Contractors Need More Guidance on Selecting Indoor Air Treatment Devices

Honeywell Shows Value of Room Purifiers for Hotels

Indiana Approves UV Light Purification For School Buses

School Buses are Fifteen Times More Crowded Than a School Room

Two Hundred Kids Hospitalized with COVID in First Quarter

Masks will be Used for Multiple Purposes Post COVID

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Contractors Need More Guidance on Selecting Indoor Air Treatment Devices

IAQ products including MERV 13 filters, air cleaners, UV lights, and bipolar ionization have been in high demand. These come with their own sets of challenges, though, and they may not always be well suited for each application.

“Everyone's defaulting to MERV 13 or, in some cases, HEPA filters, particularly in the education market,” said  Jeff Littleton Exec. VP of ASAHRAE  “A lot of our design engineers are being asked by their clients to retrofit existing systems to put MERV 13 filters in, and the pressure drop behind the filter can be an issue. You have to be really careful, because a key part of fighting COVID 19 is to reduce the concentration of pathogens in the occupied spaces. If you get less ventilation flowing through that tighter MERV 13 filter, you can end up with a bad situation.”

While the demand for IAQ devices continues to be high, there is a lack of research and standards regarding the efficacy of the equipment. ASHRAE is planning to rectify that situation by developing test and design standards for various types of IAQ products; however, determining the appropriate methods can be a time-consuming and complicated proposition.

“Just think about UVGI and what kind of tests are needed for determining dosage curves for specific pathogens across a specific light spectrum, for example,” said Littleton. “And how does that apply to various mediums like aerosols or large droplets or dry and wet surfaces? And how do you commission a UV antimicrobial system in a new or existing facility? In an air handling unit or in ductwork? So a lot of standards, and a lot of research is frankly needed for all of those systems.”

To that end, ASHRAE’s Board of Directors recently approved the title, purpose, and scope (TPS) for a new standard, entitled “Method of Testing In-Room Devices and Systems for Microorganism Removal or Inactivation in a Chamber.”

While that is a good first step, Talbot Gee, CEO of HARDI. is concerned that the standards process will take too long to address some of the problems that are a major concern right now.

“Our distributors are bombarded daily by new sales pitches on new products or improved products in the IAQ space, and their No. 1 frustration is that they need some way to evaluate the claims of all of these products,” he said. “It’s easy to do for energy usage on a system, but it's almost impossible to do for IAQ systems. We don't have a great way of figuring out which of these IAQ technologies is the real deal versus snake oil. My concern is, we have a generation of contractors who won't touch IAQ with a 10-foot pole, because they're afraid of getting caught up in something that gets misrepresented or just doesn't perform to its stated claims.”

To combat that issue, Gee would like to see some kind of certification program for IAQ products or a credible seal of approval that would be based on performance metrics.

“The standards that ASHRAE is working on are going to be fantastic, but it's still holistic, and it doesn't necessarily specifically help contractors make a buying decision on a specific product,” he said. “We need that next mile to get done — and frankly, anything that can be done to accelerate it. I fear that this is kind of like the pet rock fad — there was a short period of time to sell the pet rock before it was gone. I'm afraid if we drag our feet too long, that some of these IAQ technologies might go that route, and we will have missed our window and not had a chance to really grow in that sector of the economy.”

Littleton agreed with Gee’s assessment but added that the focus on IAQ will continue to be strong even after the pandemic.

“Memories tend to be short, but I do think in terms of the impact of the pandemic, the increased focus on life safety issues and health issues — as it relates to IAQ — has legs. It's going to have a long-term impact — a permanent impact on the way we design systems for buildings,” he said. “ASHRAE’s method of test standard will define how to test the efficacy of some of this [IAQ] equipment. Then you do the research, and after that is done, we’ll develop design standards that define what is the best way to deploy some of this equipment based on its efficacy and its strengths and weaknesses, and so on.”

