Puerto Rico. The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) recently installed a new air quality system, which featured Kaiterra's monitoring solutions and the design of SAEG Engineering.
The challenge: PUCPR's air quality project focused on two objectives:
Safety: Create a safe environment for students and university staff on campus by addressing known contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, dust, particulate matter, and ozone.
Reliability and transparency: the system didn't need to just work well; it needed to inspire trust through transparency. This meant a focus on communicating the current state of air quality in each space where people study or work.
The solution
The university has invested more than $1.4 million in a new air quality system for all campus buildings and administrative offices, encompassing more than 1400 pieces of equipment. Designed by SAEG engineers, this system innovatively integrates several technologies and makes the results available to any student, professor or university worker in a transparent way.
SAEG deployed Kaiterra's air quality monitors to measure key IAQ metrics at many different locations across the university, gaining real-time visibility into ozone, particulate, TVOC and CO2 levels in different areas and during different times of the day.
The data collected by the Kaiterra devices allowed SAEG to install and manage various technologies used to clean the air or pump fresh air into the building, including HEPA and carbon filters, bipolar ionization, and ultraviolet lights. For example, in places where many people congregate, such as conference rooms, the team can activate bipolar ionization and other systems for as many hours as needed after the conference ends, until the data shows that the air is safe for the inhabitants.
"The client was clear that they wanted full transparency about air quality in each and every classroom and office at the university. With Kaiterra, it was easy to deliver," said Jaime Vega, Solutions Development Manager at SAEG Engineering Group.
The result
The technology-enabled air quality system has created a safe learning environment for students and staff. The university can now understand air quality metrics, such as TVOC and PM2.5, along with other parameters that can affect occupant health and well-being, such as temperature and humidity.
Identifying areas with poor air quality, high humidity or high average temperature has allowed the university's engineering team to identify and address mechanical problems, such as the use of inadequate air filters, and to be able to request and implement new ventilation projects.
