Kele Blog

Retro Valves? Newer Ones Will Help You Fit In!

Posted on by Kele Inc

Valves. Seemingly small parts, but they make up a huge portion of school retrofit jobs. Why are valves so integral in school projects you ask? Why is it that seemingly every time you do a school project, you’re faced with old valves that need to be, at the very least, retrofitted if not replaced? Well, let’s discuss.

As one Kele

tech put it,

“Retrofitting

these valves

is (in some ways)

more art

than science.”

Reasons customers may prefer to retrofit rather than swap the whole valve:

     •   Pneumatic Actuators

These are the leading cause of valves being retrofitted. Pneumatics are an older type of control system that uses air rather than electricity. Pneumatics are still prominent, especially in schools as well as other government and municipal facilities. So as times change, facilities are upgraded, and/or customers want to add electronic actuators/controls and retire pneumatics. Some customers may prefer or even require a specific brand of valve or actuator for various reasons. Retrofitting makes sense, and the Kele team can help you find what meets your need. As one Kele tech put it, “Retrofitting these valves is (in some ways) more art than science.”

     •   Cost

Globe valves last a lot longer and can be field repaired. Swapping an actuator is much cheaper than draining the system and/or mechanical install costs.

     •   Safety Concerns

For example, some installs have you coming face to face with asbestos. It is much safer and more cost-effective to just swap the actuator than dealing with potential health concerns that will come with replacing the entire system.

     •   Location

Sometimes (okay, most times) hanging the valve is going to be a huge undertaking. In this case, the simpler option is to retrofit what you need. So swap the actuator and keep your fingers crossed the valve doesn’t leak. (At least not until you retire…just leave a note for your successor to call Kele!)

Retrofitting schools is always a rush job (or at least it seems to feel that way every year). Valves can easily be retrofitted to electronic actuators, and Kele can help you make the best choice for your specific circumstances. We know that our massive in-stock inventory can help by getting you the valves and parts you need.

Our expert technical staff and sales team can help you make your school valve retrofit project this year one for the yearbook. Call or chat with us live on kele.com today—Kele’s got you covered.

 

 

 

Questions about Where to Start on School Projects? Kele Has the Answer Key!

Posted on by Kele Inc

You asked so we delivered. Today we’re answering some of our most frequently asked questions from our customers related to getting started on school projects.

What are some things that I should investigate when starting a school project? There are many options to consider, but certain areas often present problems. Kele advises that you start by checking these areas and common issues:

  • Outside air dampers
  • Neglected maintenance on filters, belts, and condensate drainage.
  • BAS controls being wrongly programmed/modified
  • Occupancy changes and how it affects system controls

Why are these four things so prevalent in the industry? Typically, it’s due to a lack of maintenance or technician training. However, following the pandemic, new standards and recommendations may also require system adjustments. Let’s discuss each one!

  • Sometimes on a particularly warm or cold day, untrained technicians or school employees will close outside air dampers to maintain a better temperature within the building. After doing this, the damper closure is often forgotten, which can then negatively impact the HVAC/BAS system(s) and lead to system damage and failure over time.
  • Neglected maintenance is a common occurrence in schools that are underfunded. With costs cut, most schools make do with what they have and as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Unfortunately, this can lead to much more expansive projects for you and more expenses on the school’s end. Regular maintenance keeps systems healthy and will help catch problems before they turn into costly lessons.
  • Most controls are typically programmed to be exactly what the school building needs. However, needs are ever-changing—and therein lies the problem. Many times, controls and programming are changed and then never looked at again. Out-of-calibration systems eventually lead to excessive temperatures and humidity issues, which all lead to extensive and costly repairs.  Continued system monitoring is essential to not only the health of a school but also the health of its system.
  • Occupancy changes are a pain in the butt. (We know you’re thinking it too.) The number of students in any given area of the school is ever-changing. An area with an outside air supply is designed for a certain amount of people in said space. As occupancy fluctuates and shifts, so should the settings for the area. Once changed, however, they are normally forgotten about which can be dangerous if left unmonitored. With new needs and standards in place, this should be given “extra special” attention moving forward.

