5 minute read
Visible Light Disinfection Technology Goes Beyond Healthcare into Schools
Granite School District installs 405 nm lighting for enhanced cleaning protocol
By Randy Reid
Photo credit: Hughes General Contractors
Historically, germicidal lighting was primarily installed in healthcare settings; however, as seen from the pandemic, advanced cleaning protocols are imperative to reducing infection in a variety of public settings. With recent developments in germicidal LED technology, some school districts are integrating lighting in their cleaning protocols and installing products that effectively kill SARS CoV-2, influenza A, Staphylococcus aureus, and a list of pathogens that affect health and wellness.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ and the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee’s Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities, “…adequate cleaning schedules should be created and implemented for all athletic facilities to mitigate any communicable diseases; and prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that facility should be wiped down and sanitized (chairs, furniture in meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables, etc.).”
Schools are considered high-risk environments for the transmission of infectious diseases due to the close and frequent contact among students and teachers. Following the historic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education sector is now focused on prioritizing health and safety to ensure education remains a public good for everyone.
TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION FOR HEALTH SAFETY
Granite School District is the third largest district in Utah. With over 65,000 students and school buildings dating back more than a century, addressing structural issues became a significant challenge. In 2017, voters approved a $238 million bond to fund the renovation and rebuild of 31 schools over a decade.
Skyline and Cyprus High Schools are at the forefront of this transformation, integrating advanced technologies to minimize infection risks. Athletic training rooms, known for high bacterial loads including multidrug-resistant organisms, were a key focus area. Adopting a hygiene protocol and advanced disinfection technologies can significantly reduce pathogen counts, enhancing safety for athletes and staff.
SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH
Skyline High School, built in 1962 and serving 2,156 students, is undergoing a phased renovation to incorporate modern health and safety technologies without displacing students. One notable addition is the installation of visible light disinfecting linear surface-mounted fixtures in the locker rooms.
COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN VISION
Architectural firms Fanning Howey and Naylor Wentworth Lund worked to create a unified vision for Granite’s schools. “Early visioning and planning sessions involved district administrators, as well as leaders and faculty from both schools, to build a common vision,” said Michael Hall, AIA, lead architect at Fanning Howey. “The design allows Granite to continue its departmental approach to high school education, but with an emphasis on next-generation learning.”
Erin Youngberg, AIA, Senior Associate at Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects, emphasized the importance of integrating new technologies. “As the design team proposed new ideas and emerging technologies like the germicidal lighting, Granite School District was receptive and encouraged these ideas,” she said. She further explained, “Not everything made it into the finished building due to budget constraints, but many proposals did. The client was enthusiastic to explore the possibilities.”
The design prioritizes flexible, open spaces at the center of each learning community, continuing this focus in the athletic facilities. Large fieldhouses with four courts, partitions, and upper-level running tracks replace traditional gymnasiums. Each high school will also feature an eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool with seating for 500.
HEALTH-CENTRIC LIGHTING SOLUTIONS
“To complement the school’s forward-thinking design, we knew it was important to upgrade the lighting technology from what was in the previous athletic building. Indigo-Clean luminaires from Kenall Manufacturing provide bright illumination, and the sealed enclosure housing prevent harboring of bacteria inside the luminaires,” commented Phil Borup of Envision Engineering, the associate project manager on the job.
A state-of-the-art athletic building at Skyline High School, completed in late 2021, includes disinfection lighting to reduce infection spread. Quantum Lighting Group of Salt Lake City was the Kenall representative on the job.
The installation features visible light disinfecting linear surface-mounted fixtures in locker rooms, pendant-mounted fixtures in weight and wrestling rooms, 405-nm downlights for toilet stalls, dressing rooms, and shower stalls, and recessed 1×4 fixtures for the cardio room. The germicidal 405-nm luminaires provide bright illumination, with sealed enclosures preventing bacteria harboring inside the fixtures.
“These luminaires were selected to reduce bacteria and viruses in the new athletic buildings because the areas are more prone to these challenges,” explained Garrett Ledger, director of specification sales at Quantum Lighting Group. “Ultimately, the lighting installation should help reduce the amount of illness in the schools. As a bonus, beyond a reduction in bacteria, the district can anticipate low maintenance costs for the lighting because of the LED technology.”
LOOKING FORWARD
By prioritizing health and leveraging innovative solutions, Granite School District is transforming its schools into models of safety and modernity. This approach not only protects students and staff but also ensures that the educational mission continues uninterrupted in the face of ongoing public health challenges.
Through embracing new technologies and flexible design, Granite School District is setting a new standard in educational environments, demonstrating how schools can be both innovative and resilient in the face of future challenges.
