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Indoor Air Quality in Educational Centers
In many parts of Spain, classes resume today after the passing of Filomena. However, educational centers face a complex situation: extreme cold temperatures outdoors and open windows as a precaution against COVID-19 to ensure indoor air quality.
But are there solutions? Is it possible to hold classes with closed windows while ensuring good indoor air quality? Yes. Many technological alternatives exist for this. Borealis Thermal Energy, committed to the fight against the pandemic, has developed various HVAC solutions for schools, colleges, and universities.
The educational community should not have to endure winter’s low temperatures due to the need to open windows for ventilation. Additionally, these are economical solutions that do not require installation, and they prevent heating wastage.
Borealis is a Spanish company with 20 years of experience in manufacturing air conditioning, ventilation, and high-tech energy recovery equipment. Its products are designed and manufactured in Spain according to international standards. Borealis is a regular supplier of such HVAC systems for hospitals, operating rooms, and healthcare centers, to disinfect spaces against microorganisms and bacteria, including COVID-19.
BOREALIS SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN EDUCATIONAL CENTERS
Borealis Thermal Energy has developed various solutions to enhance indoor air quality in educational settings, such as schools, colleges, preschools, and universities:
1. UV-BOX Air Purifier
A portable and autonomous system for indoor air disinfection using ultraviolet radiation without ozone production. This technology is proven to eliminate bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Designed for spaces lacking air distribution systems and for situations where portable solutions are needed. These units are selected based on the air volume to be treated. A compact, economical, and installation-free solution. Some institutions already using UV Box: IES Universidad Laboral de Albacete and University of Castilla La Mancha.
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2. MINIVEN: Air Renewal
Health-oriented ventilation without cold drafts and without wasting heating. A compact, economical, and efficient solution to classroom ventilation issues that requires no installation. Equipped with an air-to-air heat recovery system that recovers over 80% of the heat from the expelled air to warm the fresh air being introduced into the room.
3. UV-COIL AND UV-LINE: Solutions for Existing HVAC Systems
The UV-COIL system is suitable for installation on Air Treatment Unit (UTA) coils and on Autonomous Heat Pump Units. These are installed by exposing the surface of the coils to ultraviolet light, using reflective systems to maximize the light generated by the lamps. The UV-LINE system is suitable for installation in circular and rectangular air ducts.
EDUCATIONAL CENTERS NEED TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Most classrooms in educational centers built before 2007 experience poor air quality and require rehabilitation plans to improve ventilation, filtration, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, according to participants in the recent Atecyr conference. The association has also prepared a document with recommendations on ventilation systems to protect the educational community from COVID-19.
Ensuring adequate ventilation in many educational centers is challenging due to the lack of mechanical systems, warns Atecyr, the Spanish Technical Association for HVAC and Refrigeration. Many centers rely only on natural ventilation (with windows), which is highly dependent on the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air, as well as wind speed and direction. “As a result, sufficient natural ventilation cannot be guaranteed at all times, whereas mechanical ventilation systems ensure continuous air renewal throughout the year.”
At the recent Atecyr conference in late November, Pedro Vicente Quiles, President of Atecyr’s Technical Committee, noted that “air quality in most classrooms of educational centers built before 2007 is poor.” He added that “a rehabilitation plan is necessary to improve air quality in older school classrooms: ventilation and filtration, while considering energy efficiency criteria and aiming for decarbonization.”
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOLS ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Atecyr has also published a document with recommendations and solutions on indoor air quality to protect the educational community from COVID-19, particularly for primary and secondary schools lacking forced ventilation due to their age. These recommendations focus on the correct use of ventilation systems, whether natural or mechanical, as well as sanitation systems. “These are short-term recommendations; in the long-term, it is generally recommended to equip the entire educational center with a mechanical ventilation system in compliance with current Building Thermal Installation Regulations.”
Atecyr’s advice for educational centers includes checking the ventilation and indoor airflow, implementing actions for spaces with natural ventilation, forced ventilation, heat recovery systems, and standalone air purifiers, as well as measures for sanitation systems and guidance for school administrators.
Source: https://www.ifema.es/cr/noticias/centros-educativos-calidad-aire
