New Air Circulation Systems Installed in MC Buildings

New air purifier systems in Mississippi College buildings this fall will eliminate mold and mildew as well as harmful airborne particles.

It’s another powerful tool as MC leaders seek to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amid a worldwide health emergency.

Indoor air cleaning in residence halls on the Clinton campus, as well as academic buildings, is an initiative that MC officials added to their stringent health protocols in place. That includes required mask-wearing, social distancing, numerous hand sanitizer stations across campus, and temperature checks.

One of the nation’s premier companies in the field, Plasma Air solutions are installed in buildings utilize bipolar ionization technology to purify indoor air at the source of contamination. Bipolar ions will effectively destroy bacteria and virus cells. As a result, the procedure reduces the risk of disease and virus cells.

Tom Williams, executive director of campus operations, is staying on top of developments. Equipment for classroom buildings should arrive by early November and be completed by the end of the month. Ward Mechanical Equipment of Ridgeland is doing the work after recently completing several residence halls.

“The needlepoint bipolar ionization system is designed to kill mold, mildew, and viruses,” Williams said. “This will make the air quality in each building much better.”

Air quality ionization units will soon be installed in all academic buildings and several additional buildings, including the Baptist Healthplex and at MC Law School in downtown Jackson. Residence halls at the Christian university serving MC students became the first priority addressed on the list.

Cost of the equipment and installation is about $308,000, says Laura Jackson, the university’s chief financial officer.

Mississippi College is paying for the project with available dollars from federal sources supplied to states to combat the spread of the deadly virus. The federal CARES Act established the $150 billion Coronavirus Fund to support all 50 states, including assistance for higher education.

Many colleges are stepping up improvements to air quality in campus buildings. In August, officials with Plasma Air announced its ionization systems will be installed at 16,000-student Rochester Institution of Technology in New York. Officials say it is a preventative measure on the 1,300-acre campus against the coronavirus.

The company’s systems were installed for the world’s largest meatpackers in USA plants, in India’s railways, and other facilities as new research shows clean air prevents the spread of COVID-19.