Indoor Air Quality
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Bipolar Ionization Units
Santa Fe College recently began an initiative to improve and sustain the indoor air quality of our facilities by reducing exposure to indoor air contaminants. During Fall 2022, bipolar ionization units (BIUs) were installed on the Northwest Campus to remove particles such as dust, dander, smoke, viruses, and bacteria from the air. Installation of these units was completed at all SF centers early in the Spring 2023 term. BIUs create and release ions through the existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; these ions bond with air particles through a process called agglomeration. Clusters of bonded particles are then removed from the air via HVAC filtration.
Radon Testing
Facilities Services and the Department of Safety and Risk Management contracted with a Florida State certified radon measurement business to conduct radon testing of campus buildings as part of the college’s ongoing commitment to campus health and safety. The college is working with a Certified Industrial Hygienist to evaluate the collected data once testing is completed.
Florida Statute 404.056 requires radon testing of 24-hour care facilities, state-licensed daycare centers, and K-12 schools in some counties. The SF Little School was tested in 2021. While not required for higher education facilities, the college has expanded testing to include all educational sites as a safety precaution. Campus-wide testing began in November 2022 and remains ongoing across all college facilities.
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown in uranium in soil, rocks, and water. Levels of radon are common in the air we breathe every day, and radon sometimes penetrates buildings through their foundations.
Why is the college testing for radon?
SF is proactively conducting radon testing as part of its ongoing commitment to the health and safety of the college community. Though radon is common in the everyday living environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set guidelines that recommend limiting residential and K-12 school levels to 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) because of health risks associated with long-term exposure to high radon levels. The college decided to conservatively adopt the EPA recommendation for homes and K-12 schools to spaces on all campuses.
What if elevated levels are found in my building?
The college will implement mitigation measures for any buildings found with radon levels above the EPA recommended action level once sampling is completed and verified.
If my question is not answered here, who should I contact?
Contact the Safety & Risk Management Coordinator with any additional questions.
Learn more about radon at epa.gov/radon .