Should You Use An Air Purifier for Classrooms?

According to  recent studies, the air quality in a classroom can have a significant impact on student concentration and academic performance. School classrooms must be safe and conducive to learning, in order to unleash the students' full potential. 

I've always loved teaching – one of my favourite roles was teaching Korean students how to speak English. It was challenging work, but also very rewarding if you’re passionate about it.

Every teacher has a responsibility to educate and be a good role model for students. Whether you are preparing lesson plans or grading tests, you must find ways to motivate and inspire.

Teachers are also accountable for keeping students safe. The Latin term in loco parentis means "in place of a parent.” This phrase encompasses all the legal responsibilities of a teacher, as they fill-in for the role of the parent during the school day. This responsibility is why it is crucial that teachers understand the impact of indoor air quality on the learning environment and wellbeing of students.

In addition, teachers need to be aware that some students will be more affected by external factors, like air quality, than others. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

In this post, we will tackle the reasons why teachers and parents should consider an air purification system to address air quality concerns. We will also talk about the benefits of choosing an air purifier for classrooms.

Air Purifiers Get Rid of Allergens That Trigger Asthma

Old school buildings emit harmful particles from paints, tiles, and mold. Poor ventilation is also an issue in these buildings, especially in classrooms with very few windows. 

Classrooms are loaded with contaminants and particulates that children can inhale and cause them to get sick. Air irritants coming from old furniture, carpeting, and even pet dander from classroom pets, are dangerous to children who have allergies or asthma.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma is the leading chronic disease in children. Approximately 6.2 million children under the age of 18 suffer from it.

Air purifiers for classrooms are designed to remove indoor pollution by pulling air from the classroom and passing it through a series of filters. These filters effectively trap harmful particles, such as dust, pollen, pet hair, mold spores, and bacteria. After a comprehensive filtration process, the purifier circulates clean and breathable air back into the classroom.

Purifiers create a better classroom atmosphere for students who already have asthma or other respiratory issues, and also improves the learning experience for students who do not have these conditions. 

To get the  best air purifier for your classroom, look for a model with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA air purifiers are regarded as the best option for those with asthma because they clean 99.7% of allergens that pass through it and can even capture particles 0.3 microns in size. There are also upgraded HEPA filters that can trap ultrafine particles as small as 0.1 microns.

Air Purifiers Help Lessen Viral Transmissions

The presence of air particulates like pollen, mold, dander, and dust can make someone sneeze. Sneezing spreads airborne viruses which can then infect others. By filtering out bacteria and viruses in the air, an air purifier with a HEPA filter is useful in a crowded classroom setting to reduce the spread of colds and flu infections.

When choosing the best air purifier for your classroom, examine the HEPA efficiency, CADR rating, and, of course, the size of the device in correlation to the size of the room. Here are the features to look out for when choosing the best air purifier for classrooms:

• True HEPA filter – HEPA filters are recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association, as they are regarded as the gold standard in air cleaning. Air purifiers with true HEPA filters are used by hospitals and scientific labs to remove impurities in the air. They effectively draw in and trap ultrafine virus particles, decreasing the likelihood of students getting sick. As explained previously, they have the capability to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns– millionths of a meter. To get a sense, consider this: the smallest particles that are visible to the human eye vary from 70 to 10 microns! Plus, HEPA filters can remove 99.97% of these extremely minute particles, offering an exceptionally high efficacy. Making significantly clean air a reality, true HEPA filters are the perfect air purifiers for a classroom.
• CADR rating – Look at the CADR rating, which is one of the most crucial rates to look at when choosing an air purifier for the classroom. Proper airflow is key to reducing viral infections. Aside from HEPA filters, it is also important to choose an air purifier with sufficient airflow capacity. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has developed the CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate metric, which refers to how quickly and effectively an air purifier can clean a room. An air purifier with a high CADR rating means that it is equipped with a powerful fan and motor that distributes enough clean air to meet the needs of a large classroom. For any classroom, naturally it is essential to opt for an air purifier that is quiet so it causes minimum noise or disturbance. Bonus tip: you can opt for a purifier with a high CADR rating and keep the noise at a minimum level by running it on a low setting - it will still be effective!

Coverage area – Measure the classroom to get the square footage by simply multiplying the length by the width. Get an air purifier with a large coverage area if you want to use it in a big classroom. A small coverage air purifier will not be effective in a large classroom because it will have a hard time filtering out the pollutants. Naturally, for optimal results, choose an air purifier for your classroom that offers a coverage area that exceeds the square footage of the room, at least to a small extent.

Air Purifiers Require Little Maintenance

Crowded classrooms can be a handful and teachers must keep everyone busy to avoid distractions. The best air filtration systems require minimal upkeep and come with long-lasting filters. This way teachers can focus on their lessons, instead of worrying about the classroom air purifier.

Depending on the quality and efficiency, modern air purifier filters can last for many years before needing a replacement. Other filters are even washable and reusable, which helps you save on costly filter replacements.

Air purifiers do not consume a great deal of electricity. You can even leave an air purifier on all the time, here are the  5 Reasons Why You Should Run an Air Purifier 24/7.

Conclusion

Good indoor air quality in the classroom has a huge impact on the learning process of students. Clean and fresh air offers many health benefits and goes a long way in improving the physical and mental health of both children and adults. If a child is well at home but gets sick at school, then it must be a classroom environment issue and should be addressed immediately by teachers and parents.

Choosing the best air purifier for classrooms provides a safe environment for students and staff. Invest in a HEPA air purifier with a high CADR rating and see the improvements in both indoor air quality and student academic performance.

Here are some highly recommended classroom air purifiers: