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Humidity control in schools is a critical function, impacting indoor air quality, student health and the longevity of a building. When high levels of relative humidity are present, students and faculty may experience health problems and the building will degrade at a faster rate. By implementing a humidity control strategy, a school will save on maintenance and repair costs, increase comfort levels, and decrease the risk of moisture-related health concerns.

Poor indoor air quality within schools has long been identified as one of the leading causes of student and teacher illnesses. Ever since the 1920s, public schools have been aware of the importance of ventilation and humidity control. In 1923, the New York State Commission on Ventilation found that pupils in fan-ventilated rooms suffered 70 percent more upper respiratory illnesses compared to students in window-ventilated classrooms. With crowding an ongoing issue in public schools, temporary humidity control and adequate ventilation are vital to keeping infectious diseases and allergens at bay.

Measuring twice and cutting once sometimes isn’t enough when installing millwork. Wood is hygroscopic, expanding as relative humidity levels increase and contracting when it loses moisture. Professionals refer to the relationship between wood and humidity as equilibrium moisture content (EMC). Construction drying solutions prevent EMC changes, allowing you to install millwork without the risk of bowing, splitting, or gap formations.

A large part of disaster recovery efforts involves temperature control. This is particularly true when it comes to controlling mold growth, creating the ideal environment, and promoting worker health and comfort. Disaster recovery equipment often contains evaporator coils that dry and condition the air by drawing out moisture and heat.

The Clean Air Act makes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for setting air quality standards regarding “criteria pollutants.” Among these pollutants is sulfur dioxide (SO2), a highly reactive gas that affects air quality and has the potential to cause respiratory illnesses in those exposed to it. Power plants that process fossil fuels are a primary source of SO2 emissions and other pollutants. To maintain compliance with the EPA’s SO2 designations, power plants look to temporary climate solutions and protective surface coatings to improve emission controls and prolong the life of the equipment used.