In response to The President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Clean Air in Buildings Challenge to combat the spread of airborne pathogens and improve overall occupant wellness in the workplace.
The President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
Issued by The White House in March 2022, the plan states;
Today, the U.S. government is releasing the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan – which will enable America to move forward safely, sustaining and building on the progress we’ve made over the past 13 months.
This plan lays out the roadmap to help us fight COVID-19 in the future as we begin to get back to our more normal routines.
We look to a future when Americans no longer fear lockdowns, shutdowns, and our kids not going to school.
It’s a future when the country relies on the powerful layers of protection we have built and invests in the next generation of tools to stay ahead of this virus.
The plan goes on to outline four key areas the U.S. Federal Government considered critical to preventing future issues related to COVID-19.
- Protect Against and Treat Covid-19.
- Prepare for New Variants.
- Prevent Economic and Educational Shutdowns.
- Continue to Vaccinate the World.
In response to The White House, the EPA issued the following statement;
Today, as part of President Biden’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan released March 3rd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge,” a call to action and a concise set of guiding principles and actions to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other contaminants indoors.
The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a range of recommendations and resources available to assist with improving ventilation and indoor air quality, which can help to better protect the health of building occupants and reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Key elements of the EPA's plan include:
- Creating a clean indoor air action plan.
- Optimizing fresh air ventilation.
- Enhancing air filtration and cleaning, and;
- Conducting community engagement, communication, and education.
Improving Indoor Air Quality Through Source Control
The most direct method for improving and maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ) is through pollutant source control and elimination.
Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions.
Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions.
In many cases, source control is also a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs.
A major source of indoor air pollution in commercial facilities are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by commonly employed corrosive disinfectants, such as bleach and quats.
Replacing these products and upgrading cleaning tools will significantly reduce the volume of VOCs released into the air of enclosed commercial facilities, resulting in:
- Safer buildings.
- Healthier occupants, and;
- Improved educational and business outcomes.
The EPA recommends:
- Using third-party certified cleaning products, such as Green Seal, Safer Choice, Eco Logo, and Design for the Environment.
- Upgrading paper towels, cotton mops, and cloth towels to microfiber for cleaning, and;
- Using a disinfectant with a registered safer active ingredient, such as citric acid, l-lactic acid, ethanol, isopropanol, or peroxyacetic acid.
Additionally, increasing natural or mechanical air flow through the facility before, during, and after cleaning and sanitizing will disperse airborne toxins, bacteria, and pathogens and improve overall facility and occupant health and safety.
Takeaway
Indoor air quality presents serious barriers to positive long-term outcomes, especially among vulnerable demographics.
According to Green Seal CEO, Doug Gatlin;
Unhealthy indoor air, inadequate ventilation, and chemical exposure from cleaning and maintenance routines continue to present systemic challenges in school districts.
On top of health concerns, these issues are linked to poor concentration and test performance in students, adding preventable barriers to achievement.
Green Seal Comments On Biden’s 'Clean Air In Buildings Challenge'
Outsourcing is a proven method for onboarding highly in-demand cleaning and sanitization services and experience for a fraction of the price of maintaining a similar service in-house.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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