HVAC Assessment Air Exchange

We now know that COVID is an airborne illness, most readily transmitted through the viral load by the air in the spaces we occupy. Being outside is ideal in regards to stopping the spread, but when that is not possible, we look to keep the air inside our buildings moving and constantly exchanging with outside air. To that end, we completed a full assessment of all district facilities, including all spaces in every building. The hope was to achieve at least 4 air changes per hour, or ACH.

The original assessment was completed over the summer, and considerable repairs, adjustments, and improvements were made across the schools to improve air exchanges. These changes made our buildings considerably more safe for students and staff in general, and specifically during this pandemic. The final assessment, or metering, was completed again after the improvements were made, and the final report is included below. Of note, you will not find Pine Grove School since the building was completely renovated with entirely new HVAC systems, far exceeding the standards.

You will see in the report that any room/space that did not achieve a minimum of 4.0 ACH has a note to outline the remedies we have taken to improve air quality. HEPA air filtration units have been placed in spaces with lower ratings, either as an interim measure or permanent solution when a design issue will prevent at least 4 changes per hour.

A huge thank you to Kyle Warne, Chris Walsh, the Head Custodians, and the entire maintenance crew for all the work since the summer to make these improvements. If there are any questions about the report, you can contact Kyle Warne at Kyle.Warne@tritonschools.org.