Healthier Spaces Project

When students at St. Francis Xavier School returned to the classroom in the fall of 2020, the faculty, staff, and parents were determined to keep them safe from COVID-19. In doing that, they researched how the virus is transmitted and what can be done to reduce the risk in a school environment.

What they found is that the single most important element, after masks, is the overall air quality in a room and that by reducing the concentration of infectious aerosols in the air, they could reduce exposure to the virus.

To combat the spread, the administration decided to install four VIDASHIELD UV24 Air Purification Systems in the ceiling of their 800 square foot cafeteria.

The VIDASHIELD UV24 system uses patented UV-C air cleaning technology that reduces the levels of bacteria, viruses and allergens in the air and prevents them from settling onto room surfaces. The continuously operating system draws the air into a self-contained chamber hidden in the ceiling plenum where the air is treated safely with ultraviolet light air-cleaning technology. The cleaner air is then recirculated back into the room.

Additionally, along with the VIDASHIELD units, the school replaced their existing ceiling grid with SCHOOL ZONE Fine Fissured AirAssure Panels. AirAssure tiles from Armstrong Ceilings are actually gasketed and seal to the grid, which helps reduce air leakage through the ceiling. This allows more air to flow through the air vents, where it can be filtered. The AirAssure panels are also a great solution for sound absorption and sound blocking, perfect for a busy school cafeteria.

“Several teachers noticed a dramatic drop in the ambient noise level of kids having lunch. This is 100 percent attributable to the new ceiling.”

“The overall sound level of the VIDASHIELD units is much quieter than the portable units we have and having them out of the way in the ceiling is much better than having them on the floor.”