Indoor Air Quality 101 — Co-authored by Mike Schultis and Ryan Brown —


interaction outside of your home. All in an effort to limit your exposure to COVID-19. We talk about the physical contact concerns of fighting this pathogen; but we often overlook one of the most important considerations, the air we breathe. As we spend more time at home and in our community buildings; what measures are we taking to ensure that the air we are breathing is clean?


Y The Air We Breathe


Obviously, hospital operating rooms and ICUs require very sophisticated air handling and filtration equipment.


Because Alaska Airlines informed and reassured the air-flying public via social media, newsletters, and advertisements, you are probably aware of the air purification systems on commercial aircraft. Alaska’s outreach was so effective, I came to believe airplanes had the safest air I could breathe.


Here’s what Alaska states: “Aircraft are equipped with systems that contain two HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters -- the same kind found in hospital operating rooms. The HEPA filters are 99.9% effective or greater in


18 Community Associations Journal | March 2021


ou wear your mask, wash your hands, wipe down surfaces, keep your distance and have changed your life to limit your


removing particulate contaminants, including viruses like COVID-19, and bacteria and fungi from recirculated air. The air flows from the ceiling to the floor and creates completely new air in the cabin. There is a full exchange of cabin air with outside and HEPA-filtered air every 2–3 minutes and 100% fresh air every 6 minutes.”


See what I mean? Let’s get on a flight! (We could all use a vacation at this point!)


Air Purification Best Practices for Buildings


In February 2020, the terms personal hygiene and indoor air quality took on an entirely new meaning. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.


In response, professional and governmental organizations serving the building industry developed best practice guidelines to improve building occupant safety. A few prominent organizations include: ` Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ` World Health Organization (WHO) ` American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)


` Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ` Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (REHVA)


What is airborne transmission?


The ASHRAE Position Document on Infectious Aerosols (www.ashrae.org), states the following:


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