CDC cleaner air

CDC Guidelines: The Importance of Air Exchange for Health Safety

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Understanding the CDC’s Role

As America’s frontline defense in public health protection, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the nations’s leading public health institution. T he CDC’s mission encompasses everything from disease prevention to public health guidance. Their expertise spans multiple areas, including:

  • Monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks both domestically and globally
  • Conducting cutting-edge scientific research on health hazards and diseases
  • Providing evidence-based recommendations to healthcare providers and the public
  • Developing programs to promote healthy behaviors and prevent illness
  • Collecting and analyzing crucial health data to inform policy decisions

The CDC’s Stance on Air Quality

Among their many public health recommendations, the CDC places significant emphasis on air quality management, particularly in preventing respiratory illness transmission. Their guidance centers on one crucial metric: air exchanges per hour (ACH).

The 5 ACH Minimum Standard

The CDC recommends maintaining a minimum of five air exchanges per hour (5 ACH) in occupied spaces. But what does this mean for you?

If you’re a homeowner, the CDC suggests a simple yet effective strategy: switch your thermostat fan setting from “auto” to “on.” This small change ensures continuous air circulation, even when your heating or cooling system isn’t actively running. Additionally:

  • Regular filter replacement is essential for maintaining optimal air quality
  • Proper maintenance of your HVAC system helps ensure efficient air exchange
  • Consider upgrading to high-efficiency filters when possible

The Role of Outside Air

Both residential and commercial spaces benefit from proper ventilation with outside air. This serves two critical functions:

  1. Providing necessary oxygen for occupants
  2. Diluting indoor air contaminants

Advanced Air Treatment Options

While proper ventilation is fundamental, the CDC acknowledges that additional air treatment technologies can enhance indoor air quality:

  • Ultraviolet Technology: The CDC specifically mentions UV treatment as a passive air quality improvement method
  • Advanced Active Technologies: Beyond UV, newer technologies can actively target airborne pathogens and surface contaminants
  • Filtration Systems: High-efficiency filtration can significantly reduce airborne particles

Conclusion

Following the CDC’s recommendations for air exchange rates and ventilation will  significantly impact indoor air quality and help reduce disease transmission. Whether in homes or commercial buildings, maintaining proper air circulation through both mechanical systems and natural ventilation plays a crucial role in creating healthier indoor environments.

By implementing these guidelines and considering advanced air treatment options, building owners and managers can create safer, healthier spaces for occupants while aligning with CDC recommendations for disease prevention.

To learn more, visit the CDC website articles here:

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html#:~:text=Aim%20for%205%20or%20more,ACH%20to%20your%20existing%20ventilation

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ventilation/about/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprevent-getting-sick%2Fimproving-ventilation-in-buildings.html

 

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ASHRAE 241: Understanding the Standardized Testing Protocol

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The introduction of ASHRAE 241 marks a significant advancement in how we evaluate indoor air cleaning technologies. While our previous post provided a comprehensive overview of the standard, we’ll dive deep into its groundbreaking testing protocol and why it matters for facility managers, building owners, and indoor air quality professionals.

The Problem with Traditional Testing Methods

Historically, manufacturers have tested air cleaning devices in surprisingly small chambers—often no larger than one cubic meter, essentially the size of a shoebox. This approach has led to a critical disconnect between laboratory results and real-world performance. Consider this: you could theoretically show significant pathogen reduction in such a tiny chamber using something as simple as a cigarette lighter—clearly, not a practical or valid solution for indoor air quality management!

ASHRAE 241’s Revolutionary Approach

The new standard addresses these limitations by mandating a testing chamber of 800 ft³ (22.7 m³), approximately the size of a typical office space. This dramatic increase in testing volume creates conditions that much more closely mirror real-world applications, providing more reliable and practical performance data.

Why MS2 Matters

A key component of the protocol is the use of MS2 bacteriophage as the test pathogen. This choice is significant for several reasons:

  1. Superior Challenge: MS2 is a non-enveloped virus, making it more difficult to eliminate than many common pathogens, including:

   – Enveloped viruses (like SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1)

   – Bacteria

   – Fungi

  1. Safety and Practicality: While MS2 is harder to kill, it’s less contagious than viruses like SARS-CoV-2 or H1N1, making it safer for laboratory testing while still providing a rigorous effectiveness benchmark.
  2. Hierarchical Validation: Success in eliminating MS2 effectively demonstrates the capability against easier-to-kill pathogens, providing a comprehensive validation of air cleaning effectiveness.

Impact on the Industry

This standardized testing protocol represents a significant step forward for the indoor air quality industry. For the first time, buyers can make purchasing decisions based on comparable, real-world-relevant performance data. This transparency and standardization help ensure that investments in air cleaning technology deliver the expected results in actual building environments.

The ASHRAE 241 protocol isn’t just about testing—it’s about trust. By establishing these rigorous, standardized testing conditions, the industry now has a clear benchmark for evaluating air cleaning technologies, ultimately benefiting everyone who breathes indoor air.

This blog is a part of a series highlighting the details of 241, so make sure to check out the rest of the series. You can also visit – https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/ashrae-standard-241-control-of-infectious-aerosols – to learn more and purchase the full standard.

