Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine September 2022

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2022

State National Chapter News

The Primrose School of South Charlotte turned out to be an important turning point of national UVC awareness as well as publicity for Guardian Air Heating & Air Conditioning as the HVAC retrofit project was aired on local TV news. Subsequently, the nationally broadcasted ABC News Good Morning America’s “What You Need to Know” featured Charlotte, N.C.-based Primrose School of South Charlotte’s IAQ efforts last May during the height of the pandemic. The UVC retrofit capabilities was a win for Guardian Air, because it gained three commercial customers, partially due to its previous UVC experiences in healthcare and other critical commercial HVAC appli cations. “If we didn’t carry or offer UVC equipment, some other contractor would have gotten the business,” said Justin Gerow, president, Guardian Air Heating & Air Conditioning, an 18-year-veteran of HVAC service and contracting. HVAC wholesale distributor, Control Stop, Charlotte, and Fresh-Aire UV engineers helped Guardian Air Heating & Air Conditioning ensure the UVC sizing and dosage for all three schools. “ Sizing and dosage are critical issues when implementing UVC technology, especially in larger commercial HVAC systems, however our customer support and proprietary design tools can help contractors and engineers choose the most effective UV system,” said Aaron Engel, vice-president – business development, Fresh-Aire UV. Gerow has already performed six month check-up services on all three schools and found each UVC system operating correctly. Furthermore, air conditioning coils typically develop mold

and mildew during North Carolina’s hot, humid summers, but none of the 30 evaporator coils exhibited any biological growths, which Gerow attributes to the UVC disinfection. Clean coils free of corrosive biological growth typically last well past their expected lifecycles, while also minimizing potential blow-off into the classrooms. The UVC industry has experienced significant sales since the pandemic’s onset last year as facilities scrambled to create safer environments. Even ABC News’ Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, M.D., confirmed the scientific validity beh ind UVC’s efficacy during the GMA segment. She also discussed newly-developed UVC research and products a “silver lining” behind the pandemic and a good idea (for IAQ) regardless of COVID- 19. “There’s intense research and development, a lot of it going on behind the scenes at schools and workplaces, in doing better at upgrading their filtration systems and killing as many microbes as possible,” said Ashton. Besides viruses, UVC can also ease other parental concerns, such as mold, allergens and other airborne and surface microorganisms. The APCO- X system’s activated carbon catalyst media also adsorb odors and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the airstream. The comprehensive IAQ upgrade is promoted on the Primrose School of South Charlotte’s website, in parental email correspondence, and during prospective family school tours. “UVC disinfection definitely gives us an edge when prospective parents discover our school has a system installed that helps improve IAQ, is ozone-free and helps fight mold, bacteri a and allergens,” said Yaa