The three M’s of HVAC—monitoring, maintenance, and management—should be put into practice in every school to help mitigate negative impacts made by any of these common mistakes. So get ready to go back to school and educate on why the three M’s of HVAC are necessary and essential to everyday HVAC care! Call a Kele tech rep to discuss your challenges and troubleshoot or visit kele.com today and let us help prepare you so that you can ace your next school project.

It’s Time to Take Ventilation Back to School

Posted on by Kele Inc

41% of School HVAC Systems Should Be Retrofitted or Replaced

 

With stricter guidelines being created due to the impact COVID-19 has had on infrastructure, the efficacy of HVAC systems is being re-examined to ensure proper health and safety. Worries over both have led to an increase in investigations on whether or not current systems are fully operational and functioning at their intended levels. One of the largest infrastructures at risk is schools.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a report that shows about 41% of public-school districts needing to retrofit or replace the HVAC systems in at least half of their schools. Experts have concluded that these systems need better ventilation and filtration to function as intended. The federal government, along with multiple states, are providing the resources to do just this, which means more school bids and projects for contractors.

HVAC retrofits and general maintenance jobs for schools aren’t new. Most public schools have ventilation and IAQ problems that pre-date COVID-19 problems. Some of these issues:

  • Neglected maintenance of systems, including filters, belts, condensate drainage, etc.
  • Outside air dampers being left closed for extended periods of time.
  • Changes to BAS controls that do not comply with recommended and/or regulatory settings.
  • Occupancy changes that are never addressed.

All of these lead to or are a cause of ventilation mismanagement. A tried-and-true solution to help mitigate the dangers mentioned above are the installation of CO2 sensors. They aid in verifying proper ventilation and help quickly alert building management to unexpected malfunctions. It’s the perfect example of why the “three M’s of HVAC”—monitoring, maintenance, and management—should always be practiced.

It’s time to take correct ventilation back to school so that students and teachers are safe. The lack of regular monitoring, maintenance, and management can be detrimental to the health of a school’s HVAC system and the health of those who occupy its space. Quick fixes and shortcuts can lead to negative consequences which are oftentimes costly. A proper technician/contractor should always be called upon to properly assess the ventilation of any system so that it can be properly repaired, replaced, or retrofitted.

Call or visit kele.com today to see how we can help you take correct ventilation back to your jobsite. Let us help you with the right solutions to get the job done—we’ve got you covered.

Kele Can Help You Navigate 2021 Manufacturer Price Increases

Posted on by Kele Inc

A stocking distributor with a massive inventory from 300+ suppliers, Kele can find direct and functional product alternatives.

While annual supplier price increases are typical in most years, 2021 presents unique circumstances due to the escalation of certain raw material costs. Steel prices in particular have been on a consistent rise since last fall. According to industry trade publication The Fabricator, steel prices set a new record in January and are at their highest since 2008. Copper and other metals were also on a steady climb into January, driving other supplier price increases. (These metals have leveled off for the moment according to Metal Miner.)

It remains to be seen how factors from overall demand to the COVID-19 vaccine will affect conditions and thus pricing. In the meantime, manufacturers are passing along these increases to customers. Affected products are across the board with enclosures, dampers, and various piping- and steel-related items being the most impacted.

Kele can help you navigate these supplier price increases and keep your job on track. One benefit of partnering with Kele is our massive inventory as a stocking supplier. We carry parts across 27 product categories from more than 300 suppliers. This includes a broad range of Kele-branded parts.

Here are some tools and steps that will help:

  • Find direct and/or functional alternative product recommendations for more than 1,000 parts on kele.com. They will be on the page of the product you are viewing.
  • You can also browse accessories, related parts, top sellers, and see what customers also bought with a product on thousands of pages across kele.com
  • Use Project Portal to get pricing in seconds for a large list of items or full project BOM.
  • Get discounts on large-scale projects. Our inventory position and strong relationships with suppliers often present the opportunity to secure and pass along discounts to our customers.
  • Book it now! For large projects or projects with future ship dates, Kele can sometimes lock in the pricing with suppliers for a reasonable but extended period of time.

So call your Kele team or CHAT live on kele.com with a sales or technical service representative for immediate help. They can talk through your project and find suitable options to meet your budget.

Understanding HVAC Sensors

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contributed by Belimo

HVAC systems’ operation is a critical requirement for reopening and maintaining safe indoor air quality (IAQ). An HVAC system has so many vital components – one being sensors. Sensors verify operation and accuracy to improve system performance and ensure occupant health, safety, comfort, and productivity.

