healthy Buildings vital to returning to norMalCy

by kristine thomas

By allowing fresh air into the classroom, it dilutes and displaces airborne particles to assist in the decrease of virus transmission.

An unhealthy building can contribute to unhealthy occupants.

That’s why in the last year people responsible for schools, grocery stores, office buildings, and everything in between have focused on what preventable steps they can take to combat the spread of contagious diseases, including COVID-19. Keeping surfaces, floors and door handles clean to eliminate the virus is a tedious but simple step to take.

The more challenging one is fighting the invisible germs and viruses in the air.

Several industry experts, including Peggy White at Tri County Climate in Bend, shared that they have seen an increase of purchases of air filtration systems to reduce the transmission of airborne germs and viruses.

The University of Oregon’s Institute for Health in the Built Environment shared in a news release that it worked with the Biology and Built Environment Center to understand how viruses like COVID-19 circulates through buildings and are studying ways to test the health of the building for viruses.

The idea is that instead of testing people, they will test the building to implement disease prevention and manage the risks. Mitigation strategies include minimizing the recirculation of air and increasing filtration and the flow of fresh air can make the air safer for occupants.

Throughout the state of Oregon school districts are sharing notes on what they have done to make their buildings safe for the return of students and staff members.

Sheila Miller, the public information officer for the Redmond School District, said the passage of the district’s 2020 bond will provide for a variety of safety upgrades. For example, the district reprogrammed its HVAC systems to adhere to ASHRAE guidelines.

“This included a 100 percent outside air flushing of the buildings, two hours before occupancy and two hours after occupancy, and raising the outside air minimum requirements during occupancy periods,” Miller said. “In addition, we disabled all demand-control ventilation control strategies to keep from limiting the amount of outside air being introduced to areas with high occupancy potential. Filters have been upgraded as well to meet ASHRAE guidelines.”

Miller said the district also installed water bottle stations in its building as part of the district’s COVID-19 prevention strategy.

In the Springfield School District in Springfield, OR, the district facilities staff has increased the amount of fresh air coming into the buildings by adjusting their HVAC systems. The district also upgraded its filters to kill microorganisms. The district installed iWave air purifiers in its HVAC systems. The iWave uses ions to kill pathogens to rob them of their lifesustaining hydrogen and cleans the air everywhere the ions travel.

Bend-La Pine Schools Communication Supervisor Alandra Johnson said updates to the HVAC systems in its schools and buildings will maximize fresh outdoor air and minimize indoor air recirculation.

By allowing fresh air into the classroom, it dilutes and displaces airborne particles to assist in the decrease of virus transmission.

“Thanks to updates to our systems, our schools’ HVAC systems will bring in fresh air an hour before school starts, as well as throughout the day as we filter classroom air through medical-grade MERV-13 filters six to seven times each hour,” Johnson said. “Bend-La Pine Schools will operate ventilation systems properly and/ or increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans and through other methods.” l