Kele Blog

Back to Basics: Why ACH is Important in Healthcare Facilities

Posted on by Kele Inc

What is ACH you ask? And why is it important? Well, ACH stands for air changes per hour. With Covid-19 spikes continuing to occur and flu cases surging during its yearly occurrence, correct ACH is more important than ever.

ACH is the measurement of how many times a certain volume of air in a space is added, removed, or exchanged with filtered air. In order to calculate the correct change rate per hour for a space, you must first work out the volume of said space. That is done by multiplying the length by the width by the height of the space. Then, to calculate how many air changes per hour are needed, you multiply the incoming air and/or supply airflow rate (in units of cubic feet per minute) by 60 minutes per hour. Once you’ve done that, you divide that number by the volume of the space. An air change is considered to have been completed when all of the air in the space has been replaced.

With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) running rampant through healthcare facilities, having accurate ACH is essential to ensuring the health of a building and the people inside of it. It is one of the top fixes to ridding facilities of all pollutants and ensuring IAQ standards have been met. (For more information about IAQ standards, click here.)

Kele has all the parts you need to ensure correct ACH and your ability to monitor it. Call and let one of our sales or tech experts give you a hand or shop now on kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.

Time for a Refresh on Fire Safety & Prevention

Posted on by Kele Inc

Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9 this year. With that being said, when was the last time your customer’s fire and smoke damper actuators were inspected? (If you or your customer just had to pause and think hard about that question…it’s time for an inspection!)

OSHA states that “The employer shall ensure that all supervised employee alarm systems are tested at least annually for reliability and adequacy.” Meanwhile, the National Fire and Protection Code and Standards state that the requirement for testing fire and smoke systems and dampers is one year after installation and then once every four years after that. Hospitals, however, are required to inspect every six years. (Reference NFPA 80, NFPA 90A, and NFPA 105 for further information.)

Now if you’re thinking to yourself that fire and smoke dampers actuators are a pain to get to, well…we agree. So to help ease some of the pressure for the task you’re about to undertake, here is how our techs suggest going about inspection:

1. Ensure unobstructed access to the damper.

2. Test the damper for correct airflow. Then, verify that it opens by following either Option 1 or Option 2. (There should be no interference due to rust, damaged frame or blades, or other moving parts.)

OPTION 1-Dampers with position indication wired to indication lights or control panels:

  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm that the damper is in the fully open position. (Switches can be wired to local or remote-control panels and/or BAS to indicate that the damper is in the fully open position, fully closed position or neither.)
  • Remove electrical power or air pressure from the actuator to allow the actuator’s spring return feature to close the damper.
  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm that the damper reaches its fully closed position.
  • Return electrical power to re-open the damper.
  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm the damper reaches its fully open position.

OPTION 2-Dampers without position indication:

  • Visually confirm that the damper is in the fully open position.
  • Ensure that all obstructions (especially hands!) are out of the path of the damper blades.
  • Remove electrical power or air pressure from the actuator to allow the actuator’s spring return feature to close the damper.
  • Visually confirm that the damper closes completely.
  • Return electrical power to re-open the damper.
  • Visually confirm that the damper is in the fully open position.

3. If the damper is not operable, then it’s time for repairs. If the actuator has failed, replace it with a UL-approved actuator. After these repairs, the damper should be tested again.

4. If there is a latch, verify that it is operable.

5. Perform any other damper manufacture-recommended maintenance.

6. Following the test and any repairs document the location of the damper, the date, the inspector, and deficiencies or repairs. Keep the record for the life of the damper and have it available as you may need to show it to an inspector.

Call or shop now on kele.com for all your fire safety and prevention needs—Kele’s got you covered!

Don’t Let Your Building Be a Humid Mess

Posted on by Kele Inc

Humidity. Most days it hits us in the face the moment we step outside the reach of our HVAC systems. No matter how much we hate it though, we need it—at the correct level that is! When you have too little or too much humidity, the status quo for your building is no more. Keeping too much humidity at bay while maintaining the correct amount is paramount to keeping your customer’s HVAC system healthy.

Duct humidity sensors are a must when regulating humidity within the building. A hygrometer, a humidity sensor, senses, measures, and reports moisture levels and air temperatures. Having the correct reading on the amount of humidity within the building can be the difference between an HVAC system that is running at peak performance or one that is failing and creating an unsafe environment!

