Clean Air Challenge: How It Helps Meet IAQ Goals

In March, the Biden Administration released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. The plan provides guidance on the continued fight against COVID-19. A key part of this plan includes the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge. The clean air challenge is for facilities managers, business owners, and other stakeholders to improve indoor air quality and limit the spread of viruses in the buildings they operate.

The COVID preparedness plan is another part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce the threat of COVID. Along with the American Rescue Plan, and the $350 billion it provides for state and local governments, this plan seeks to get schools, agencies, and all businesses open safely. Organizations used the money from the rescue plan to inspect, test, and maintain mechanical systems, buy air-cleaning devices and HEPA filters, and upgrade and service HVAC systems. The Clean Air Challenge is another tool to help reduce risk and keep building occupants safe.

The Clean Air Challenge

As a part of the Clean Air Challenge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked with the Department of Energy (DOE), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal agencies to create recommendations. This includes four key actions to reduce risk and improve IAQ.

1. Clean Indoor Action Plan

The first step in the Clean Air Challenge is the creation of an action plan to improve IAQ. This includes inspection, repairs, upgrades, as well as the maintenance of HVAC equipment.

2. Optimize Fresh Air Ventilation

Fresh air ventilation is key to creating safe indoor environments. This includes controlling the source of pollutants as well as improving the flow of fresh outdoor air into the building.

3. Enhance Air Filtration and Cleaning 

In addition to increasing ventilation and eliminating the sources of pollutants, improving air filtration also lowers the risk of virus transmission. The use of portable air-cleaning devices and upgrading HVAC filters enhance IAQ.

4. Engage the Building Community

Informing everyone in the building about IAQ issues creates a feeling of participation. Also, encouraging building occupants to report issues and communicate concerns is important as is demonstrating how their actions reduce risk. This step shows a commitment to safety and creates awareness about the issues highlighted by the Clean Air Challenge.

The Clean Air Challenge and a Pure Air Indoor Environment

Pure Air Control Solutions helps facilities managers meet the Clean Air Challenge. We do this through our Certified Healthy Building Program. This program optimizes the building’s HVAC system and then maintains it through regular cleaning and monitoring.

Certified Healthy Building Program

Toward the goal of meeting the Clean Air Challenge, the program includes a suite of services designed to reduce risk and improve the health and safety of building occupants.

Evaluate IAQ Baseline

The first step in creating a certified healthy building is a Building Health Check. This includes baseline environmental testing as well as an HVAC Hygiene Assessment that verifies cleanliness as well as the impact of the HVAC system on IAQ.

Clean and Restore HVAC Systems

The HVAC New Life Restoration process includes methods to clean and restore the system as well as its components. For example, our PURE-Steam method uses high-pressure steam heated to 350° F to remove dirt and debris from the coils. Next, the PURE-Coat method refinishes the AHU with a flexible siloxane coating while PURE-Liner 2.0 is used to protect the drain pans and self-level. Finally, a zero-porosity, fiberglass-free insulation called PURE-Cell replacers old insulation.

Reduce Particles and Neutralize Pathogens

Hygienically cleaning the supply and return ductwork using the PURE-Decon method reduces harmful particulates in the air. This method uses EPA-registered disinfectants that neutralize pathogens including bacteria and mold, as well as the virus that causes COVID-19.

Improve Air Filtration to Meet the Clean Air Challenge

Air cleaning devices, such as those using EnviroSmart™ detection technology and multi-stage HEPA filtration, provide continuous cleaning of indoor air. These machines also remove allergens and odors from the indoor environment.

Monitor the Indoor Environment

To maintain healthy buildings, IAQ Guard 2.0 provides around-the-clock monitoring of indoor conditions. For example, multiple sensors placed throughout the building provide real-time data to a remote team in our Environmental Diagnostics Lab. As a result, facilities managers react fast to changes affecting IAQ. The system also provides readings on relative humidity, temperature, CO2, and volatile organic compounds.

Meet the Clean Air Challenge with Pure Air Solutions

Meet the Clean Air Challenge with the help of Pure Air Control Services. We are a nationally recognized firm that improves the indoor air quality of government buildings, schools, universities, and commercial businesses. Furthermore, we can scale the job to meet your IAQ needs. Call us today at 1-800-422-7873 for information or email us here.