The recent Air Quality Warnings as a result of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires moving into Central New York has increased our awareness of how important a comfortable healthy environment is for all of us. Waking up to sulfur colored skies filled with smoky haze is not something we have dealt with before. This situation, coming closely on the heels of the COVID 19 pandemic has made the idea of air quality, both indoors and outdoors, a particularly pertinent issue. As design professionals, there is not a lot we can do to improve the outdoor air quality. However, in recent times when the air quality outside has been poor, the health professional’s advice has been to “stay inside”, something that as architects we can help with.
For many years there have been standard code requirements for the amount of ventilation required for different spaces. These requirements were developed prior to the pandemic, and were often influenced by energy considerations. This means that as the number of air exchanges with the exterior are increased, the energy usage for the space typically increases. This is due to the fact that outdoor air needs to be conditioned (heated or cooled) as required for the interior space.
The simplest ventilation method to introduce fresh air into the system is through passive, manual means, such as opening doors and windows. This air bleeds into the space, unmetered and unfiltered, resulting in a not very consistent, or satisfactory indoor air quality. While there are still many buildings with this type of ventilation, a more controllable, mechanical air handling system became the norm by the middle of the last century. These systems included filtration and electronic controls that made them a great improvement over the simple, passive system. The drawbacks to these systems were that they were not particularly energy efficient, and the ductwork was not well protected from contamination.
Contemporary HVAC systems (at least those designed and installed prior to the pandemic) utilized a number of technologically advanced devices, such as energy recovery wheels, and Direct Digital Controls. These systems give the building managers detailed information so they can monitor and adjust to respond to any environmental or seasonal changes, they can also control the building functions remotely, so if there is an issue, it can be dealt with immediately.
Since the pandemic, design professionals have become acutely aware of the need to ensure a healthy environment. MERV filters, air-scrubbers and the Air Quality Index were somewhat obscure, or niche technologies prior to COVID 19, now they are everyday items that we deploy in many of our projects. Currently Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C. is assisting Sharon Springs Central School District with their American Rescue Program project which includes new rooftop equipment and new unit ventilators to increase the air changes throughout their elementary school. This equipment will be tied into the automated building system.
Each building is unique with its own challenges regarding indoor air quality, however, there are some things that can be easily done to improve / maintain the environment within the building. The first of these is the most simple, that is to replace, on a regular basis, any filter elements incorporated into the system. It is shocking how often this simple measure is ignored, and the filters end up so clogged that they are not only not helping but actively hindering the equipment from working. Another step that can help enormously is to review the building controls system and re-program to ensure air changes are occurring when needed, and in a way that is the most energy efficient. The addition of portable air scrubbing units can be very helpful, however, this is more of a temporary fix, and it is wise to have a long term plan to upgrade the integral systems to meet the needs of the space.
While recent events like the pandemic and the wild-fires have been stressful, the positive is that they have made us all more aware of the importance of ensuring a healthy environment. If you have any concerns regarding the status of your buildings, please let us know.