Sensors that are faulty or out of calibration can affect the ability to control temperature, humidity, air quality, and building pressure. With the new ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force guidelines, indoor air quality has become more critical.

Facility managers need to ensure sensors are running efficiently and smoothly to improve and maintain IAQ to slow the transmission of viruses through the HVAC system.

Some of the most critical sensors used in HVAC systems are:

Pressure Sensors

Pressure sensors monitor pressure levels within specific zones, and measure the pressure drop across filters and other devices, effectively alerting the system when maintenance and filter replacement is required. Accurate pressure measurement is vital for optimal HVAC system performance. Pressure sensors can measure extremely high and low pressures in air and water applications, offering precise measurement of pressure, differential pressure, and velocity for reliable monitoring. Applications include VAV (variable air volume) control, static duct pressure, clogged HVAC filter detection, HVAC transmitters, and IAQ monitoring systems. Pressure sensors from Belimo offer eight field-selectable pressure ranges in one unit. They have excellent zero-point stability and high accuracy with an auto-zero function that manually calibrates itself every ten minutes.

Temperature Sensors 

Temperature sensors measure air and water temperature and adjust the heating and air conditioning to raise or lower the air temperature based on the programmed setpoint, preventing wasted energy. You can also use the sensors’ data to learn about a room’s airflow and air quality. Using temperature sensors prevents the system from running harder than the building requires. Accurate and reliable temperature readings are essential for optimal building comfort and energy efficiency. Belimo’s outdoor air, duct, pipe, and room temperature sensors are designed for easy installation and are compatible with all BAS.

Humidity Sensors

Controlling humidity in buildings is critical for occupant comfort, safety, and protecting building infrastructure, production processes, stored goods, and museum artwork. Combined temperature and humidity sensors provide a flexible and cost-effective solution. Humidity control typically adds clean steam to the airstream to raise space humidity. If using resistive-type humidity and dew point sensors, consider changing to capacitive technology (CMOS) sensors, which are more accurate and not susceptible to drift. The updated ASHRAE 62.1 standard also

requires systems to limit the indoor humidity to a maximum dew point of 60°F (15°C) during both occupied and unoccupied hours whenever the outdoor air dew point is above 60°F (15°C). Belimo’s range of durable duct, outdoor air, and room sensors is manufactured using the highest quality materials to ensure superior reliability, accuracy, and repeatability. Belimo’s combined temperature and humidity sensors include field-selectable ranges and outputs, including relative humidity, absolute humidity, enthalpy, and dew point, helping buildings meet ASHRAE 62.1 standard. Combined sensors provide a flexible and cost-effective solution.

Indoor Air Quality Sensors

Sensors that measure IAQ are becoming increasingly important to slow the transmission of viruses via the HVAC system. With the new ASHRAE guidance codes, HVAC systems’ operation is critical for maintaining adequate and safe IAQ in reopening buildings. Strategies such as increased ventilation, improved filtration, and air cleaning aim to enhance occupant safety, comfort, and productivity. Air quality sensors provide occupant comfort and safety while helping to maximize efficiency. Belimo offers a wide range of combined multi-sensors for CO2, humidity, temperature, and VOCs designed to ensure air quality and maximize energy savings over the building’s life cycle.

Occupancy Sensors

Indoor occupancy sensors measure motion and light in spaces to optimize energy efficiency. Seamless integration to the building management system (BMS) allows energy savings by controlling the space temperature to an unoccupied setpoint. Occupancy sensors can detect ambient brightness levels, enabling the BMS to control powered light levels in the space. These sensors are typically in high-traffic or isolated areas, such as the building entrance, hallways, lavatories, floor, office rooms, etc. Belimo’s occupancy sensors are designed to be discreet. The ceiling-mounted 360° passive infrared occupancy sensor with relay output seamlessly integrates to the BMS, allowing energy savings by controlling the space temperature to the unoccupied setpoint.

Room Sensors

Room Sensors monitor motion and share data on occupancy activity patterns and environmental changes in temperature, humidity, and CO2. This data is invaluable in running an environmentally friendly office, ensuring occupant comfort and safety with increased production. Belimo room sensors in a surface-mounted, streamline design measure temperature, humidity, and CO2, providing high accuracy with a fast response rate. Integrated with Near Field Communication (NFC), room sensors allow easy data access, device configuration, commissioning, and troubleshooting when using the Belimo Assistant App installed on a smartphone.

