What is the best humidifier for kindergarten? How to choose an infection protection device for a kindergarten or school. Optimal indoor microclimate

Description of the problem

Humidity is one of the main air parameters that has a significant impact on humans. Insufficient air humidity leads to loss of moisture in a person, resulting in dry skin, dry mouth, headache, children's bodies are especially sensitive to humidity. At low humidity levels, the baby's mucous membrane becomes covered with microcracks, making it easier for bacteria and viruses to enter the baby's blood. In an insufficiently humidified room, dust circulation occurs much more intensely. The required humidity cannot be obtained in our climate, especially in winter, when air humidity can drop below 20%, so there is a need to use a humidifier.

Contrary to popular misconceptions, dry air is not caused by batteries. Relative air humidity drops when heated due to the fact that the maximum possible moisture content of the air increases, while the mass of water vapor in the air remains unchanged.

Considering the frequency of ventilation and the size of the premises in kindergartens, it is impossible to achieve the required air humidity using such obsolete methods as frequent wet cleaning or hanging wet rags on radiators. A regular home humidifier will also not provide sufficient performance.

Standard terms

According to SANPIN 2.4.1.3049-13 optimal humidity air in kindergartens and schools should be 40-60%.
Solutions options
Ultrasonic humidifiers are ideal for use in kindergartens and schools. Check with our specialists for the required humidifier performance.

Such humidifiers have a number of advantages:
Easy to install, maintain and operate;
They are compact in size and fit harmoniously into the room;
They have no external moving elements and are safe for children;
They use electrical energy economically;
It is not safe to use steam generators in children's rooms, since the temperature of the steam is quite high and it is necessary to provide protection against it coming into contact with children.

Humidification systems high pressure It is inconvenient to use in kindergartens, since there is not enough space to accommodate nozzles and a high-pressure piping system.

An ultrasonic humidifier is installed anywhere in the room, the mist is sprayed by a fan from the device, and water is poured into a special tank. The humidifier operates from a 220 V network. To start working, just fill the humidifier tank with water, plug the device into the network, set required humidity and put it to work.

It is advisable to use soft water in humidifiers. Long-term use of hard water that has not been purified from salts leads to the formation of limescale, and requires regular cleaning of ceramic discs. The use of untreated water leads to premature wear of ceramic resonators and the ultrasonic emitter.

Optimal indoor microclimate

With the birth of a child, we immediately think about the microclimate in the house and try to create the most comfortable conditions for the baby. Common truths, replicated in paediatrics brochures, say that the air in a children's room should have a humidity of at least 40% (ideally 50-60%) and a temperature no higher than 22° C (ideally 19-20 ° C). After taking care of the baby at home, it seems to us that we have done everything necessary.

The danger of dry air in kindergartens

The child grows up, spending more and more time outside the home: first, educational clubs for the little ones, then preparatory groups kindergarten, and finally, most children begin their first independentI am life in kindergarten. Some are sent to a nursery group from the age of 3, while others begin to attend kindergarten to prepare for school. By placing our child in the care of the kindergarten staff, we believe that all conditions have been created for him: educational activities with teachers, games, nap, Three meals a day. We monitor this very closely, but for some reason we completely forget about another important point in the health and development of our child - the microclimate of the room where he spends most of the day. Unfortunately, the vast majority of child care institutions do not monitor this. In winter in battery groups central heating heated to the limit, the air temperature can reach 27-30° C, the rooms are ventilated little and rarely (if this happens at all), and there is no need to talk about air humidity in such conditions. But we know that viruses spread instantly in dry and warm air; it has been proven that the influenza virus also actively multiplies in such conditions. Everyone is familiar with the situation when inattentive parents bring a child with the first signs of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory infections to kindergarten, and then half the group falls ill. For children with allergies, their health may worsen, since at low humidity, dust does not settle on surfaces that can be regularly wiped by a nanny, but is constantly in dry air.

How to choose a humidifier for kindergarten

What to do? While concern for air quality in children's institutions has not become part of federal program Child Welfare, take the situation into your own hands. Each group has a parent committee that resolves pressing issues of the children's group. In general, not much is required; first, install a thermohygrometer in the group (special measuring device, which records the temperature and humidity of the air in the room), it will help you figure out how serious the situation is, and what parameters to focus on when choosing a humidifier.