When it comes to finding the right amount of humidity each building needs, it’s all about balance! The HVAC system must regulate enough moisture to be helpful while also holding back just enough to keep itself and its building safe. When a safe medium is reached, there is less build-up when it comes to dust and bacteria, less dryness in the air, better energy efficiency, and a reduction in fire hazards. Maintaining the right balance is not easy but when you use the right products, you’re on your way to making life easier and safer for all.

Kele offers a wide variety of duct humidity sensors and humidity parts and components in general.  All are an excellent choices to meet system needs when combatting humidity. Contact your Kele sales rep., technical expert, or live chat them today to order the Kele products you need or shop with us on kele.com. Don’t let humidity negatively affect your building—Kele’s got you covered.

 

 

Positive Solutions for Negative Pressure Monitoring

Posted on by Kele Inc

As we see a surge of sick individuals due to the Delta variant, negative pressure proves once again why it is one of the most critical components in any healthcare facility. Negative pressure in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or converted hospital space, is necessary to prevent infection from spreading from one area to another, or from one person to another.

Negative pressure rooms play an important role in the fight against infection(s). The science behind these rooms is that lower air pressure allows outside air into a controlled space. It holds the infected air particles and doesn’t allow them to escape from the room. Most hospitals utilize these solutions to keep negative pressure rooms up to standards:

  • Supply and exhaust rates
  • Air pressure control and monitoring systems
  • HEPA filters to contain and control airborne contaminants
  • Sealed floors, walls, windows, and ceilings
  • Entryways with self-closing technology that have adequate seals
  • The correct ductwork, fans, and dampers to move air out of the building

Hospitals (and other healthcare facilities) use these solutions, along with others, to keep infectious germs from rampaging throughout their facilities. Most hospitals designate the following as negative pressure areas:

  • Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (AIIRs)
  • Autopsy
  • Bathrooms
  • Darkrooms
  • Decontamination rooms
  • Triage areas (to include waiting rooms as well)

While not a fully comprehensive list of all the negative pressure areas and rooms one might find in a healthcare facility, loss of negative pressure in any of these areas could be catastrophic. A minor nuisance would be odors trickling through the facility. The spread of airborne contaminants, however, would be unstoppable. Without HVAC systems in place that are up to date with OSHA and ASHRAE guidelines, patients, visitors, and staff would be exposed to any number of pathogens.

Monitoring and controlling negative pressure will always play a large role in healthcare facilities. Kele carries a variety of room pressure monitors and pressure accessories from trusted suppliers. The Kele team can help you find anything you need, and our tech service is ready to help troubleshoot any issues you may encounter in the field. For all your room pressure needs—Kele’s got you covered. Click here to shop now!

Ionization: Research Suggests It’s Time to Leave It in the Past

Posted on by Kele Inc

UV Lighting More Effective at Battling Airborne Contaminants

Bipolar ionization (or needlepoint bipolar ionization) became a popular topic over the past year. It is a technology that claims to be effective in HVAC systems or portable air cleaners to inactivate airborne pathogens and viruses (like COVID-19) from airstreams. It does this via an electronic air-cleaning device that generates positively and negatively charged particles. But how well does ionization measure up to another cleansing/disinfecting techniques within the industry, specifically UV disinfection options?

According to research, not well. This technique emerged with little research to back it up as opposed to UV lighting and other filtration technologies. And there’s a reason. It’s not the best or safest option out there. Multiple agencies and businesses researched this technique to see if it truly works. Boeing and Dr. Marwa Zaatari, from the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, are just two out of the bunch that has done the research and have concluded that ionization does not work as it has been said to. (Read The Seattle Times coverage about Boeing’s study here, and click here to read the study itself. To read Dr. Zaatari’s position, click here.)

Leave ionization in the past and choose safer, better options to clean/disinfect. Here are proven options for cleansing/disinfecting techniques and ways to reduce airborne transmissions that do not include ionization:

  • Properly sized and maintained ventilation
    • Such as mechanical and natural
  • Mechanical filtration
    • Such as HEPA filter units
  • Germicidal UV light, which Kele offers

Kele stands behind UV technologies for disinfection and the continued progress in the world of IAQ (indoor air quality). We are here to continue to help serve and protect you from dangerous misinformation that could negatively impact your next jobsite. Give us a call today and talk with our sales and tech teams or chat with us online at kele.com if you’ve got questions. Shop our Disinfection/UV offering here. Kele’s got you covered—no matter what.

Federal Funding Available for K-12 School Air Quality Projects

Posted on by Kele Inc

Did you know that beyond the CARES Act, the federal government has approved nearly $177 billion in relief funds to improve and maintain air quality in K-12 schools? Why does this matter? Because air quality matters—now more than ever. Whether you’re a facilities manager at one school building, an entire school district, or a contractor helping keep schools in A+ shape, take advantage of allocated funds before it’s too late!

