Health & Safety

Your heating and air conditioning system pulls in air over coils to change the temperature and then blows them through ducts to other rooms. Your air filter is typically placed where the air is brought into the system. It is used to trap particles that get sucked in to keep them from clogging coils or blocking the blower. These particles are typically things like dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and spores.

What Type of HVAC Filters Should I Use?

There are many different types of air filters, and various ratings are used to rate them. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is a scale from 1 (weaker filters) to 16 (stronger filters). MERV was established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

The Federal Trade Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency recognize the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) method used to measure air purifier efficiency. While some high-end filters can be up to 1200 CADR, most are between 12 CADR and 240 CADR. Some brands also have their own rating systems.

• Flat-panel filters are the most traditional and affordable, and they have fibers (generally fiberglass) stretched over a framework. They’re disposable and easily replaced.

• Pleated filters are a disposable type of filter that use screens of dense cotton or plastic fibers, and as the name suggests, they have pleats. The pleats cover more surface area, allowing the filter to catch more debris.

• Electrostatic filters carry a charge to help capture even smaller particles like pollen, smoke, or bacteria in their screens. They can be either flat or pleated and disposable or washable.

• Washable or reusable filters come in both pleated and flat-paneled options. This type of filter can be hosed down with water or vacuumed to remove the buildup of particles.

• High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are commonly used in hospitals, labs, or homes of people with allergies or compromised immune systems. HEPA filters consistently remove 99.97% of particles from the air. Consult with your HVAC professional before switching to HEPA filters. Not all commercial HVAC systems are designed to use these extra-strong filters.

How Often Should HVAC Filters Be Changed?

A general rule of thumb is about every one to three months after you installed it. A key sign you should change your filter is a buildup of ashy-looking gray dust on the duct side of the filter. Some experts argue that more dust on the filter technically makes it “better” at filtering other particles, but this is at the expense of your unit’s efficiency.

Do HVAC Filters Help with Covid?

In a building or small space, HVAC filters can reduce contaminants in the air, including viruses. However, the EPA notes that “By itself, air cleaning or filtration is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.” Good air ventilation and filtration can be a part of reducing the threat of airborne transmissions indoors when used along with other best practices like mask wearing and social distancing.

Do HVAC Filters Make a Difference?

In addition to improving air quality by removing dust and bacteria, keeping up with cleaning or replacing your air filter can help maintain and extend the life of your AC unit. Better air filtration can also decrease the frequency of cleaning air ducts.

Can You Put an HVAC Filter in Backwards?

Yes, you can install an HVAC filter backward. Though your filter may look similar on either side, the truth is that one side is more porous than the other to allow particles into them. If you do put your AC filter in backward, air will have a more difficult time flowing through it, and your unit will have to work harder to circulate air.

Call Henick-Lane for All of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

At Henick-Lane, we are experts in all aspects of commercial HVAC, including indoor air quality. We have more than half a century of experience serving the New York City area’s high-rises, commercial buildings, and facilities. Contact us online to request a consultation or call (718) 768-7277 to arrange an indoor air quality assessment. We look forward to hearing from you.

Living in the city, you encounter a wide variety of pollutants, smells, and vapors outside. When you enter your school, indoor air pollution is the last thing you want. Examining the state of your indoor air quality is essential for the health and safety of your students and staff. Let’s take a look at the standards in place (ASHRAE standards) defining what constitutes safe air and some of the factors that impact it.

What Are ASHRAE Guidelines?

ASHRAE stands for American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. This professional organization focuses on healthy and sustainable practices within the HVAC industry. An ASHRAE certification denotes a high level of specialized knowledge, ability, and competency with these methods.

As defined on their website, “ASHRAE standards and guidelines include uniform methods of testing for rating purposes, describe recommended practices in designing and installing equipment and provide other information to guide the industry.”

What Is IAQ in HVAC?

IAQ means Indoor Air Quality. Used this way, it denotes the quality of the breathable air in and around a building, focusing on both comfort and any possible health impacts that IAQ may cause. Bringing in an air quality tester for an indoor air quality assessment is your quickest route to determining the IAQ of your building.

The EPA notes a variety of short-term and long-term effects that poor quality air can have, as well as the most commonly encountered issues and pollutants. A few examples of indoor air pollutants include:

• Tobacco smoke
• Fumes from combustion fuel-burning appliances
• Excessive moisture
• Asbestos
• Radon
• Pesticides
• Fumes and residue from building materials, cleaning products, etc.

What Is the ASHRAE Standard for Indoor Air Quality?

Determining quality in any field requires measurements and standards that can serve as a benchmark for comparison. In terms of indoor air quality (IAQ), ANSI/ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 62.2 provide those benchmarks for the design and maintenance of HVAC design and in determining indoor air quality levels. If you wish to dig into deeper detail on the subject, ASHRAE’s Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning is available as a free download.

What Is IAQ Ventilation?

Ventilation plays a major part in IAQ it directly impacts two important factors: airborne contaminants and humidity. The National Center for Healthy Housing looks at both of those factors in detail. With the proper ventilation solution, many IAQ issues can be fixed or reduced in severity.

