Indoor Air Quality Solutions Diagnosed, Prescribed and Monitored by MMC

For the spaces we LEARN, WORK, HEAL, EXERCISE, DINE, AND LIVE IN!

Visit our interactive book about healthy buildings.

WHY A HEALTHY BUILDING?

The ability to combat harmful particles and contaminants, starts with the spaces we occupy every day. The health of our buildings can play a significant part in how we are achieving personal health or falling short. From the spaces we interact in to the air we breathe, being proactive and intelligent with our Healthy Building Solutions is key to a healthier life for us all.

HOW DO YOU SUPPORT A HEALTHY BUILDING?

• DIAGNOSE – Like people, buildings have different needs for optimum health. The initial phase is to determine current building health and goals for optimum health specific to that building.

• PRESCRIBE – Based on the initial consultations, the right solution or mix of solutions will be presented and implemented in achieving the building’s health goals.

• MONITOR – Through particle monitoring, data collection and ongoing preventive maintenance and care, the Healthy Building Solution can evolve and grow to ensure the health of the building is being achieved.

Potential Prescribed Solutions:

UV LIGHTING

Most often, the spread of novel coronavirus from person-to-person is believed to happen among close contacts (about 6 ft or 2m). Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplet nuclei produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplet nuclei can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. If these droplets are hearty enough to survive a period of time in the air, they can be spread in a building by the air handling system.

Viruses that are airborne can be safeguarded against with high doses of UVC in the Air stream. For the most effective microbial control, Steril-Aire UVC germicidal emitters are installed on the supply side of the system, downstream from the cooling coil and above the drain pan. This location provides more effective biofilm and microbial control than in-duct UVC light installations.

BENEFITS OF UVC LIGHT:

• Reduces HVAC energy costs by restoring heat transfer and net cooling capacity.
• Continuous Coil Cleaning high-output UVC lights specifically designed for cold air applications help keep coils clean and save HVAC energy.

• Uses germicidal UVC irradiation which is proven as an effective inactivation method for mold, bacteria and viruses.

• Improves Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
• Produces no ozone or other secondary contaminants.
• UVC light kits are specifically designed for easy and cost-effective installation with one electrical connection; no additional framing required. They are pre-wired from the factory, significantly reducing installation time and HVAC downtime.

NEGATIVE PRESSURE EQUIPMENT

Negative pressure equipment creates a vacuum that pulls air through a HEPA filter to remove microbes, dust, and mold. It is possible to modify patient rooms to be equipped with negative pressure units. This  equipment can be used to combat particles and sub-micron contaminants, keeping patients and staff safe.

In the example shown, the room is negative minus 3.6 with the unit running at 25 percent of capacity.

Our team installed the unit to create air flow to go from the back of the dentist or hygienist across the patient’s lap and to the unit.*

*The image depicts a flex connection which was changed out to hard pipe later as they need to wipe down the unit on a regular basis.

MERV 13 FILTER CHANGES

Filters are an exceptional means to trap particulates and sub-micron contaminants. The smaller the contaminant’s diameter, the denser the filter media must be to capture. MERV 13 filters capture airborne viruses and bacteria from coughs and sneezes. They can reduce risk of virus transfer, and help keep indoor air clean.

EVAPORATOR COIL CLEANING

A clean HVAC evaporator coil can boost your entire system’s effectiveness. Coil cleaning removes any dirt and debris that may build up between the coils along with removing any bacteria or microbes that may be floating in the air stream.

BI -POLAR IONIZATION | HEALTHIER INDOOR AIR

What is Bi-Poloar Ionization?

Bi-polar ionization systems create a cold plasma discharge consisting of positive and negative ions from water vapor in the air. The ions cluster around micro-particles and gases, including harmful substances such as viruses, bacteria, airborne mold, allergens, and volatile organic compounds. When the ions surround harmful substances, a chemical reaction occurs in which the harmful substance is robbed of a hydrogen atom, inactivating them. A bi-polar ionization system is a great asset for continuous disinfection of occupied spaces by addressing airborne and surface-dwelling pathogens and contaminants.

FAST FACTS

• Bi-polar ionization (cold plasma), replicates the same positive and negative ions found abundantly in nature (forests, mountains, ocean shorelines, etc.(. The bi-polar plasma process will artificially create the ions found in these desirable locations and supply them into the building, enhancing the indoor air quality. The ions turn into OH radicals only on the surface of harmful substances to inactivate them, so they are completely harmless to the human body and pets.