Here are some things you should know:

  • States must award the grants for relief within one year of being issued or return them for reallocation.
  • Local Education Authorities (LEAs) should be applying now for them via their state’s Department of Education website.
  • Once done, grants are obligated via contracts for projects that are reviewed and deemed as qualifying.
  • Awards must be obligated by:
    • 9/2021 (ESSER I) deadline—9/30/21
    • 9/2022 (ESSER II) deadline—9/30/2022
    • 9/2023 (ESSER III) deadline—9/30/2023
  • ESSER/GEER/HEERF funding can be used for school facility repairs and improvements, including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system projects to improve indoor air quality.
  • Improving indoor air quality can be done through: detecting and reducing contaminants, managing air filtration, cleaning with UV-C light, managing airflow, controlling temperature, balancing humidity, controlling and changing room pressurization, and ensuring fresh air.

These allocated funds are money in your budget, and it’s time to plan your project and begin ordering parts! Working together to create a solution for each individual facility is how we’ll build better schools and help them to be healthier and safer for both students and faculty. Kele is here to help you get the most out of your allocated funds—from sensors and controllers to actuators and dampers to UV disinfection solutions and more. Whether you’re talking through projects with our sales or tech teams or shopping online with Project Portal at kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.

For more information on your school and what funds you qualify for, visit your state’s Department of Education website.

Back to Basics: Don’t Forget These Summer Maintenance Tips for Keeping Cool All Season Long

Posted on by Kele Inc

Summer heat. We wish for it all winter long and then it hits us out of nowhere and HVAC systems everywhere are put to the test. The heat, and the strain it puts on systems, make keeping up with basic maintenance a necessity. This is especially true with commercial buildings. And with many headed back into these buildings to work, the strain their HVAC systems might face just increased. So here are some basic summer maintenance tips that will keep systems in great health and beating the heat all summer long.

  • Keep up with air filters. Pollen tends to be a spring problem but is just as likely to affect a system during the summer as well. If the environment contains a large number of airborne particles such as pollen, dust, fibers, etc., then it’s better to be safe than sorry by checking filters regularly.
  • Inspect ductwork. If a system has damage, more than likely, the cool air that those in the building would appreciate on a hot day is rushing out via leaks. This can cause the system to work harder to cool the building, meaning more energy consumption which can lead to higher costs.
  • Keep units clean and clear of debris. Systems need clean and steady airflow in order to operate correctly. Help them achieve maximum operating capacity by keeping them clean from dust, dirt, and debris.
  • Inspect coils and condensate. With coils dispelling the hot air and the condensate drains keeping up with the humidity—both are vital parts that need to be in excellent condition. Both can cause leaks if not properly cared for.

Sometimes the obvious steps are overlooked, and these are not the complex, commercial BAS/HVAC that Kele techs typically help troubleshoot. That’s exactly why we’re passing them along as a friendly reminder. They are important.

Remember, by keeping up with the 3 M’s of HVAC, maintenance, monitoring, and management, not only will it keep you ahead of the many break/fixes you’re sure to encounter with your system and controls, but your customers will be getting the best service around thanks to you! And if the heat here in Memphis is anything to go by—your customers’ systems probably need a little extra TLC this season. If you do need sensors, actuators, thermostats, and more this season, call today or shop online at kele.com. Kele’s got you covered with inventory ready to ship today.

Reintroducing the RET1 NEMA 1 Enclosure

Posted on by Kele Inc

Series includes 12x12x7 option and brings back preferred features.

These days, it’s a race against the clock when it comes to technology. It’s a race to see who can innovate the quickest. Well, here at Kele, we’re always working and innovating to give you, the customer, what you want—and we’ve heard you loud and clear on what you want from enclosure. So allow us to reintroduce the new and improved RET1!

 

Features Include:

  • New Size: 12x12x7″
  • Perforated Panels That Are Now Powder Coated Steel
  • Lift-Off Hinges
  • Slot Holes That Allow For Rough-In

The RET1, formerly the RET, has long been a staple product of Kele’s. Over the past 30+ years, this economical NEMA 1 enclosure, designed to house controls and instruments for indoor use, has seen a lot. As before, it comes standard with a key lock compatible with the original RET, is available in multiple sizes, and all sizes are UL-listed. Its perforated panels are powder coated and once again ship with the enclosure so they don’t have to be ordered separately. The scratch-resistant finish is available in multiple colors, and all original colors are available, including Brown-Tan and Green! The RET1 enclosure now has welded butt hinges with removable pins, so the door can be detached for rough-in, allowing for easy panel and component installation, and can be field adapted to reverse the door hinge orientation. And if that wasn’t good enough, the RET1 now boasts a new size of 12x12x7—meaning increased options and flexibility for you on the jobsite! If you want to learn more about the RET1 and its features, click here.

