School boards use multiple strategies to support healthy and safe learning environments for students and staff. Supported by Ministry of Education investments in ventilation system improvements during the 2022-2023 school year, HPEDSB has undertaken extensive work to optimize and improve ventilation and air filtration in schools.
What is HPEDSB doing to improve air flow?
Air quality is optimized at schools through improved ventilation and filtration, depending on the type of ventilation.
- Ventilation: Increasing the flow of outdoor/fresh air for diluting the concentration of any infectious particles.
- Filtration: Involves the use of different types of fibrous media designed to remove particles from the airstream.
The Ventilation Strategy (see graphic below), includes the following best practices:
- Continued commitment to preventive maintenance inspection/service program on all mechanical units to ensure continued effective operation of ventilation equipment (including operating windows).
- Increased filter ratings to catch smaller particles, as appropriate for each type of equipment, and more frequent filter changes.
- Continued investment to update/add ventilation equipment at schools to provide long-term solutions to optimize air quality.
- Adjust equipment controls schedules to run ventilation equipment 2 hours before and after the school day.
- Placed standalone HEPA units in all occupied learning spaces, as per Ministry of Education guidelines.
Investments at HPEDSB schools
The investments made by the Ministry of Education and school boards enabled all Ontario schools to implement a range of measures to improve ventilation and air quality (see graphic below).