• Bi-polar ionization will effectively eliminate bacteria, viruses, mold and volatile organic compounds by working directly on the air contained in the entire zone and duct.

• The plasma process consumes a minuscule amount of electricity, less than a 5 watt light bulb, in most applications.

HEPA FILTRATION DEVICES

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), also known as high-efficiency particulate absorbing and high-efficiency particulate arrestance, is an efficiency standard of air filter.

Common standards require that a HEPA air filter must remove—from the air that passes through it—at least 99.95% (European Standard) or 99.97% of particles whose diameter is equal to 0.3 micros (μm), with the filtration efficiency increasing for particle diameters both less than and greater than 0.3 μm.

HEPA filters are used in applications that require contamination control, such as the manufacturing of disk drives, medical devices, semiconductors, nuclear, food and pharmaceutical products, as well as in healthcare facilities, homes and vehicles.

BENEFITS OF HEPA FILTRATION:

• HEPA air purifiers are great for facilities with carpet, which can trap allergens.
• HEPA filters help reduce allergy and asthma triggers.
• Sealed HEPA filters on vacuums mean that large amounts of particulates won’t recirculate back into the return air flow.

• HEPA filters are effective at removing micro-particles from the air.

HANDS-FREE FAUCETS & FLUSH VALVES | A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

Minimizing infections starts with the restrooms as they tend to collect viruses and bacteria more than any other part of a commercial building. Employees and visitors often spread germs when flushing the toilet and washing their hands.

A hands-free bathroom provides a healthier environment by removing several common touch points. Without knobs and levers, it’s harder to pass germs in the bathroom. With less chances to transfer illness, a business can benefit from a reduction in employee absenteeism.

INCREASED EFFICIENCY

Auto flush toilets, hands-free faucets and other smart alternatives also increase the water efficiency of a bathroom. They reduce waste, because they are programmed to provide the right amount of water at the appropriate time.

For example, when you start a hands free faucet, it delivers water for a short time rather than remaining on for as long as the visitor chooses. As a result, faucets and toilets save resources. These more efficient types of fixtures can help building owners cut costs on water bills over time.

WATER SYSTEM FLUSHES | THE RISK OF STAGNANT WATER

If a building experiences long periods of little to no water usage due to reduced usage levels or being shut down entirely, they may have stagnant or standing water in their plumbing systems. This increases the risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other biofilm-associated bacteria. It’s important to ensure that your facility’s plumbing system is safe to use after a prolonged shutdown to minimize the risk of Legionnaires disease and other diseases associated with water.

THE SOLUTION: WATER SYSTEM FLUSHES

Completing a water system flush is the best way to make sure the water in your facility’s plumbing system is safe to use. The steps for conducting a water system flush are as follows:

• Flush hot and cold water through all points of use (e.g. showers, sink faucets). Flushing may need to occur in segments depending on facility size and water pressure. The purpose of building flushing is to replace all the stagnant water in the system with fresh water.
• Flush until the hot water reaches its maximum temperature.
• Care should be taken to minimize splashing and aerosol generation during flushing.
• Any devices using water, such as ice machines, may require additional cleaning steps in addition to flushing. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for these devices.

Our service professionals can conduct the water system flush for your facility and can do an inspection to make sure your system is up and running properly and efficiently after periods of shutdown or reduced usage.

METHODS FOR MONITORING | PARTICLE AND ION MONITORING

ION MONITORING

Ion monitoring, with duct mount and wall mount solutions, continuously monitors ion density in an occupied space to assure customers the investment in their Bi-Polar Ionization system is yielding proper results. Ion monitoring is a great supplement and must have for customers who deploy these continuous disinfectant solutions, as they’re more reliable than handheld meter readings. By applying our practices of AI and predictive analytics to Ion Monitoring, MMC can bring customers actionable and tactical data from these Edge IoT devices to make the right decisions about their buildings.

PARTICLE MONITORING

Indoor air quality monitoring has been on the market for over a decade; however, most of these sensors specifically target Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). But customers can have a new level of information to make informed decisions by deploying PM2.5 and PM1 particle monitoring. Continuously monitoring the concentration of airborne particles and molecules down to 1 micron in size can provide historical and live trend data for airborne contaminants.

By applying Edge Analytics to particle monitoring, MMC is providing real, meaningful data to customers to create Healthy Buildings.

CONTACT MMC

Contact our team to learn more about keeping your building healthy! We partner with schools, healthcare facilities, data centers, industrial facilities, laboratories, office buildings, performing arts centers, retail, sports centers and more. Call 952-941-7010 for more information.