Is the Indoor Air You Are Breathing Safe?

September 06, 2020

The following article is a summary of what was written by Camila Domonoske on WAMC.org and originally published on Aug 24, 2020. (Source: https://www.wamc.org/post/we-return-work-and-school-during-pandemic-can-air-inside-be-kept-safe)

Across America, buildings are opening back up — offices, schools, theaters, stores, restaurants — even as evidence mounts that the coronavirus circulates through the air we breathe. This means that building owners should be asking what they can do to make sure that their building doesn't spread the virus. There are ways to reduce the risk, and experts warn building managers to be cautious of anyone selling them any air-purifying device or super-strong filter with an absolute guarantee that it will stop the virus.

Experts say that you must do all that you can do to your air purifying system --- like that of a hospital operating room.

This means covering the basics — making sure that your HVAC system is up to code and maintained correctly. It means buying more efficient air filters (but not too efficient for your system as many HVAC systems can't handle all effective filters). It also means pulling more fresh outdoor air into your system. It means running the system for more daily hours, including flushing cycles before or after people are inside. It means considering portable units with HEPA filters or UV lights to sanitize the air.

And it could mean opening windows and doors — or if there's a room with really poor ventilation; don't use it.

There's a lot to consider. And as the science on COVID-19 has been evolving, the right actions haven't always been clear, and building operators are intimidated or overwhelmed by the scale of the information.

"It's tricky and it's confusing and in large part, it's scary," says Kathleen Owen, an air filtration consultant in Cary, N.C., who works with ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers).

"And the answer to it is, first, don't panic. Second, do what you can," she says.

Owen compares it to the face masks scenario. Ideally, an N95 is the best, but not available for everyone. A cloth mask is less effective, but much better than nothing at all. Similarly, if a building's HVAC system can't handle an extremely efficient filter like a HEPA or a MERV 13, then install the best filter that the system can handle. And don't forget all the other ways to reduce the risk, such as running the system longer or pulling in more fresh air.Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

(Source: https://www.wamc.org/post/we-return-work-and-school-during-pandemic-can-air-inside-be-kept-safe)

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