Case Study: Breaking the IAQ Barrier at James Otis Elementary School, Boston

Executive Summary

James Otis Elementary School, one of Boston’s older public school facilities, faced significant indoor air quality (IAQ) challenges due to limited mechanical ventilation infrastructure. The school did not meet the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 for classroom ventilation and was therefore also unable to comply with the more stringent ASHRAE Standard 241 for infectious aerosol control.

Through the implementation of a combined strategy utilizing classroom-level Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and ceiling-mounted high-capacity HEPA filtration units, the school was able to meet and exceed ASHRAE 241 requirements while simultaneously achieving compliance with ASHRAE 62.1. This approach delivered rapid, cost-effective,
and scalable IAQ improvements without major renovations.