 

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Absences-feat

Combating Student Absenteeism Through Advanced Disinfection Strategies

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Combating Student Absenteeism Through Advanced Disinfection Strategies

In an era where educational outcomes are critically linked to student attendance, school districts are increasingly recognizing the powerful connection between robust disinfection protocols and reduced absenteeism. This makes implementing effective disinfection strategies not just a health priority, but an academic and financial imperative. The stakes are high: funding depends on attendance, and research consistently demonstrates that consistent classroom participation directly correlates with academic success.

The Limitations of Traditional Cleaning Methods

Traditional school disinfection approaches often fall short of comprehensive protection:

  • Periodic surface cleaning by janitorial staff provides only intermittent protection
  • HVAC filtration systems are passive, requiring pathogens to already be circulating before removal
  • Manual cleaning methods cannot consistently address rapidly spreading microorganisms

Proactive Disinfection: A Game-Changing Approach

Advanced disinfection technologies represent a paradigm shift in school health management. Proactive solutions that introduce airborne oxidizers offer multiple critical advantages:

  • Continuous surface disinfection, even when spaces are unoccupied
  • Immediate pathogen neutralization in both air and on surfaces
  • Reduced transmission risk for students, teachers, and staff
  • Prevention of microorganism buildup between cleaning cycles

Real-World Impact: A Case Study

A school system in Georgia provides compelling evidence of these advanced strategies’ effectiveness. After implementing a comprehensive airborne disinfection system in early 2023, they documented remarkable improvements:

The Broader Implications

These results reveal a critical insight: investment in sophisticated disinfection technologies is not just about preventing illness—it’s about creating an environment that maximizes educational opportunities and student potential.

By embracing innovative approaches to school hygiene, districts can simultaneously address health challenges, improve attendance, and enhance overall educational outcomes.

https://www.fox21news.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/649852483/meriwether-county-school-system-installs-caspr-technology-to-disinfect-air-and-surfaces-in-district-schools/

https://www.utep.edu/education/cerps/_files/docs/briefs/cerps_policybrief5_attendance.pdf

Dirty Escalator Rails

Beyond Air Disinfection: A Comprehensive Approach to Pathogen Control

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Since the pandemic, facilities worldwide have prioritized indoor air quality through various disinfection strategies. However, an important question remains: Is air disinfection alone sufficient to protect against the full spectrum of infectious pathogens?

The Challenge of Surface Pathogens

While airborne pathogens capture much attention, several dangerous microorganisms primarily spread through surface contact. Common surface pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus (including antibiotic-resistant MRSA), Norovirus, and E. coli can persist on surfaces for extended periods—from weeks to months. These pathogens create a transmission network as people move through spaces:

  • Pathogens settle on high-touch surfaces
  • People contact these surfaces during daily activities
  • Cross-contamination occurs as individuals touch multiple surfaces
  • Infection risk increases through unconscious face-touching

Limitations of Current Approaches

Traditional air quality solutions such as HEPA filtration, improved ventilation, and air recirculation reduce airborne pathogen concentrations. However, these methods have two key limitations:

  1. They don’t address existing surface contamination
  2. Airborne particles eventually settle on surfaces, creating new contamination

While manual intervention through hand hygiene and surface disinfection can help, human inconsistency makes these measures less reliable as standalone solutions.

A Dual-Action Solution

An effective pathogen control strategy must address both air and surface contamination. Automated systems that provide continuous air and surface disinfection offer several advantages:

  1. 24/7 operation without relying on human intervention
  2. Simultaneous treatment of both air and surfaces
  3. Consistent, measurable results
  4. Reduced reliance on manual cleaning protocols

Implementing a Comprehensive Strategy

The most effective approach combines multiple protective measures:

  • Automated air and surface disinfection systems
  • Regular cleaning and disinfection protocols
  • Proper hand hygiene practices
  • Adequate ventilation
  • Regular monitoring and maintenance

By addressing both airborne and surface transmission routes, facilities can create a more robust defense against pathogen spread.

For additional information on surface contamination and disease prevention, the CDC provides extensive resources and guidelines for implementing effective control measures. https://youtu.be/KmyxsnuREGs

241_2023_cover (1)

ASHRAE 241 – The new standard on Indoor Air Quality focused on Infectious Aerosols

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If you are unfamiliar with ASHRAE Standard 241-2023: Control of Infectious Aerosols (241), keep reading for a basic introduction. Developed by ASHRAE at the request of the White House, this standard was created in just six months. Its goal? To offer an alternative solution to widespread shutdowns in the event of another pandemic.

Prior to 241, standards like 62.1, 62.2, and 170, focused on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate levels when it comes to IAQ . These standards are typically focused on outside air and air exchanges to improve IAQ through dilution and filtration. However, standard 241 introduced pathogens as a critical component of IAQ.

VOCs and particulate levels can be measured by sensors, with either automated or human responses triggered to address the underlying cause of an imbalance. Furthermore, most VOCs are putrid, and people instinctively move away from them. But pathogens are silent, and potentially deadly. People in the incubation period of a virus can be contagious and infect people in the spaces they occupy long before showing symptoms.

While 241 is still very new, the impact on future facility development is unquestionable. Between the awakening of the pandemic and the release of 241, both people within the industry and in the general public are more aware and concerned about pathogens than ever. 241 is a big step in the right direction and brings infectious aerosols to the forefront of all conversations within ASHRAE about IAQ.

This blog is the first of a series highlighting the details of 241, so make sure to check out the rest of the series. You can also visit – https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/ashrae-standard-241-control-of-infectious-aerosols – to learn more and purchase the full standard.

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