Indoor Air Quality in School Common Areas

Indoor Air Quality in School Common Areas

students gathering in cafeteria with good indoor air quality
Give your students and staff peace of mind with indoor air quality that helps reduce the spread of sickness.

Busy common areas in schools like gyms, cafeterias, libraries, and lobbies can become breeding grounds for airborne pollutants – mold spores, viruses, bacteria, and allergens. Indoor air quality compromised by these contaminants can trigger respiratory issues, allergies, and illnesses, leading to difficulties and health problems for students and staff.

At Farlite Solutions, we believe healthy schools start with clean air. We offer long-term solutions to improve indoor air quality by continuously destroying airborne pathogens with UV light air disinfection systems. These hands-free, non-toxic systems operate around the clock, even when rooms are occupied, ensuring a healthier environment for everyone. Contact us today and discover how our UV light disinfection systems can improve indoor air quality in your school spaces.

Poor Indoor Air Quality Impacts Students and Staff

The hidden pollutants lurking in school common areas have very real consequences for students, teachers, and everyone who shares these spaces. Poor indoor air quality in school common areas creates a ripple effect, undermining academic success for students and creating challenges in maintaining a well-staffed learning environment.

Respiratory Issues: Airborne mold, viruses, and bacteria hit the respiratory system hardest.

  • Pre-existing Conditions: Children with asthma or allergies can experience more severe flare-ups, leading to difficulty breathing, wheezing, and discomfort.
  • New Problems: Even healthy individuals can develop coughs, sore throats, and other respiratory infections due to repeated exposure to airborne contaminants.

Absenteeism: Sick students can’t learn, and sick teachers can’t teach. Increased frequency of illness disrupts the school year.

  • Missed Class Time: Falling behind becomes a concern, impacting students’ academic performance and placing extra burdens on teachers to help them catch up.
  • Reduced Workforce: Staff absences lead to strained resources, understaffing, and the potential for substitute teachers, which can create further classroom disruptions.

Reduced Focus and Productivity: Even without being outright sick, poor air quality can take a toll on everyone inside the building.

  • Fatigue and Headaches: Feeling drained and unwell makes it hard for students to concentrate and for teachers to give their best instructional efforts.
  • Allergy Symptoms: Itchy eyes, runny nose, and congestion create discomfort that distracts from learning and work.

Airborne Contaminants Lurking in School Common Areas

School common areas aren’t just gathering spaces – they’re potential hotspots for invisible airborne pollutants like mold spores, viruses, and bacteria. Gyms, locker rooms, showers – anywhere with lingering moisture can provide an ideal environment for mold and mildew spores. Cafeterias aren’t immune either. Food spills, waste, and improper cleaning can create breeding grounds for these allergens.

With kids in close quarters, coughs and sneezes spread airborne germs faster than a wildfire. Common areas where students congregate, eat, and play become transmission zones for everything from the common cold to more serious illnesses. These may include:

  • Rhinovirus: The main culprit behind the common cold.
  • Influenza Virus: Causes the flu, a more serious respiratory illness.
  • Norovirus: Responsible for “stomach flu” with vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Can cause severe illness in young children.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes: The bacteria responsible for strep throat.
  • Bordetella pertussis: Causes whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory illness.

Improve Indoor Air Quality with UV Disinfection

UV light air disinfection systems offer a powerful way to create a healthier learning environment. They can be installed in any indoor space inside your school. Here’s how this innovative technology can significantly improve indoor air quality:

Continuous Protection, Round-the-Clock

Unlike traditional air purifiers that simply trap particles, UV-C air disinfection systems proactively destroy airborne pathogens. Strategically placed units on the ceiling operate continuously and are safe even when rooms are occupied. This ensures a constant reduction of airborne contaminants throughout the day to minimize the risk of transmission.

UV Light Destroys Mold Spores, Viruses, and Bacteria

UV-C light is a specific wavelength within the ultraviolet spectrum. This type of UV light disrupts the DNA structure of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. By damaging their genetic material, UV-C light makes them inactive so they can’t replicate and spread.

Safe and Sustainable – No Harsh Chemicals

UV-C air disinfection is a chemical-free solution. It doesn’t leave any harmful residues, making it safe for students, staff, and anyone using the space. Additionally, these systems have a long lifespan, minimizing replacement needs and contributing to a more sustainable approach to indoor air quality management.

Reduce Pathogens and Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your School

The quality of the air students and staff breathe has a direct impact on their well-being and academic performance. Farlite Solutions is your partner in creating cleaner, safer schools. Our continuous, hands-free UV light air disinfection systems are proven to destroy airborne pathogens, reducing illness and improving the air everyone shares.

Discover how Farlite Solutions can help your school take charge of indoor air quality. Contact us today for a free consultation