On September 13, 2024, a conference dedicated to improving air quality in schools and other educational institutions took place at the Senate of the Republic of Poland. Scientists from the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and public health experts presented the latest research on indoor air quality and its impact on public health. At SMAY, we have the solutions to address these concerns.

Conference at the Senate on Air Quality in Schools

Is there anything more important than the health of our children? At SMAY, we are well aware of the poor air quality in schools and other educational facilities. We know the reality and how to make the air better! On September 13, 2024, a conference was held at the Senate of the Republic of Poland, attended by Deputy Speaker Magdalena Biejat and Karina Szewczyk, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health, where the importance of fresh air in schools and classrooms was highlighted. The National Centre for Research and Development, represented by Dr. Eng. Mariusz Skwarczyński and Dr. Eng. Sławomira Dumała, shared their experience in this area. They delivered a presentation titled, “Assumptions and Effects of the NCBR Ventilation for Schools and Homes Initiative.”

Air Quality is Crucial for Children’s Health

During the opening of the conference, Deputy Speaker Magdalena Biejat emphasized that air quality in schools may seem like a niche topic. However, she stressed that it is crucial for the health of our children and for limiting the spread of airborne diseases. The debate on air quality in schools, along with real actions taken by NCBR, offers great hope for improvements in air quality in educational institutions.

SMAY Ventilation Solutions for Schools and Educational Institutions

Good air quality is essential for children’s health, as highlighted during the Senate conference. Research conducted by scientists and public health experts clearly shows the need to raise awareness of the dangers posed by indoor air pollution. Actions for clean air in educational facilities are now necessary, and that’s why we have developed SMAY’s ventilation solutions specifically for schools and educational institutions.

The iSCHOOL Recovery System by SMAY

As part of our collaboration with NCBR, SMAY had the opportunity to implement a recovery system in one of the schools selected by the National Centre for Research and Development. The iSCHOOL recovery system was installed in a school in Niepołomice, providing fresh air to six classrooms and two corridors. How does it work? The air extracted from each room flows through a heat exchanger, which recovers at least 80% of both the energy and moisture from the exhaust air and transfers it to the incoming air.

The iSCHOOL system is not only a ventilation system but also controls the thermostatic valve heads. These heads help reduce the amount of energy needed to maintain optimal conditions in classrooms, which are constantly monitored via the School Management System. Additionally, the system ensures the removal of contaminated air from the rooms, thus eliminating exhaled carbon dioxide. Importantly, the iSCHOOL system operates very quietly, with noise levels not exceeding 40 dB(A).

Electrostatic Air Purification with SMAY iNAC® System

Throughout the project for schools, we reached several conclusions. One of the most important is that traditional air filtration is unacceptable due to the amount of waste generated by used filters. Therefore, we simultaneously developed our unique SMAY iNAC® system for electrostatic air purification. This system captures unwanted particles such as viruses, bacteria, molds, fungi, allergens, and SMOG using electrostatic filtration modules, rather than conventional filters commonly known as “HEPA.” The SMAY iNAC® technology not only filters out contaminants from the air but also completely neutralizes the bioactivity of all particles.

Clean and Negatively Ionized Air

Air quality significantly improves thanks to an electric current that flows through the particle-capturing module. After passing through the electrostatic filters, the air is not only clean but also negatively ionized, which has additional health benefits. Moreover, the SMAY iNAC® technology eliminates the need to purchase replaceable traditional filters. Instead, the filters can simply be washed, dried, and reinserted, resulting in significant cost savings over the product’s lifespan.

NEF900 with SMAY iNAC® Electrostatic Technology

The NEF900 unit, equipped with SMAY iNAC® electrostatic technology, is specifically designed for schools, preschools, nurseries, and other public facilities. This wall-mounted unit, when turned on, works in an internal mode to filter out all pollutants from the air, both those that enter classrooms from outside and those exhaled by children.

The NEF900 is energy-efficient, operates quietly, and provides excellent filtration efficiency (99.99%). Additionally, it is eco-friendly due to the use of permanent, washable electrostatic filtration modules, which greatly reduce waste. By using reusable electrostatic filters instead of traditional “HEPA” cartridges, the system lowers operational costs. The performance and filtration effectiveness of the NEF900 have been confirmed in independent research conducted at Lublin University of Technology.

Time to Improve Air Quality in Schools

Improving air quality in schools is crucial not only for the development of our children but also for the country’s economic growth and public health. It’s time for poor air quality in schools to become a central political and social issue, driving concrete changes and comprehensive actions to ensure clean air in educational institutions.