Air purifiers installed in sanctuary HVAC system (Activity Report)

JUST IN TIME for the High Holy Day crowds, a pair of air purifiers was installed yesterday in our historic sanctuary’s HVAC system—one for each blower. These devices use needlepoint bipolar ionization (NBPI) technology, as described HERE—from when we were preparing to install one in our school building.

One of the new ion generators,
mounted inside the forced-air unit (FAU)

As long as the HVAC blowers are on, these purifiers will be generating ions that the fans are casting out into our large hall, where the ions can neutralize airborne viruses and bacteria right where people are sitting—without needing to wait for the air to recirculate to the HVAC filter. Hence I believe that these devices will be significantly reducing the airborne transmission of disease inside our sanctuary.

These ion generators are designed for a system that is up to 2.4 times as large as ours. That’s good, because our retrofitted system is only about half the size needed when the sanctuary is full of people. In other words, our air purifiers are properly sized for the space. 

For links to evidence that the ions produced by this device are indeed effective at neutralizing airborne pathogens directly, see HERE.

Proposed HVAC system for Social Hall (Speculation)

AN EXPERIENCED H.V.A.C. CONTRACTOR submitted today a proposal for a two-stage HVAC system for the Social Hall. The installed cost of a ventilation system would be $28,000. Later, we could add heating and A/C for another $21,600, plus the cost of electrical work. Subtotal: roughly $50K. 

I asked for this bid because the Ad-Hoc Committee on Capital Priorities recently named such ventilation one of its top five items:

“The Social Hall should once again become an integral part of Mishkon’s life. [It] needs new ventilation and heating.”

Below the jump, I describe the elements of the vendor’s proposal and discuss them, including related options.…

Cylindrical white room air purifiers (Condition Report)

THE ST. JOSEPH CENTER recently donated several air purifiers to Mishkon. 

Below the jump, this post documents the main features of these units. It also points to the online user manual and other resources.…

Air purifier installed in school building (Activity Report)

I AM PLEASED to report that the air purification device described HERE was installed today. 

This means that:

• We are significantly reducing the airborne transmission of disease inside our school building — as long as the HVAC blower is on, and the hallway doors are kept ajar, so that the air can keep circulating throughout the building.
• To reiterate, the hallway doors need to be propped open by about an inch whenever possible, in order for this device to work its magic.
• The school building can now revert to using a standard MERV-8 air filter rather than a hospital-grade MERV-13 filter (which is not only more expensive but also shortens the life of the blower motor).

Below the jump, I give links to evidence that the ions produced by this device are indeed effective at neutralizing airborne pathogens directly, quite apart from whether the resulting agglomeration is ever trapped by the system’s air filter.… 

Air purifier selected for school building (Activity Report)

WE HAVE SELECTED the most appropriate air purification device for our school/office building. It is a NuShield-R, which is a compact unit—smaller than a cigar box. It uses needlepoint bipolar ionization (NBPI) technology.

It appears that we can count on the impending air scrubber to significantly reduce the airborne transmission of disease inside our school building — as long as the hallway doors are kept ajar, so that the air can keep circulating throughout the building.

Below the jump, this post explains this unit’s benefits and features.