknolojia zingine zinazoshughulikia wasiwasi wa sasa na kuchukua mahitaji ya muda mrefu ya kuboresha uingizaji hewa wa shule. Kuna aina mbalimbali za mfumo wa HVAC katika vituo vya elimu. Kwa hiyo, mtaalamu aliyehitimu anapaswa kutathmini marekebisho yote au uboreshaji wa vifaa ili kuhakikisha kwamba hazitaathiri mazingira ya jengo. Kila shule ni tofauti, na inaweza kuwa haiwezekani kutekeleza baadhi au mapendekezo yote ya CDC na ASHRAE. Wasimamizi wa shule wanapaswa kuzingatia mwongozo huo pamoja na gharama, faida, athari ya matumizi ya nishati, matengenezo, na mambo mengine ili kuamua mbinu bora kwa shule zao. Wizara ya Elimu ya Marekani inahimiza matumizi ya fedha za American Rescue Plan ili kuboresha uingizaji hewa na ubora wa hewa ndani ya shule na hutoa rasilimali za kusaidia uwekezaji. Zaidi ya miongozo ya CDC na ASHRAE, programu ya Vifaa vya IAQ kwa Shule inakuza mazoea bora ya uingizaji hewa ili kuboresha IAQ katika shule kwa muda mrefu. - Kutoa HVAC ya ubora <unk> HVAC ya ubora na matengenezo yaliyopangwa kuhakikisha mzunguko bora wa hewa na uchafuzi wa chini. - Kufanya HVAC Tathmini <unk> kutathmini hali na uendeshaji sahihi wa mfumo mzima. Hakikisha kwamba kila kitu kinafanya kazi kama inavyopaswa. "Kupitia ""Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation"" (Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation) na ""Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation"" (Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation) na ""Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation"" (Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation) na ""Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation"" (Kuchora na Kuboresha Ventilation)." EPA ina mfululizo wa webinars maalum iliyojitolea kudumisha mazingira ya kujifunza yenye afya. Tathmini kamili ya mfumo inaweza kusaidia kuleta amani ya akili kwa wanafunzi, walimu, na familia sasa kwamba shule nyingi zimefunguliwa tena. Tunatoa wasimamizi wa shule na wasimamizi wa vifaa na ushahidi wa kujitegemea wa ufanisi wa mifumo yao, na tunaweza pia kuwapa mapendekezo juu ya jinsi ya kuboresha shughuli zao za ujenzi. Mambo yamekuwa magumu. Wasiliana nasi ikiwa una maswali au unahitaji msaada wowote.