As a part of our ongoing effort to maintain safe indoor air quality for all ISIJ centers, JFMC is pleased to provide this IAQ update.
To prepare for reopening of our centers and for readiness for Muharram and regular programs, JFMC implemented multiple HVAC upgrades for maintaining safe IAQ at JCC, MIC and RIC. These upgrades included installations of HEPA filtered UV air purifiers, duct mounted UV lights at JCC and air quality monitors to ensure healthy ventilation is maintained during the Muharram programs.
These proactive upgrades combined with enhanced ventilation by energy recovery ventilation (ERV) at JCC meet not only meet but exceed industry guidelines for IAQ safety for religious and public places.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these proactive measures, the IAQ team regularly monitored the indoor air quality daily during the Muharram programs and is pleased to report that throughout the 10 day and subsequent Muharram programs, all parameters for indoor air quality were observed to be in optimum and excellent range. A trend of the measurements taken during the program is shown the in graph below.
IAQ was measured before and during the events to validate effectiveness of the measures taken and to reassure safe IAQ environment.
Understanding the IAQ Parameters:
- CO2 Levels: Measured in ppm (particles per million), Carbon di-oxide levels indicate effectiveness of fresh air ventilation in any indoor environment. ASHRAE guidelines recommended CO2 levels to be maintained within 700ppm of outside air with 1000-1200ppm as an optimum range.
Higher CO2 levels can cause headaches and are indication to increase fresh air intake to keep up with the occupant capacity. Throughout the 10 days and also on the on the busiest days of the program at JCC, multiple readings confirmed CO2 levels well within excellent range.
- TVOC: Total volatile organic compounds, measured in mg/m3 Is a measure of volatile organic compounds in air, generated typically from indoor air pollutants can have adverse health impact due to long term exposure in higher levels. All readings taken during the 10 days were well below the recommended level of 0.5mg/m3 with average at 0.22 mg/m3.
- HCHO : Levels of formaldehyde measured on mg/m3. Typically released in air due to off gassing from new furniture, carpets and other pollutants. Average reading of HCHO during the 10 days was and never found to be above the recommended level of 0.5mg/m3 with average recording at 0.03 mg/m3.
- PM 2.5: Measures fine particulate air pollution for particles below 2.5 microns µg/m3, these particles remain suspended in air and extended exposure at higher than recommended limits can become health risk. Average measurement was for PM2.5 was in excellent range
- PM 10: Measures particles below 10 microns and 2.5 microns measured in µg/m3. These are duct particles from varied sources and can cause irritation in higher limits. Average measurement was for PM10 was in excellent range at 48 µg/m3, with a 150 µg/m3 recommended limit.
Safety protocols :
Despite all the proactive measures put in place for keeping the indoor environment safe , following PPE and social distancing protocols remains the most formidable and first in line defense against spread of infections. No amount of IAQ and HVAC measures can protect against exposure due to non-adherence to safety protocols and public health guidelines.
We are confident that with procedural adherence and the system upgrades put in place, all ISIJ centers will be able to safely conduct regular programs as planned for community members.