Most people spend more than 90 per cent of their daily lives inside buildings and in today’s COVID-present world, improving indoor air quality for the safety of occupants has never been more important.
While access to outside air is one way to improve airflow, many built environments such as offices, hotels, and retail centres rely on recirculated air through HVAC systems.
Some HVAC systems operate 24 hours, seven days a week, and as air passes through HVAC dust filters, pollutants such as dust and particles become trapped and progressively clog the filter.
The build-up of pollutants on filters leads to increased backpressure and stress on the system. It could also form an environment for microbial colonisation to increase and pollute the indoor air.
Regular HVAC maintenance ensures the system delivers efficient performance in terms of energy consumption and optimal air quality delivery. It also avoids premature wearing and failure of internal components.
In addition to addressing the mechanical upkeep of systems, HVAC improvements help control the spread of infection in built environments.
There are various environmental factors in buildings such as temperature, humidity, ventilation and filtering systems that can influence infection in indoor settings.
To optimise filtration, Australian company Aeris Environmental has developed Aeris Guard Bioactive Filter Treatment which, when sprayed onto HVAC filters, kills COVID-19 on application and reduces colonisation by bacteria and fungi.
A single application can help control and prevent the growth of bacteria and mould for up to 12 months.
The filter treatment is also proven to extend the life of treated filters, enhance energy consumption and improve airflow by up to 300 per cent.
An ideal HVAC filtration solution is to have this filter treatment applied to filters which are then used as pre-filters for HEPA filters.
The pre-filter extends the life of the more expensive HEPA filter, which in turn does not allow the transmission of droplets carrying the COVID-19 virus.
Fixed monitoring devices that offer live time recording, analysis and alarming, or that are connected to Building Management Systems (BMS) can help monitor some limited aspects of indoor air quality.
Appropriately qualified contractors can also help to keep track of indoor air performance.
Visit: www.aeris.com.au