Kele offers a wide range of Belimo sensors  you need to get your next project done. Shop now or find out more on how Kele can help you with all of your sensor needs. Call or Chat Live with us today!

Kele, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Lesman Instrument Company

Posted on by Kele Inc

Move adds process automation for industrial customers and location in Chicago area.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. and BENSENVILLE, Ill. – Kele, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Lesman Instrument Company (Lesman). The acquisition expands Kele’s offering to include process automation products and solutions that serve the industrial market. It also strengthens Kele’s presence in the Midwest with physical locations in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, which will accelerate service and delivery to its commercial customers across the region.

Lesman, headquartered in Bensenville, Ill. with a second location in the Butler, Wis. is an authorized distributor and manufacturers’ representative for process measurement, control instrumentation, and control valves, distributing products used to measure, analyze, control, and automate a wide range of industrial processes. Products include various temperature, pressure, level, gas detection, valves, and flow instruments from industry-leading manufacturers. Lesman president Mike DeLacluyse and his leadership team will continue in their roles, and day-to-day operations will not change.

Kele president and CEO Richard Campbell said the right partner was key for the company to strategically expand the business beyond its commercial building automation systems and HVAC core.

“Mike and team have built a fantastic business, and we are thrilled to partner with them,” said Campbell. “We look forward to working with Lesman to expand Kele’s capabilities and initial footprint in the process automation market.”

Lesman can now offer its customers a variety of services through Kele, including control panel fabrication, custom project solutions, and logistics capabilities. The company will also expand its reach through Kele’s digital and eCommerce platforms. DeLacluyse pointed to culture and core values as drivers for the decision.

“It was critical to find a partner who shared our commitment to delivering value to our suppliers and customers,” he said. “Furthermore, it was clear that Kele was a good cultural fit and committed to the success of our employees. I am very much looking forward to the growth opportunities that lie ahead.”

This marks Kele’s fourth acquisition in as many years. Kele initiated its strategic growth plan by acquiring Control Consultants, Inc. (CCI) of Weymouth, Mass. in 2017, followed by the acquisitions of MIControls, which has locations in Seattle and Portland, Ore. in 2018, and Dallas-based Temperature Control Systems in 2019.

“For the past three years, Kele has focused on getting products closer to our commercial customers through acquisitions,” said Campbell. “Successful integrations with CCI, MIControls, and TCS have paved the way in their respective regions. While our focus with Lesman is growing our capabilities and customer base, we will also be able to serve our commercial customers in the Midwest even better.”

Kele’s acquisition of Lesman was effective December 24, 2020. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP acted as legal counsel to Kele. Livingstone Partners LLC acted as financial advisor to Lesman, and Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC served as its legal counsel.

About Kele, Inc.

Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of building automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the $50+ billion building automation systems (BAS) market with more than 300 brands and 1.8 million parts in stock, including sensors, transmitters, switches, gauges, valves, actuators, relays, and more. Kele’s products can be integrated into existing buildings or new construction. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Strategically headquartered in America’s logistics hub, Memphis, Tenn., and with regional locations organized under the Kele Companies umbrella in Boston, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, Kele provides building automation and industrial customers with fast and reliable services. Kele is owned by The Stephens Group of Little Rock, Ark. To learn more about Kele, visit kele.com.

About Lesman Instrument Company

Lesman Instrument Company is an authorized distributor and manufacturers’ representative for process measurement and control instrumentation. Founded in 1962, Lesman serves customers in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Eastern Iowa, Eastern Missouri, Upper Peninsula Michigan, and the western Kentucky areas. Visit lesman.com for more information.

PURO Disinfection Solutions FAQ

Posted on by Kele Inc

Kele launched a new Disinfection Solutions product category earlier this year, featuring ultraviolet (UV) sanitation lighting fixtures from PURO and Fresh-Aire UV. Both offer high-intensity UV fixtures that are highly effective against bacteria and viruses in HVAC applications. The use of UV disinfection products is new to some Kele customers. PURO provided answers to a few frequently asked questions that should help get you up to speed.

How does the PURO OV lighting disinfection system work?