We know that generating ease on the jobsite can be difficult sometimes—which is how we know you’ll love the new and improved RET1 as much as we do. With its new features and sleek design and finish, it will help make things easier when you’re trying to stay on schedule and on budget. So call today or shop now on kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.

Get to Know the Kele E-Stop ESB

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contact Blocks are Here to Stay

Emergencies happen in facilities and with equipment. It is inevitable. This is why emergency stop buttons exist within the BAS industry. They activate emergency stop sequences, thus reducing further hazards to people, systems, and the functions of those systems that are in progress.

So what emergency stop buttons should you be using? Your specific need will determine your selection. Kele offers a variety of emergency operator stations and other alarms and indication devices.

With or without a contact block?

One thing you’ll need to consider is when you order an operator station, you need to ensure that you also get a contact block(s). The Kele tech team often fields calls from customers who have a new operator station in hand but no contact block. This is a critical component because, without a contact block, you don’t have a fully functional station.

So what does a contact block do? It is a normally open contact for the purpose of monitoring its attachment to the actuator. Contacts ensure that the station is always operational and ready for an emergency situation—to shut down vents, units, etc. to contain an event and mitigate a larger disaster. A good example: if a fire breaks out in a building and the stop button is pressed, the contact closes, relaying to the actuator and controller that there is an issue and to shut things down.

This is where the Kele E-Stop ESB Series comes into play. Kele removed any “guesswork” and installation delays by including a contact block standard.

The E-Stop ESB Series also offers a highly-visible method to shut down equipment, initiate alarms, or give controller input during emergency conditions. Operation occurs with the breaking of the lens and then pushing the red push-button inside. Once the emergency is subverted, you can reset the station with a pull or twist of the button, depending on the button style

Don’t forget a cover!

And where there are emergency stop buttons, there are stopper covers. In fact, most stop buttons are required to have one. Kele carries both the Kele Universal Cover and the STI Universal Stopper Covers, which are both great options for the ESB Series. These covers are ADA compliant and protect against vandalism, accidental damage, dust and grime, and severe environments both inside and out.

The Kele E-Stop ESB is in-stock, cost-effective, and Kele has inventory on each component—including the lenses, which are made here at Kele. And you’ll get same-day shipping, expert technical support, and it will be under warranty. It’s everything your building will need to help keep it safe and prepared for emergencies. Call today or shop online at kele.com—and let Kele help keep you covered when you need to stop a BAS system emergency.

Keeping Healthcare Facilities Safe from Season to Season

Posted on by Kele Inc

Healthcare facilities have been inundated and running at full capacity for more than a year now. These facilities’ HVAC systems have also been running at “full capacity.” With guidelines frequently being updated and re-tested, it is important to stay on top of HVAC/BAS maintenance, especially in high-risk buildings like healthcare facilities.

As of April 5, 2021, ASHRAE released the following updated statement: “Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is significant and should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.”

In addition to negative pressure in healthcare facilities, other concerns are usually ventilation and filtration. When these features fail, facilities are put in a perilous situation of not being able to safely operate and then become a risk to all who enter the building. So as buildings begin to transition from spring to summer, and older guidelines to newer, be sure to do due diligence with the building’s HVAC/BAS systems. It’s important to catch break/fix issues before they have the chance to cause building-wide problems.

In fact, here are a few ways to get you started on this season’s transitional maintenance:

  • Check refrigerant levels.
  • Inspect and monitor thermostats and humidity sensors.
  • Inspect all pressure sensors.
  • Clean all pertinent parts, such as evaporators and condenser coils, to ensure top performance.
  • Inspect and clean moving parts for wear and tear.
  • Inspect and check the ductwork and electrical connections.

HVAC/BAS systems are essential to the health of healthcare facilities. By keeping the systems healthy, you’re helping to keep the people inside safe and healthy as well. Ensure that health by keeping up with the 3 M’s of HVAC—maintenance, monitoring, and management—and critical seasonal checks. Kele’s here to help, and we have almost anything you need in stock and ready to ship today. Call or shop online at kele.com. If you need to order your full BOM or a list of products, use My Project Portal. Kele’s got you covered.