Henick-Lane Provides Commercial HVAC IAQ Testing and Solutions

The experienced team at Henick-Lane are authorities on IAQ and ASHRAE standards, bringing to the table more than 55 years of experience with all facets of commercial HVAC systems. Contact us now for an indoor air quality assessment. Our team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect air quality solution for your educational facility.

Reach out to us online to request a consultation, call 718-768-7277, or contact us via email, at info@henick-lane.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

When it comes to commercial buildings and facilities, there are many concerns to juggle. Indoor Air Quality, also referred to as IAQ, is one that is vital to the health and comfort of those who live or work in those buildings. It’s important enough that OSHA has specific guidance on the subject. But what exactly is it, and how do we measure and improve it?

What Is IAQ?

Indoor Air Quality, as defined by the EPA, is “…the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants”. According to the EPA, inadequate ventilation is a common cause of bad IAQ, and poor indoor air quality can have both immediate and long-term effects, depending upon the circumstances.

What Does IAQ Mean for Industrial Hygiene?

Most people don’t notice when things go as expected, which is true for good air quality. But when the air is full of allergens, bad smells, or chemical fumes, IAQ becomes a problem. Unfortunately, allergens and some chemical fumes may not be noticeable, so the problem can accumulate.

What Are the Major Indoor Pollutants?

The EPA breaks down the three most common types of indoor pollutants into three basic categories:

1. Biological pollutants – organic matter, living and dead (molds, dander, pollen, bacteria)
2. Chemical pollutants – volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde, lead, and radon.
3. Combustion pollutants – smoke and the fumes from burning things. Carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke top the list. Some forms of combustion, especially burning plastics, can also produce VOCs during combustion.

What Is an IAQ Test?

An IAQ test measures the levels of common pollutants, allergens, carbon monoxide, mold spores, and radon. It gives a rating on how safe the air is to breathe.

What Is Acceptable Indoor Air Quality?

The air quality index is the EPA’s official yardstick for measuring how bad the air is based on the levels of pollutants present. By their standard, anything that rates greater than 100 is unhealthy, and anything more than 50 is risky for those with sensitivities.

How Can I Improve IAQ?

There are several ways to improve IAQ in your building. Three important things you can start with include:

1. Improving ventilation
2. Adding air cleaning or better filtration to your HVAC system
3. Eliminating or isolating sources of pollutants

Henick-Lane is the Right Contractor for HVAC Upgrades

At Henick-Lane, we are experts on indoor air quality, bringing to the table more than half a century of experience with all aspects of commercial HVAC systems. Contact us online to request a consultation or call 718-768-7277 or arrange an indoor air quality assessment. Our team will work with you to create the perfect air quality solution for your specific needs. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you prefer to contact us via email, you can reach out to us at info@henick-lane.com.

New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (NY CLCPA) calls for measures to achieve reductions in energy use by:

• Transitioning water and heating to electricity.
• Establishing appliance efficiency standards.
• Instituting stronger building energy codes.
• Requiring annual building energy benchmarking.
• Expanding the ability of state facilities to use performance contracting.
• Requiring the disclosure of energy efficiency in home sales.

At this point, it is unclear whether the Department of Environmental Conservation or a different state agency will use the Act to impose more rigorous efficiency standards on existing buildings.

What Is New York State Doing About Climate Change?

New York State has several policies and programs in place that focus on renewable energy sources, greenhouse gas reduction, and statewide climate planning to promote low energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare against climate change. CLCPA is one of the plans.

What Is NY CLCPA?

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act was passed in June 2019 to adopt measures to allow the state to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050. It is considered one of the most ambitious climate laws in the world. It establishes a Climate Action Council, which will be guided by the legal requirements contained in the Act.

What Does the CLCPA Do?

In addition to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the CLCPA intends to direct a large portion of the program’s benefits toward historically disadvantaged communities determined by a myriad of factors such as socioeconomic, environmental hazards, and public health. The Act also plans to create community air monitoring programs to work on the community level to monitor air quality standards and pollutant levels. This addresses issues of air quality in communities affected by local air pollution and ensures that pollutants are eliminated first in disadvantaged communities.

Why Was the CLCPA Enacted?

This bill was passed to set the state on a path to net zero emissions across all sectors of the economy. The CLCPA timeline hopes to have 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. New York wishes to lead the way in protecting our communities and economy from the dangerous realities of climate change.

What Is the Scoping Plan?

The Scoping Plan is a project created by the Climate Action Council that will set out recommendations for reducing emissions across all sectors of the economy, such as transportation, building, industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors. The plan is revised and updated every five years to adapt to changing needs of the state.

The Scoping Plan will help inform regulatory agencies as a part of the state’s overall energy plan. According to CLCPA section 7(2), state agencies will need to confirm their actions are in accordance with the goals of reducing greenhouse gasses, or otherwise be able to explain and justify the need for those decisions and have alternate plans in place that can be taken to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Henick-Lane Can Handle All of Your Commercial HVAC Needs

With more than five decades of providing superior commercial HVAC service, our team of experts specializes in providing affordable and practical solutions for all types of high-rise and commercial buildings. Contact us here or call (718) 768-7277 today; we can custom design an HVAC solution that will keep your tenants comfortable and satisfied. If your building requires service, maintenance, and/or repair, contact Henick-Lane Service Corp. today. You can also reach out to our professionals via email at info@henick-lane.com or service@henick-lane.com.