Classroom Air Purification

Dear Fellow Lycée Parents,

I hope this note finds you and your family well as we return to school during a time unlike any other.  I imagine you share my hope for a successful and productive school year.  I also imagine that many of you are concerned about the health and safety of our children as they begin classes.  With this in mind, and in cooperation with the Lycée, there is a group of parents seeking to add a further measure of protection prior to the start of classes on September 1.  This would be in addition to the measures that have already been established by the Lycée and the Provincial Government of Alberta, such as mask wearing, physical distancing, daily health screenings and enhanced cleaning.  This air purification is not to detract or replace any of the protective measures already being implemented.

The increased measure of protection we are suggesting is an air purification system.  This medical-grade air system would be placed in each classroom and other areas of the school, working to increase air flow while cleaning and purifying the air.  There is a growing amount of scientific evidence that indicates viral transmission through aerosols.  By increasing the air quality, it would reduce the risk of transmission in the school.  Please find a link to several relevant articles regarding viral transmission below.  You will also find a link to information on the air filtration unit that our group of parents have organized to procure at a steep discount once the funds have been raised.   Of note, our children will be spending more time in their home classrooms due to new COVID mitigation rules (less moving between classes or rooms etc.).  

These filtration units are used by many professional offices in Calgary, are currently in high demand by universities (the U of T has recently acquired over 100 units for their campus) and schools across Canada. It is preferred to have a unit in each classroom before the first day of school, which would require the units to be ordered no later than Sunday, August 23.  As such, fast and decisive action is required.  Given the unique nature of this virus, there is no guarantee that the addition of air filtration units will prevent viral transmission; however, as concerned parents, we believe that implementing an additional layer of safety in the face of novel scientific evidence on viral transmission will benefit our children.  These units will also work to improve the air quality and reduce the amount of allergens and airborne illnesses throughout the year.  Having cleaner air, regardless of the current pandemic, can mean our children taking less sick days.  For some parents, sick days can mean the need to arrange childcare and/or take time off of work.

With our assistance, the Lycee will ensure each classroom is equipped with an air purifier for September 1 or shortly after.  Every classroom is approximate 500 square feet and each unit is rated for up to 1000 square feet to achieve an appropriate air-change-per-hour.  The machines run the quietly to allow teaching and conversation.  Ongoing maintenance only happens once prior to a school year, and will only cost the Lycee about 2 cups of Starbucks coffee per student.  The average lifetime run of these commercial grade machines is 10-15 years.  Electricity consumption is only 78W (oldschool lightbulb level) and sound level is 30-55dB at 6 feet away.  As our group of parents are unable to bear the cost of the units for all the classrooms, we kindly request the help of our Lycée Community.  (Please note that you will receive a tax receipt from PayPal Giving Fund Canada.)  For $200 per student, our children will have cleaner air during this pandemic time and going forward as well.  Donations of more than this certainly helps us reach our goal quicker and hopefully obtain the units on time.   We will not buy any units until we reach the goal so that every classroom gets one equally. Please share widely with anyone if you support this initiative whether you can afford to give or not.  

Many thanks and best wishes for a safe and healthy school year!  

The Lycée Louis Pasteur and your Fellow Lycée Parents

For further information, please see: 

https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3206 (published 2 days ago Aug. 20th 2020) 

"inhalational risk may be reduced by social distancing, limiting interaction indoors, avoiding air recirculation, improved natural and artificial ventilation, and innovative engineering solutions which collect and neutralise aerosols to provide clean air in personal and community spaces.14 The infection risk associated with deep breathing, talking, and singing indoors is underappreciated and urgently needs attention."  -The British Medical Journal

https://time.com/5883081/covid-19-transmitted-aerosols/

https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(20)31023-4/fulltext

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/19/nation/experts-say-some-classrooms-may-need-an-air-purifier-offer-advice-sizing/

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/7/13/21315879/covid-19-airborne-who-aerosol-droplet-transmission

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/why-arent-we-talking-more-about-airborne-transmission/614737/

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02058-1

https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa939/5867798

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2213-2600%2820%2930323-4

https://surgicallycleanair.com/jade/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n56NX_pV_vqThp1UP9wxYfJdMqCTPBb1/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DJPphH9yTFGmGvEGD2wihP3fCyHhq1-6/view?usp=sharing