PURO UV disinfecting lighting products, powered by Violet Defense™ technology, use a powerful, broad-spectrum light, including germicidal UV-C, UV-B, and anti-bacterial UV-A to optimize their germ-killing efficiency on both surfaces and airborne particles.

Specifically, UV-C has the ability to kill bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungus. UV-A and UV-B light induce oxidation of proteins and lipids causing cell death.

Broadband UV lamps have also been shown to inhibit photo-reactivation, the process that can result in self-repair of damaging microbes. Utilizing the full spectrum of UV light (UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C) destroys the DNA, RNA, and cell wall of the pathogen, rendering it unable to reproduce.

Which viruses, bacteria, and pathogens do PURO Lighting products kill?

Independent clinical testing confirms PURO Lighting disinfection of viruses, bacteria, and fungal pathogens. PURO’s UV disinfection lights, powered by Violet DefenseTM technology, have been proven to rapidly kill up to 99.9% of Norovirus, C. diff, E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, and C. auris. Per the EPA emerging pathogen guidelines and based on clinical testing completed, the UV lights have efficacy against Class 2 and 3 viruses, including coronaviruses, SARS, Influenza, and Ebola.

Do PURO products require assembly, or can we start using them right out of the box?

PURO’s Helo fixtures come fully assembled and are easily installable by trained electricians. There are a variety of installation methods including pendant hanging, wall, and in-ceiling mounting. The portable Sentry units come with detailed assembly instructions in the user manual for the base stands that allow Sentry units to be moved to wherever they are needed.

How long does PURO Lighting UV disinfection take?

PURO products are designed to run in 15- or 30-minute increments but can be scheduled to run multiple cycles per day depending on your specific need and disinfection rates. Kele or PURO can help you determine the right cycle for your needs.

How long does PURO Lighting UV disinfection last?

Disinfection of your space is recommended once per day, or more often, depending on the exposure and the kind of facility or area being disinfected. Refer to the user manual for more detailed information.

Kele is proud to offer PURO products in its new Disinfection Solutions line. We can work with you to find the solution you need and get the product to you ASAP. Our technical service team is also available to help you through any issue. Shop now, call your Kele sales rep, or Live Chat on kele.com.

Kele Named A 2020 Top Workplace

Posted on by Kele Inc

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL NAMES KELE, INC. A WINNER OF THE MEMPHIS TOP WORKPLACES 2020 AWARD

Kele, Inc., has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2020 honor by The Commercial Appeal. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

“In times of great change, it is more important than ever to maintain a connection among employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward based on real-time insights into what works best for your organization. The Top Workplaces program can be that positive outcome your company can rally around in the coming months to celebrate leadership and the importance of maintaining an employee-focused culture, even during challenging times.”

“For our associates to consider us a Top Workplace in the current environment is invigorating,” said Kele CEO Richard Campbell. “It validates that our culture has been key in helping us grow exponentially these past few years and a key element that will sustain us in the future.”

Campbell also noted that 2020 has been a tough year for many companies. While Kele has experienced a few challenges, he praised teams for showing remarkable flexibility, embracing change with enthusiasm, and sticking together to keep the company moving forward.


About Energage

Energage offers a fully unified SaaS platform, plus support and professional services, to help organizations recruit and retain the right talent. As a B-Corporation founding member, Energage has committed itself to the purpose of making the world a better place to work together. Based on 14 years of culture research, the engine behind 51 Top Workplaces programs across the country, and data gathered from over 20 million employees at 60,000 organizations, Energage has isolated the 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any business and developed the tools and expertise to help organizations measure, shape and showcase their unique culture to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. For more information, please visit energage.com. Follow us on Twitter @teamenergage and Facebook and LinkedIn @energage.

COVID-19 Testing for UV Disinfection Solutions

Posted on by Kele Inc

Kele supplier Fresh-Aire UV shares results

Last month, Kele introduced a new Disinfection Solutions product category featuring ultraviolet (UV) sanitation fixtures. Kele now offers solutions from leading HVAC UV disinfection suppliers Fresh-Aire UV and PURO. Their high-intensity UV fixtures are highly effective against bacteria and viruses.