Due to the increased interest in this particular standard, Littleton noted that ASHRAE is considering allocating additional resources to accelerate its development, so that it could be available sooner rather than later. Still, he noted that even if its timeline is moved up, the standard will not be finished in time to help people designing buildings next year.

“I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that ASHRAE is not the fastest standards developer on the planet, but we’re very, very thorough,” he said.

https://www.achrnews.com/articles/144981-hvac-industry-grapples-with-shortages-indoor-air-quality-claims

Honeywell Shows Value of Room Purifiers for Hotels

The hotel industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic. As travel rates increase, hotels are turning to science and technology to create environments that make guests feel safer. Honeywell released findings of a computer modeling study that examined indoor air quality in hotel common areas, focusing specifically on filtration and purification methods used to help mitigate potential airborne contaminants. The study found that mobile HEPA air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants by capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns and even smaller. In addition, placing purifiers in high-traffic areas is an important factor in reducing contaminants.

The model simulated airborne transmission inside a common area of a select-service hotel, conditioned by a traditional HVAC system, to see how far aerosols travel and how long they remain suspended in the air. Using computer models, the study measured airborne particulates of simulated talking, sneezing and coughing in a common area of a hotel property, such as the dining area, and the HVAC system's filtration efficiency to capture contaminants throughout the space.

The simulation observed the flow of large and small particles, taking into account factors such as the location of the HVAC supply and return air vents, air flow physics, and the social distancing of guests. In the model, some of the guests were wearing face coverings and some were not (i.e., to simulate eating in the dining area). The study specifically examined the impact of adding mobile air purifiers to help pull contaminated air away from guests. 

Key Study Findings: Air Flow and Impact of Air Purifiers

·         In the study, 97% of small particles were captured by air purifiers, which made a significant impact on the improvement of air quality.       

·         Talking created smaller and fewer droplets than a sneeze; yet, when the droplet attaches itself to a particle as an aerosol, dissemination continued as long as a person talked and traveled approximately 60 feet in the simulation due to HVAC air flow.

·         The closer a source of contaminants is to the air purifier, the higher the purifier's effectiveness; mobile HEPA air purifiers captured particles as small as 0.3 microns (and smaller).

Key Study Findings: Effective Placement of Air Purifiers

·         Return air vents are often at the edges of a space and, as a result, can allow aerosols and other particles to travel farther. Typically, HVAC systems in hotels and other commercial buildings are not placed to control contaminants; they are designed for comfort and energy efficiency by controlling temperature and humidity.

·         Mobile HEPA air purifiers placed in strategic locations in a hotel lobby can be effective in managing the spread of contaminants, large and small.

·         Air purifiers that are less obstructed and set at tabletop level were more effective.

"People are paying attention to indoor air quality, especially as they return to public places, and they want to know that their favorite destinations are taking precautions," said Manish Sharma, vice president, chief technology and chief product officer for Honeywell Building Technologies. "While this computer simulation looked at how hotels can improve the air quality in places where people congregate – like lobbies or dining areas – the learnings can be applied to other environments like schools, dorms and office conference rooms. Modeling suggests that placing portable air purifiers in the exact places that people are can effectively and quickly filter the air in a space before particles and aerosols disseminate. This study also demonstrates that improving air quality doesn't have to be costly or complicated -- a good filtration technology and intentional placement of it can help remove contaminants from traveling through the air."  

Background on Air Purifiers

Standalone, mobile HEPA air purifiers are known to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns and can help reduce the spread of pathogens, viruses and contaminated air. NASA research suggests portable air purifiers can be effective at removing submicron and nonparticulate size matter as well. Air purifiers work by pulling stale air into the unit where a carbon filter captures larger particles, VOCs and odors. The air then passes through the HEPA filter, made of tightly woven glass or synthetic fibers to capture smaller particles including smoke, dust, pollen, mold spores, viruses and bacteria. Honeywell HEPA air purifiers offer building owners a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution that does not require infrastructural changes.

