Our Planning and Facilities Team never takes a summer off. Since COVID, they have spent their summers monitoring, installing and/or implementing improvements in our ventilation and filtration systems to optimize air quality in our schools. They did this work to ensure all our schools have high-functioning ventilation systems. Enhanced ventilation is one strategy in our continued efforts to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools while improving indoor air quality. Student safety and well-being are our top priorities at the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Unique Improvements at Every School
As every school facility is unique, the improvements vary from school to school. Through federal and provincial government funding, OCSB schools received improvements to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
OCSB Ventilation Improvements
Our existing ventilation systems received significant upgrades, including additional inspections, maintenance, control upgrades, and frequent filter replacements. In addition to these enhancements, the OCSB has deployed over 2,200 HEPA filter units throughout our school board. The school HEPA filter units help air movement and disinfection practices in kindergarten classrooms, health isolation rooms, staff lunchrooms, and classrooms with medically fragile students.
2020-2021 and 2021-2022 School Years
Ventilation Funding: $15.4M
Ventilation projects completed:
- 116 Ventilation projects completed
- 100% of OCSB schools receiving an investment
Looking Ahead to the 2022-2023 School Year
Ventilation Funding: $8.8M
Ventilation projects in progress or planned:
- 10 ventilation projects in progress or planned
- 43 schools to receive an investment
Our ventilation strategy
- All our schools have assessed mechanical ventilation systems to ensure adequate air changes per hour
- Enhanced maintenance, testing, and commissioning of ventilation equipment at all OCSB schools
- Capital investments to replace aging rooftop mechanical equipment
- Installation of 233 unit ventilators in portable classrooms to provide fresh air ventilation and air conditioning
- Installation of ceiling circulation fans in classrooms that incorporate UV-C light technology
Examples of school-specific improvements:
- Ventilation upgrades to central HVAC equipment
- HEPA air filter machines in rooms requiring additional ventilation rates and where distancing cannot be maintained, such as kindergarten rooms, special education rooms, isolation rooms, and staff lunchrooms
- UV-C ceiling fans in classrooms without central HVAC
- Wall-mounted unit ventilators in portables, including A/C upgrade
- Touchless water bottle filling stations and washroom fixtures are being added at selected sites
- Enhanced maintenance of HVAC equipment with additional filter changes and optimization of fresh air intake during occupied periods
