March 16, 2023

Engineered System Magazine — USA

Important American Engineering Trends Magazine Highlights Eneref Report on How MERV-13 Takes the Scare out of the Air for NYC Schools

In 2021, New York City school officials spent $27 million on air purifiers to protect school children from COVID-19. The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) purchased the air purifiers, budgeting for two purifiers per classroom. However, it was later determined the air purifiers were insufficient at reducing viral exposure because they refreshed the classroom’s air only twice per hour.

A study by Dr. Brent Stephens, who leads the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Built Environment Research Group, found that each purifier was only able to turn 129 cfm. Therefore, to further reduce viral exposure, the Department of Education purchased window air conditioners with MERV-13 filters from Friedrich Air Conditioning. Eneref Institute interviewed Friedrich’s engineering department, which said the units in the NYC classrooms will turn 640 cfm. Depending on the space, a full volume of room air could pass through the filter more than 10 times per hour.

READ ARTICLE HERE.LINK TO THE PRINT VERSION.
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