Honeywell's Healthy Buildings solutions are part of a comprehensive effort to innovate solutions that help critical sectors of the global economy recover, like hospitality, without the need to replace existing infrastructure. Honeywell's Healthy Buildings solutions provide a holistic view of a building's health based on key factors such as indoor air quality, occupant flow, PPE analytics, thermal screening, temperature monitoring, social distancing and sanitation efficacy.

Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) says it is transforming the way every building operates to help improve the quality of life. It is a leading building controls company with operations in more than 75 countries supported by a global channel partner network. Commercial building owners and operators use its hardware, software and analytics to help create safe, efficient and productive facilities. Its solutions and services are used in more than 10 million buildings worldwide.


Indiana Approves UV Light Purification For School Buses

The Indiana State School Bus Committee on June 1st, 2021, approved the use of UV light air purification systems on Indiana school buses after a successful pilot program with Indiana based Lumin-Air. 

UV and MERV 13 Filtration on School Bus

Andrew Desmarais, Chief Operating Officer of Lumin-Air said, "This approval is very exciting for Indiana school districts and puts Indiana on par with other states who have already approved these technologies to help provide clean air in their school buses. Most importantly Indiana schools can now implement a solution to help reduce the risk of transmission and better protect students, bus drivers and other school bus occupants against airborne respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza."

School buses are the most densely populated areas in a school's facility and typically have the poorest air quality. Lumin-Air's system includes MERV 13 filtration and UV lights in an enclosure, circulating clean, disinfected air throughout the bus. This is a much safer and healthier alternative to opening school bus windows, which can bring in unfiltered air containing exhaust, allergens, and particulates. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges limiting inhalation of diesel exhaust especially for children who still have developing pulmonary systems.

Timing for approval was critical as Indiana schools have until June 25th to turn in proposals for how they will allocate the large amount of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ESSER) to improve air quality in their facilities and school bus fleets.

Dan Fillenwarth, President of Lumin-Air commented "If a school system spent a little over 1% of their ESSER funding on air quality in their school buses they could have systems installed, including 12-years of replacement filters and UV bulbs, addressing the neediest portion of their facilities. This would be a huge step toward improving the health of students, teachers, and bus drivers, and helping to protect schools from shutting down in the future."

Lumin-Air has successfully installed their solution in California, Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland, on all major school bus manufacturer models and on two leading metro bus manufacturer's vehicles. They also have a pilot program underway on a rail system.


School Buses are Fifteen Times More Crowded Than a School Room

The school bus is an important part of a school’s facilities, where students spend a considerable amount of their daily school time. School buses are the safest way to travel to and from school and are the only transportation option for some students.

School systems are in the process of determining how to best allocate the large amount of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which were made available under the American Rescue Plan. They’ve been provided to improve the health of their constituents, and to ensure that their facilities are prepared for and avoid potential closures. So, let’s compare the air in school buses to classrooms.

The Wells-Riley model was developed by William F. Wells and Richard L. Riley in the late 1970s to quantify the risks associated with airborne transmission of respiratory diseases. The variables that affect the rate of infection include time, the infectivity of the disease, and the concentration of the infectious particles. There have also been many recent publications and some excellent computational fluid dynamic models showing how the risk of infection increases as the concentration of contaminants spreads within a classroom.

Since we can’t easily control time or the infectivity of the disease, how can we minimize disease transmission by reducing the “concentration”? Concentration is the number of infectious particles per volume.

A typical classroom for 25 students is roughly 1,050 square feet with a 9-foot ceiling, or 378 cubic feet per person. A typical 77-passenger school bus has 22 cubic feet per person. Imagine telling your students, teachers and parents that due to COVID-19, you were going to reduce the capacity in one of your classrooms made for 25 students to 50-percent capacity, and that you’d still fit 214 people. You read that right; 50-percent capacity in your school bus is like 214 people in a 25-person classroom.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides some excellent recommendations on how to reduce the concentration of contaminants inside classrooms. ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality has been adopted as code throughout the U.S. and sets guidelines for outside air. A classroom should bring in 10 cubic feet of clean outside air every minute (cfm) for the number of people in that space, plus 0.12 cfm per square foot of the space. In our example, that works out to 500 cubic feet per minute of clean outside air to dilute indoor contaminants in the classroom. ASHRAE 62.1 also states that the outside air intake must be more than 25 feet away from a thoroughfare with high traffic volume, like a bus parking or idling area.

