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Fresh Air Solutions

— By Steve Peldiak —

Communal air solutions in retail and restaurant locations.

 

Sanitation conversations around indoor air quality (IAQ) at restaurants and retail locations will be critical to their longevity and bottom lines. 2021 has seen the arrival of a vaccine, however many customers may remain hesitant to dine or shop inside even with continued mask mandates.

Steve Peldiak, Watterson

Indoor air quality improvements completed and communicated to both employees and patrons will put many at ease as the path to public-wide vaccination is paved and businesses begin to fully reopen. “Now that the CDC has offered guidance on this topic, it will be harder for people to ignore the importance of ensuring good ventilation in buildings,” says Linsey Marr, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. Stepping up health and safety strategies by improving IAQ can be done with a multi-layered approach.

HVAC maintenance, air filters and purifiers

 

 

 

 

– Increase total airflow supply to occupied spaces, whenever feasible.

– Increase outdoor air ventilation, using caution in highly polluted areas. With a lower occupancy level in the building, this increases the effective dilution ventilation per person.

– Disable demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours.

 

 

Clean equipment, floors, walls and surfaces

 

Clean them thoroughly to reduce and avert dust, random particles and other debris from entering the restaurant’s or retail location’s HVAC system. Use cleaning products that are free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can pollute indoor air. Check how cleaning products and sanitation precautions are impacting the air quality. Volatile organic compounds can be found in cleaning products, which are being used more than ever these days. Keeping buildings extra-clean during the pandemic is a priority; however, please pay close attention to the levels of compounds that are entering the air. Infesting customers with VOCs while trying to keep them healthy from the virus is counterproductive.

 

 

Consider all the different types of HVAC sensors now available that go beyond just the thermostat

 

Sensors are used to keep equipment running smoothly, safely and to improve energy efficiency. Sensors that measure indoor air quality are becoming increasingly important and drive better HVAC decisions with the data they can provide. A few key sensors to delve into further with a chosen service partner are listed below.

 

Recognize the impact ergonomics may have on improving IAQ within a redesigned restaurant or retail space

 

Adapting workflow processes, identifying safety hazards and revisions to protocols will enhance indoor air quality.

 

Always follow CDC guidelines and do not forget to include an inspection of all the water systems

 

IAQ industry experts who have been highlighting the effects of indoor air contaminants and pathogens for years, this multilayered approach is enthusiastically welcomed. The focus on improving IAQ will also likely have benefits long after the coronavirus pandemic is over. Find an experienced and knowledgeable service partner to implement and guide you through the choices and guidelines. Instituting proper measures to assist in the health and safety of your customers and valued personnel will be key to a successful 2021.

 

 

 

 

— Steve Peldiak is president of Watterson, a national provider of facilities maintenance, emergency response and environmental services supporting over 60,000 commercial properties.

 

 

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