The national restaurant association guide to reopening, as well as state and local guidelines in the Philadelphia, PA area for indoor air quality, have made it difficult for restaurants, like Tavern 52, to open and stay open. Along with that, capacity restrictions for dine-in restaurants have everyone scrambling for answers.

Many restaurants need to find ways to make sure their customers feel safe indoors. A healthy return to "normal" includes a focus on indoor air quality. Bacteria and viruses can travel through the air, causing and worsening diseases. Ceiling technologies can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens.

The 2’ x 4’ VIDASHIELD UV24 air purifications systems were installed in the ceiling above the main dining room with an additional unit installed in a smaller dining room. The in-ceiling system improved indoor air quality by using proven ultraviolet light (UV-C) air cleaning technology to continuously clean and reduce the level of viruses, bacteria, and fungi in the room’s air. The system operates by drawing air into a patented self-contained chamber hidden in the ceiling where the air is treated safely with ultraviolet light air-cleaning technology. The cleaner air is continuously circulated back into the room.

Installing the new Armstrong systems has changed “the playing field” at the restaurant, according to Sharp. “I now have better air circulation and cleaner air within my playing field which is where my customers sit and where my employees work.”