If we applied the same criteria for the classroom to the school bus, we would need 800 cubic feet per minute of clean air to dilute contaminants in the school bus. How much clean outside air do we actually bring into a school bus? Even if a bus has air conditioning, there is zero outside air induced through it. Some buses do have small dash HVAC systems that bring in small amounts of outside air, but the only outside air that typically comes into a school bus is through an open window or vent. Bus drivers don’t have control of student’s windows, so a student can close their window because of outside conditions like rain, temperature and noise—or for any other reason they want. The quality of the outside air induced into the bus is poor, as bus windows are hopefully never more than 25-feet from the road, or the parking/idling area as prescribed by ASHRAE.

Scientific studies like “Reducing Air Pollution Exposure in Passenger Vehicles and School Buses” performed at the University of California, Los Angeles point out that high levels of traffic emissions are associated with pulmonary and cardiovascular health risks, especially for children who “are in the developing stage for pulmonary function and immune system. In addition, exposures to particulate pollutants were also found to be associated with poor academic performance.”

Amid a pandemic and with no better option, it’s better to open a window to reduce contaminant concentration. But the federal government has given us funds so that we don’t have to say, “We don’t have better options.”

If open windows and vents are not the best options, what else is available? And how does that compare to the classroom? Again, ASHRAE and the CDC set guidelines for classrooms. The recommendations are simply to improve filter efficiency as much as possible and supplement with ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, especially when outside air and filtration options are limited.

ASHRAE recommends a minimum MERV-13 filter for the reopening of classrooms. Filters are rated on MERV levels from low to high, based on the particles that they remove. Dr. Brent Stephens of the Illinois Institute of Technology published a report for the National Air Filtration Association, titled, “HVAC filtration and the Wells-Riley approach to assessing risks of infectious airborne diseases.” The report concludes that MERV-13 filters remove 87 percent of total droplet nuclei expelled during human activities. Typical bus filters are about MERV-2, which are not very effective at removing contaminated particles. The regular bus filter is there to try to keep the coil clean, not protect humans.

 

To summarize, the school bus has the most people per volume of any part of a school’s facilities. The school bus also has the lowest amount and worst quality of outside air available and the poorest filters.

The good news is that there are options available for school systems to improve the air in their school buses. Dr. William Bahnfleth, chair of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, testified in front of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure earlier this year. During his testimony, he said, “The density of people is ordinarily much higher than in buildings. This density inherently increases the risk of short-range transmission, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to isolate passengers.” He also stated, “Code minimum ventilation and MERV-13 filter efficiency should be viewed as baseline requirements that may not be sufficient. … Air cleaners may be used as a supplement … The best-established technology (to supplement ventilation and filtration) currently is disinfection with germicidal ultraviolet light.”

If school systems spent 1.2 percent of their ESSER money on improving the worst air in their school facility—the school bus—they could have a system installed including any UV bulb and filter changes for 12-years of operation. (Based on $190 billion in funds for over 470,000 school buses.) The device could be removed from buses no longer in operation and installed on new buses.

Two Hundred Kids Hospitalized with COVID in First Quarter

Over 200 kids aged 12-17 were likely hospitalized for COVID-19 from January to the end of March across 14 states, with over 31% admitted to an intensive care unit and nearly 5% requiring ventilator support.

Coronavirus hospitalization rates in people aged 12-17 increased during March and April in what the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called a "troubling" trend.

The CDC published a report on Friday that documented over 200 adolescents who were likely hospitalized for COVID-19 across 14 states from January to the end of March. Of those 12-17-year-olds, over 31% were admitted to an intensive care unit and nearly 5% required ventilator support. No associated deaths were reported.

