The coronavirus pandemic has raised huge concerns about workplace safety as many have started to return to work. It’s not conclusive, but some reports have stated that the idea of COVID-19 spreading through ducted HVAC systems can’t be ruled out. There is, however, a way to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your office space by preventing it from spreading in this manner. This can be accomplished by installing an HVAC add on called bipolar ionization.
What is bipolar ionization?
Bipolar ionization is an HVAC attachment which helps to keep indoor air pure, removing pathogens such as viruses or bacteria from the air. These special tubes take molecules of oxygen from the air and convert them into charged atoms, which attach themselves to the aforementioned micro-particles/pathogens. Mold, allergens, and other airborne micro-particles are also picked up by bipolar ionization tubes.
After attaching to these micro-particles, they become more enlarged, making it easier for air filters to pick them up, making it easier to filter out common carriers of viruses like COVID-19 such as breath droplets or dust particles. The process happens continuously throughout the day, unless it is specifically programmed using building automation systems not to. What’s left after this process is simply clean air.
Keeping your office safe
Following the CDC’s guidelines and local mask ordinances goes a long way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it has been suggested that the battle with COVID-19 may also need to take place in the air. Taking initiative to proactively prevent the spread of the virus from your workplace’s HVAC system is a great way to ensure that your workers are as safe as they possibly can be.
Best applications for bipolar ionizaton
Bipolar ionization can be installed in virtually every facility, but it has most commonly been used in larger facilities such as distribution centers, schools, and hotels. This is because larger facilities have a harder time keeping air pure, as there are many ways for things like dust particles to infiltrate the indoor air. Despite this historical use, it seems likely that industries with smaller facilities will start to take advantage of this technology.
How much does bipolar ionization cost?
The overall cost of bipolar ionization ultimately depends on the size of your building’s HVAC system, but the cost is minimal because the installation process is very straightforward. An overhaul or replacement of your current HVAC system and its parts is not needed; all that needs to be done is adding the tubes to the entering side of a cooling coil in your HVAC system.
