Can Air Purifiers Help Schools Reopen Safely?

Health and safety have always been priorities for school systems. Now, we are dealing with a global pandemic unlike anything we’ve seen before. The recent colder temperatures and increased indoor activity are likely to make the concerns more serious. Academic leaders are facing the repercussions of school closures, such as learning loss and social isolation among children. Therefore, our next challenge is getting kids back in their classrooms. What role will air ventilation and filtration play? We’ve taken advice from health and academic experts to learn which approaches are most likely to succeed. 

The Challenge Schools are Facing Now

The reality is that there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before parents will feel confident putting their kids back in a school building. Truthfully, there are more questions than answers right now. Here are just a few of the things that administrators need to think about:

• How can children be transported safely? How will bussing work? 
• How will we limit children with symptoms coming to school? How do we work with parents to differentiate between a common cold and something more serious? 
• Can kids maintain proper hygiene measures such as hand-washing, mask wearing, etc? 
• Are there large enough indoor spaces to accommodate social distance among the kids? What are those spaces and how do we use them? 
• How do we manage handwritten homework, laboratory studies, etc? 

In many instances, the parents, school district, and kids all want to be back in their school building - but determining how best to do that presents challenges. Everyone agrees that the health of children and staff should be at the forefront of any plans presented. We believe that air purifiers can be a big part of those solutions. 

How Air Purifiers Help

Clean air is important for mitigating the spread of any illness. When it comes to COVID-19,  airborne infection is 15 to 20 times more likely to occur inside than outdoors - which is why we’ve been encouraged to only socialize outside these past 12 months. We also know that COVID-19 can live in the air for up to 3 hours, so it makes sense that cleaner air and better air movement will help cut down on the number of airborne particles that can cause problems. 

The role that air purifiers and filters can play is complex and often discussed. Considerations are how much air gets into the building from outside, how much air in the building recirculates from one place to another, and how often air is filtered. 

The faster that air gets pushed through a filtration system before being recirculated, the better. That means it’s less likely for students to breathe in viral particles within that air. Many schools have a lower-strength filter as their default. A stronger filter would be better, but until now, the perceived need was lower. You might consider the difference between filters similar to that of face masks: a paper disposable mask is better than nothing, but an N-95 mask would be a lot more helpful. 

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers also recommends schools use a MERV-13 filter or higher. However, some schools’ mechanical systems can’t support such strong filters. Unfortunately, some research has shown that up to 41% of districts require updating or replacing the air systems within at least half of their schools. These schools are even better candidates for portable air purifiers that are compact, sleek, and easy to move - ideal for a classroom. 

Investments in Air Purifiers Make a Difference

Schools often have their hands tied because of the cost of needed improvements. The efforts required for students to return to school safely all require funding - just like anything the schools want to invest in. Costs tend to be a big reason why schools hadn’t properly focused on air filtration before - but now we know better. 

Ideally, a strong ventilation system for the entire building could be installed. This would improve overall air quality for the long-term, helping not only with COVID-19 but cold and flu season, along with general comfort and cleanliness. However, this sort of implementation comes at a high price that many school systems simply can’t afford. 

In those cases, smaller investments into air purification at the classroom level make sense. Portable HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are a worthwhile tool in removing particles that cause the COVID-19 virus, as well as airborne-illnesses of all types. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a HEPA filter can theoretically remove over 99% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Medify air purifiers perform even better, with a three level filtration process that removes 99.9% of particles down to 0.1 microns. 

These investments are a smart move not only for re-opening, but for the future.  Air purifiers can help remove all manner of allergens, pet dander, toxic chemicals, and illness causing particles. Purified air supports better health for students and staff, leading to improved concentration, less absenteeism, and a more comfortable environment for kids with asthma or allergies. Given the fact that most sick days are caused by upper respiratory infections, air purifiers will go a long way toward keeping children in school and active. Furthermore, healthier kids means less missed work for parents. In one study, nearly one-third of parents had concerns about their own job security due to staying home with a sick child. 

There’s plenty of research to support making the investment in air purifiers. The clean air that modern air purifiers can provide leads to healthier kids, happier parents, and more comfortable staff. 

The Right Air Purifiers for Your School

When choosing an air purifier, schools should take into account the size of the rooms, the number of people who will be in them, and the usual arrangement of people within those spaces. Noise is another factor to consider, along with the design. Most schools want a simple and streamlined machine that blends into the background. In some cases, it makes sense to have two small filters strategically placed, rather than one larger one. 

Medify offers air purifiers and filters for every need and every budget. From a compact desktop unit to one that cleans air in up to 2500 square feet, each system is easy to move and use, offering a lifetime warranty. Administrators can rest easy due to child locks, easy filter replacement, and an energy star certification. Plan to order in bulk? Connect with our experts to get a custom quote.