The agency also found that the hospitalization rate in the age group peaked at 2.1 per 100,000 in early January, declined to 0.6 in mid-March and rose to 1.3 in April. The increased hospitalization rates could be related to the circulation of highly transmissible variants, more children returning to school and other indoor activities and changes in COVID-19 mitigation measures, according to the report.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky called the data "troubling" during a press conference on Thursday.

"In the month leading up to the recommendations of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for teens and adolescents 12 and older, CDC observed troubling data regarding the hospitalizations of adolescents with COVID-19," she said. "More concerning were the number of adolescents admitted to the hospital who required treatment in the intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation."

The Food and Drug Administration in May authorized expanded use of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine in kids aged 12-15. Since then, the Biden administration has urged adolescents to get vaccinated, calling it the "most important thing you can do right now."

Walensky said the report's findings "force us to redouble our motivation to get our adolescents and young adults vaccinated."

The majority of the 204 adolescents hospitalized with the coronavirus across 14 states from January to March had one or more underlying medical conditions, including obesity and asthma. The agency reported that COVID-19 hospitalization rates among adolescents exceeded historical rates of seasonal influenza-associated hospitalization during comparable periods.

"Recent increased COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates in March and April 2021 and the potential for severe disease in adolescents reinforce the importance of continued COVID-19 prevention measures, including vaccination and correct and consistent wearing of masks by persons not yet fully vaccinated or when required by laws, rules, or regulations," the report said.

Masks will be Used for Multiple Purposes Post COVID

More than a year into a pandemic that has sickened tens of millions of people in the United States and killed more than 500,000, most people are eager to reclaim some semblance of their former lives.

About half of the country has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. Infection rates are dropping. And federal health authorities have relaxed mask recommendations for people who are fully vaccinated against the virus.

But it’s unclear what our new normal will look like and whether, at least in some form, it will include face coverings — which have been shown to not only help protect against the coronavirus, but also, with additional measures such as social-distancing, slow the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases.

 

We’ve had practically a nonexistent flu season this year merely because people were doing the kinds of public-health things that were directed predominantly against covid-19,” Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious-diseases expert, said recently on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Even after the pandemic, Fauci said, it is “conceivable” that during certain seasonal periods when respiratory-borne viruses like influenza are more prevalent, “people might actually elect to wear masks” to keep from getting sick. Though polls show mask-wearing has declined as more Americans get vaccinated, a large number say they will continue sporting them, particularly in higher-risk situations, such as entering a crowded area.

It raises the question: What will the future of mask-wearing look like in America?

Masks have been used to prevent respiratory transmission of infectious illnesses in health-care settings for a long time. In fact, some say the strategy dates to the Middle Ages. But it wasn’t until the early-20th century that it started to gain more widespread recognition as a tool to prevent disease.

A Chinese-Malaysian doctor named Wu Lien-teh is credited with pioneering a PPE-style mask to protect himself and his team while treating patients during the deadly Manchurian plague in the early 1900s. Fashioned from gauze bandages and wool, his “anti-plague mask” helped protect them from a highly contagious disease that killed scores of people.

Mask-wearing caught on in many countries in Asia as other respiratory epidemics emerged. Even today, some Asians commonly cover their noses and mouths to filter out pollution or protect others from infection when they are ill, a practice that became even more pronounced after the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. 

But absent major respiratory epidemics in the West, the focus shifted to hand-washing to try to guard against gastrointestinal diseases, said Jeremy Howard, a research scientist at the University of San Francisco in California.

Everything changed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic early last year. Until then, masking had been an unfamiliar concept in the United States’ recent history, at least when used as a large community-based intervention.

