Application Note

4 Fluke Corporation Indoor air quality: Can your schools pass the test?
Information takes
center stage
The success of a school IAQ pro-
gram ultimately lies with secur-
ing the understanding, buy in
and support of students, staff,
and community.
“Education and communica-
tion are absolutely key,” Prill
says. “The schools need to be
proactive. If people come to you
asking questions, it’s too late - -
it looks like you’re being reac-
tive instead of proactive. You
need to provide information
before they ask.
Careful maintenance also pre-
vents the HVAC system itself
from turning into a pollutant
source. Heating and cooling
coils, drip pans and ducts must
be kept dry and clean, filters
changed and properly sealed,
motors and drive systems
checked for correct mechanical
and electrical performance.
Proper air flow through filters
and coils means energy effi-
ciency, too. Prill finds that pay-
ing attention to IAQ often
uncovers energy saving oppor-
tunities—in fact, these energy
sa
vings can easily pay for your
IAQ equipment and efforts.
“We suggest they adopt an
IAQ program and market that.
Advertise it. Talk it up. Once you
start talking about it, people’s
fears or anxieties are relieved
because they know someone’s in
charge, someone
’s paying atten-
tion. And a little bit of knowl-
edge goes a long way, especially
with numbers. You can say ‘Look,
no particles coming out of the
ducts, relative humidity is okay,
the CO2 numbers show fresh air
being delivered, and air is mov-
ing into restrooms, locker rooms,
storage, mechanical rooms—the
right wa
y . . . “clean to dirty.”
This approach clearly demon-
strates you’re paying attention
and doing what you can in a
very real and practical fashion.’
That makes a big difference in
giving people confidence.”
Documentation can also build
a strong defense against legal
claims. Air quality test equipment
can pay for itself over time, by
documenting that the building is
operated in a healthy and safe
fashion, according to Prill. “It’s
going to be pretty hard to come
after you if the building is clean
and dry and comfortable. A lot of
districts, especially the bigger
ones, are finding that having
documentation, and having num-
bers, really pays,” he adds.
“If schools have documenta-
tion, then it’s hard to suggest
that they’re negligent
. That
’s
what schools are tr
ying to do:
follow good practice.”
Using a particle counter to evaluate air quality at the supply vent.