Innovative System Ensures Healthy, Safe Indoor Environments
Fellowes, a global leader and trusted partner that provides product solutions to fulfill a broad range of WorkLife needs, is proud to highlight the Fellowes® Array™ Air Quality management system, the state-of-the-art solution designed to ensure superior protection against asthma and allergies in K-12 schools. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) affects students and staff, especially those more vulnerable to allergens and asthma triggers, across the wide range of school environments.
According to the CDC, indoor air quality is an unaddressed problem in half of our nation’s schools.[1] Complicating that, a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that, “among children, exposure to higher average coarse PM levels is associated with increased asthma prevalence and morbidity.”[2] This relationship between indoor air pollutants and instances of asthma indicates that children in schools are especially vulnerable to poor IAQ. Poor IAQ has also been proven to affect student and staff concentration and productivity.[3] With asthma impacting 1 out of every 10 children and 25.7% of U.S. adults negatively impacted by airborne seasonal allergies, indoor pollutants can dramatically impact schools.[4]
Fellowes’ innovative Array system, equipped with a unique and powerful fan design, works alongside HVAC to help spaces achieve additional equivalent air exchanges per hour (eACH). At the heart of the system is the H13 True HEPA filtration technology, which removes 99.95% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns. This includes dangerous contaminants such as PM2.5, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring powerful protection against particles often too small to see but perilous to health.
Networked Array units feature Fellowes’ patented EnviroSmart+™ Technology that continuously monitors the environment for changes in occupancy density and conditions of the space and automatically adjusts units to ramp up or down to address changes in contaminants while reducing stress on HVAC systems. Array’s connected units can leverage their Sense & React Technology in a coordinated response, making it an ideal solution for shared education spaces as occupancy and contamination rates fluctuate significantly throughout the school day.
A recent survey of 2,682 K-12 educators in the U.S. conducted by We Are Teachers in partnership with Fellowes, revealed a significant disparity between educators and school authorities regarding the prioritization of air quality. Despite 96% of teachers acknowledging the link between air quality and student performance, only 26% rated their school's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as good or excellent. Notably, 40% reported the absence of air purification units in their schools, even with federal funding that was made available post-pandemic.
Array’s monitoring and data sharing capabilities make trusting air quality levels easy for facility managers and community members. Viewpoint integrates data from Array’s air purifiers, UV-C sterilization machines and indoor air quality sensors to provide complete visibility of the space's air quality. Viewpoint allows decision makers to take control by scheduling maintenance needs, tracking air quality over time, and seeing how energy usage is correlated. Additionally, the Viewpoint Community Dashboard can be shared with occupants to present high-level summary of the quality of their air and promotes an organization’s commitment to ensuring safe air.
The Array system's design is perfect for retrofitting in all types of existing buildings as it does not require any ductwork connections. Its scalability means additional units can be added as needs change, seamlessly integrating into any decor and blending with the aesthetic of the space.
Fellowes has already helped over 400,000 classrooms, translating to over 8 million students and staff, improve their IAQ with the installation of their air quality systems. “Having placed thousands of units, our team is well versed in meeting the unique needs of all types of spaces. We know how important it is for schools to make the right decision on the air purifiers they choose, especially if they are leveraging ESSER funds already approved for IAQ spending,” shared Beth Wright, Fellowes Brands’ Chief Commercial Officer. “With Fellowes, educators can be confident they are getting safe, commercial-grade units designed to work 24/7 and backed with rigorous testing—that work for todays and tomorrow’s needs.”
By investing in the Fellowes Array system, schools not only safeguard the health and well-being of their students, staff, and guests from harmful allergens and asthma triggers, but also contribute to creating environments that promote productivity and overall wellness. For more information on how Fellowes is pioneering a new chapter in indoor air quality management with Array, visit fellowes.com/air.
For more information on Fellowes air quality management solutions, follow Fellowes Air Quality Management on LinkedIn.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7214a4.htm#:~:text=Among%20the%20four%20ventilation%20improvements,or%20completed%20use%20of%20HEPA%2D
[2] https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.201706-1267OC
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0095069614001016#:~:text=9-,Indoor%20air%20pollution,affect%20students%D7%B3%20academic%20performance.&text=More%20severe%20health%20effects%20include,to%20result%20in%20school%20absences.
[4] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220126.htm#:~:text=About%20one%20quarter%20(25.7%25),%2DHispanic%20(17.0%25)%20adults.