Despite the politicization surrounding masks, research shows that the strategy has been a valuable tool in the fight against covid-19, helping to keep people from spreading germs and protecting others from inhaling them. Numerous studies have shown that masks reduce infectious respiratory particles — the primary method of spreading the coronavirus. Masking, especially when practiced alongside hand-washing and social-distancing, has been associated with a decrease in daily cases and death rates in counties that implemented mask mandates, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It can really be the difference between a mass pandemic and something that kind of peters out,” said Howard, who led a team of international researchers in reviewing evidence for wearing masks. That said, Howard added that the increased transmissibility of variants means that masks and social-distancing may no longer be enough, making vaccines even more crucial to help slow the spread.

Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Health System, said that over the past year, researchers have amassed a wealth of data on the “incredible power of widespread masking.”

“The question is: What do we do with that information, and also, culturally, how acceptable will it be to people to utilize this tool even when we’re finished with the pandemic?” she said.

Maragakis stressed that a number of people die of influenza and other respiratory illnesses each year in the United States. But, she said, “one of the most remarkable things, in addition to interrupting SARS-CoV-2 transmission, is the fact that we have seen almost no influenza or respiratory syncytial virus over the past year. That is yet another aspect we should really think about, because the effectiveness there has saved tens of thousands of lives.”

The future of masks

Although many people are itching to shed their masks, health experts agree that even after the pandemic, people who are sick — with any respiratory illness — should stay home when possible. And when they cannot keep a distance from others, it may make sense to mask up. As to whether people will do that, some experts doubt it, but others are hopeful masking will stick around, at least in some form.

Using masks on public transportation, busy sidewalks or in crowded venues could significantly cut down on illness, particularly during seasons when respiratory infections are rampant. But even if people do not take things that far, they could consider wearing masks when sick, Maragakis said.

“That would certainly be a time to wear a mask — if you have respiratory symptoms and you are continuing to go somewhere. That would be a courteous and preventative measure to take to prevent transmission to others,” she said.

The majority of more than 2,000 Americans recently surveyed said they would continue taking precautions after the pandemic has ended. In the survey, from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, 90 percent of respondents said they would keep up with frequent hand-washing. Eighty percent said they would still avoid crowds. And 72 percent said they intend to keep wearing their masks, at least in certain situations.

A recent Ipsos poll showed that 57 percent were still wearing masks when leaving the house, though mask use “at all times” has declined about 10 percent among those who are vaccinated.

However, in an Economist/YouGov poll released last month, the majority of people who did not plan to get vaccinated were more likely to say that they felt safe while mask less. As The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake reported, the poll showed that 63 percent who intended to forgo the vaccine said they felt at least “somewhat” safe socializing indoors with other unvaccinated people — without wearing a mask. Only 36 percent of people who had received at least one dose of the vaccine said they felt that way.

“I can tell you that next winter, when I’m in crowded areas like taking public transportation, I, myself, will probably wear a mask so I can prevent not just covid but other respiratory illnesses as well,” said Bernard Camins, medical director of infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System.

Some people will be glad to see the masks go. But for others, it may be more complicated.

Clinical psychologist Lina Perl said aside from interfering with how people connect with each other, masks can also become a “safety behavior,” resulting in anxiety when the mask is not on.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started easing masking recommendations for vaccinated people, “we’re in the process of, ‘Okay, I’m going to let this go,’ and I think people are having a really tough time,” Perl said. “I think people are going to have to push past that anxiety and practice not using the masks to get over that safety behavior.”

Yet, Perl said, it’s a personal decision and people have to find their own balance.

“I think everybody makes different choices about how much risk they’re willing to take on,” Perl said. “I think that it makes sense if wearing a mask is something that fits into your arsenal to keep yourself healthy.”

Experts said, throughout the pandemic, that the reason for wearing masks has been not only to protect people out in the community but also to prevent loved ones at home from contracting the virus and becoming severely ill. And the end of the pandemic will not eliminate the threat of the coronavirus or other respiratory infections.

“I think we spend a great deal of time and effort and money looking for clinical cures for diseases and developing vaccines and other things, but sometimes we overlook the simple things that we can do that can be extremely powerful. And I think masking is one of those things,” Maragakis said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/06/03/coronavirus-pandemic-future-masks/