Fresh-Aire UV recently shared the results from its phase-1, third-party testing of the effectiveness of its products against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The test includes Fresh-Airer UV’s residential, commercial, and healthcare. In the test report titled “SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization by Germicidal UV Light System from Fresh-Aire UV,” the systems delivered greater than 4-log inactivation (>99.99%) on the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 0-2 seconds of exposure to Fresh-Aire UV UVC 254nm light systems.

Inactivates >99.99% of Sars-Cov-2 within 0-2 Seconds!

The testing was conducted by California-based Innovative Bioanalysis a CAP-, CLIA-, and AABB-certified laboratory. The test was designed to model exposure time comparative to inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the moving airstream within the HVAC or ventilation system. Products tested were the Fresh-Aire UV ADSTM (duct-mounted airborne disinfection) for commercial and healthcare applications, Blue-Tube XLTM (HVAC coil and airborne disinfection) for commercial and healthcare applications, and APCO-XTM (HVAC coil and airborne disinfection with VOC/odor reduction) for both residential and commercial applications. Phase-2 testing is currently underway.

“Fresh-Aire UV has been manufacturing proprietary germicidal UV systems for 20 years, and with everything we know about the SARS-CoV-2 virus combined with our testing experience, we were confident our systems would be very effective at inactivating the virus.” according to Aaron Engel, Vice-President of Business Development at Fresh-Aire UV. “We now have independent verification of the successful inactivation of the SARS COVID-19 virus and an even better understanding of how well our disinfection systems perform within the HVAC system, ductwork, and on surfaces.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fresh-Aire UV has been providing UV system recommendations for residential, educational, commercial, and healthcare facilities. Fresh-Aire UV systems were also used in the FDA-sponsored testing of UVC’s ability to disinfect and extend the life of N95 masks as published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Kele is proud to offer Fresh-Aire UV products in its new Disinfection Solutions line. The phase-1 test results further validate its inclusion. Kele has inventory in stock and is ready to work with you to find the solution you need and get product to you ASAP. Our technical service team is also available to help you through any issue. Shop now, call your Kele sales rep, or Live Chat on kele.com.

Monitor CO2 to Keep Buildings Safe and Operational This Season

Posted on by Kele Inc

Monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a new concept for building automation and HVAC contractors. However, this task has entered the spotlight for a new reason: COVID-19. CO2 levels may be a relevant indicator of the potential presence of virial particles in the air.

With concerns about COVID-19 steadily continuing to grow, especially as we enter the holiday season, many customers continue to face the challenge of how to minimize the spread before it can wreak havoc in their buildings. Balancing safety and health with cost-effective solutions can sometimes feel impossible from your customer’s perspective. But as a contractor, being able to deliver both is paramount. CO2 monitoring is one important, and accessible, step.

In fact, a Virginia gym owner did just that. She prioritized safety and health for the members of her gym by working closely with one of her members who is a professor of civil and environmental engineering. Since the owner built the gym herself, she had all the engineering and HVAC documents to outfit her entire space following AHSRAE’s safety precautions.

She found out her hard work paid off after a trainer tested positive for COVID-19 and potentially exposed 50 athletes. Because of her precautions, not a single athlete contracted the virus. So, what did she do? She followed ASHRAE guidelines and calculated how much fresh air via ventilation was needed based on the building’s CO2 detector readings. She increased the amount of ventilation in her gym and kept strict watch over the CO2 sensors/detectors.

This goes to show just how important it is to have effective ventilation and CO2 sensors. Gauging occupancy is important in keeping your customers and their buildings safe and able to operate. It also lets your customer adjust their ventilation needs based on occupancy and therefore save money when occupancy levels coincide with lower levels of fresh air being needed.

An investment on the front end, while sometimes expensive, can help save money in the long run and help keep safety and health first. Two solid options are the Kele brand KCD Series and KCO2 Series. The KCD Series is great for a tight budget and has analog output only, whereas the KCO2 Series is a tad higher end due to its optional relay output, which is used in standalone applications where there may not be an automation system. The onboard relay is what opens or closes the damper (as opposed to the automation system).

Kele can help you regardless of your or your customer’s budget, and we offer a wide variety of high-performing CO2 sensors from several trusted brands in addition to the KDC or KCO2 if they don’t fit your needs. Call our sales team or technical service representatives today or browse our CO2 category on kele.com. (You can even chat with us via our Live Chat.) Kele can get you the parts necessary to help your customers keep their buildings safe and operational.