UPDATED: August 25, 2021
Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a top concern as campuses prepare for the return of students, faculty, and staff. Practical and accessible solutions to improve the IAQ are essential to help prevent indoor air pollution, caused by the spread of harmful viruses and pathogens, especially with the evolving variants of Covid-19 (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta).
Poor IAQ can lead to health problems and even encourage the spread of germs and viruses as well as affect the comfort, attention span, and performance of students, faculty, and staff. Providing safe and healthy places of learning for everyone to learn and thrive, should be a priority for decision-makers across the nation.
How can your campus protect students, faculty, and staff against getting sick and spreading viruses?
Improve Indoor Air Quality to help prevent mold and kill unwanted pathogens and viruses.
Clean air is an essential part of living healthy. Indoor air pollution is caused by the release of gases, particles, bacterias, and VOCs, that are often trapped inside due to inadequate ventilation. High temperatures and humidity can also attribute to an increase of pollutants indoors.
“Good IAQ contributes to a favorable environment for students, performance of teachers and staff and a sense of comfort, health and well-being. These elements combine to assist a school in its core mission — educating children.” 1
The tankless, energy efficient IW25 IN Wall/ON Wall dehumidifier with Bi-Polar Ion Generator removes nearly 30 pints of moisture in apartments, making it ideal for student housing. The tamper-proof IW25 includes a digital humidistat concealed behind the inaccessible front cover, preventing tenant access.
REMOVE MOISTURE • LOWER HUMIDITY
It’s That Simple
Mold Remediation vs Long Term Mold Prevention in Student Housing
Mold is everywhere and causes problems when it begins to grow inside. Reports of mold in student housing are becoming more and more common, according to the Fierce Education Newsletter article, “Student Safety Tips: Fighting Mold in College Dorms”. Mold remediation is possible but only focuses on the removal and cleaning of affected areas, so what’s next?
How can you prevent mold from coming back… Remove the moisture!
Moisture is added to the air continuously through the day from a long list of activities including long, hot showers (lots of showers), laundry, food, perspiration, watering plants, feeding pets, accidental spills and even the forgotten wet towels (aka tenant behavior). Mold growth is the result of warm temperatures, moisture, oxygen, and a food source (protein); molds extract their food from materials in order to grow and reproduce. Mold spores are extremely adaptable and can even grow on materials such as clothing, furniture, or painted surfaces, cabinet glue, and leather if a small amount of protein (food) is available. Supplemental dehumidification can easily control moisture to help avoid the health hazards and liability associated with mold growth.
Many universities have developed a multi-faceted approach to ensure moisture control, dehumidification, and mold prevention in student housing. The Innovative Dehumidifier Systems team has assisted multiple universities and private student housing to confidently resolve issues related to high humidity and mold growth by installing the IW25 to help maintain relative humidity below 60 percent, therefore reducing the potential for microbial and mold growth. And as a bonus, the IW25 comes with an ozone-free bi-polar ion generator to help clean the air while the system runs.
The safety, health, and well-being of students and residents is a top priority. In order to prevent future mold growth, remove the moisture because mold cannot grow without moisture. The IW25 in-wall dehumidifier removes moisture to help prevent future dangers associated with mold.
The Innovative Dehumidifier System team is available to answer questions about mold remediation versus mold prevention and how supplemental dehumidification is the best solution for student housing. Let our experts help determine the best installation options for your spaces. Contact us at (910) 579-3348 or [email protected].
SOURCES:
- EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency: Reference Guide for Indoor Air Quality in Schools: Section 1 – Why IAQ is Important to Your School; July 30,2020
https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/reference-guide-indoor-air-quality-schools - https://www.fierceeducation.com/administration/student-safety-tips-fighting-mold-college-dorms#:~:text=Part%20of%20the%20problem%20is,memory%20loss%20and%20personality%20changes.