So the first one ( perfect option): thermostats are installed on the batteries in the group, with the help of which the teachers make sure that the room is not very hot, the group is constantly ventilated. In this case, you can installThere are two types of air humidifiers: an ultrasonic air humidifier or an air washer.

The second option (the most common): there are no thermostats on batteries, the room is rarely ventilated. Only . can cope here.
The fact is that the performance of an ultrasonic humidifier does not depend on the conditions external environment, it releases a certain amount of moisture from itself in the form of fog. Performance depends on it technical characteristics(membrane oscillation speed, water tank volume, fan power that expels water mist outside, etc.). Considering all these and other parameters, most companies indicate general indicator device performance, measured in g/h; the higher it is, the more efficiently the device humidifies the air, and the more large area he can serve.
Plain water from the tap may turn out to be quite hard, and since the teacher’s assistant will not have the opportunity to pour bottled or filtered water into the humidifier, it is better to take care in advance of purchasing an anti-calcium cartridge, which is inserted inside the device and prevents sediment and impurities from escaping along with water mist out .

To prevent children from reaching the device, it is better to install the humidifier outside the children's play area, or on high level, for example, on a shelf.
Well, all that remains is to choose a humidifier that will not only effectively humidify the air in the kindergarten group, but will also be able to decorate it.

Good afternoon, today the parent committee suggested buying an air humidifier for the kindergarten. Everyone received it with a bang. I'm concerned about how safe this device is. I am afraid that this, on the contrary, will lead to an increase in diseases of the lungs and bronchi. After all, children will breathe all this air after humidifying the rooms, and in the water there may be an unknown number of microbes, salts, and some other impurities. In addition, they want to buy this humidifier for the entire kindergarten, which means transferring it from group to group, and I’m afraid this will lead to the accumulation of even more viruses in the water, which the children will then receive with humidification. On the Internet I found not only positive but also negative reviews from the use of these devices, for example: - you are right about bacteria and impurities in the air from the humidifier. Salts from the fog of the humidifier penetrate into all the cracks. They also accumulate in the lungs, and when you stop using the humidifier, they irritate and dry out the mucous membranes for some time. There are already plenty of bacteria in the water being poured. Most of them are relatively harmless iron bacteria, but there are also plenty of dangerous pneumobacteria. Officer on duty, there are different types of bacteria, and you won’t always smell them when the device is operating. Humidifiers cannot be cleaned sufficiently, especially the tank, and any cleaning of them is a very inconvenient task that can ruin them. The mucus from the tank cannot be completely cleaned out, no matter how hard you try. Desavid cannot be poured into a humidifier. - My friend had an air humidifier, they actively used it, her daughter began to have attacks of obstructive bronchitis, after 2-3 attacks they removed the humidifier, there was no more obstruction... I’m also somehow afraid of the washer and humidifier, maybe it’s okay excess humidity... Ventilate more often, fortunately we have a small town, the environment allows... - A couple of weeks after buying an air washer and installing it in the nursery, the child began to develop yellow snot. Then green. Then with blood. Then 38.8, some kind of infection, we are treated with antibiotics. My husband has bronchitis and is on antibiotics. I’m 37 weeks, I have a cough, I don’t know how to treat it yet, I’ll call the doctor tomorrow. So I’m sinning with the humidifier, before we didn’t have such health problems! My husband wasn’t sick with anything like that at all - we began to sleep better with the humidifier, but we started coughing right away (((and a day later the snot started to come out very strongly and was immediately green... So I’m thinking about linking this together or just a coincidence. And there are many similar reviews. What is most troubling is that this idea was voiced by a mother whose son coughs in kindergarten until he vomits and loses his breath. ..But she proudly declares that they have this device at home and the son breathes normally at home, so the reason for the cough in kindergarten is the lack of this device. But looking at her son, I have doubts, because no one else in the group coughs like that, and in general, our other children hardly cough. Please give clarification whether this device can be used in a kindergarten or am I rightly afraid of buying this device? Thank you in advance. -- Thank you for your attention.

Special points to consider when choosing air purifiers and humidifiers for child care facilities.

What do you need to know about air and purification devices when choosing equipment for childcare facilities?

Air disinfection devices are mandatory for installation only in medical offices. Installation of air purifiers in kindergarten groups is recommended sanitary doctors, but is not required. Therefore, most often, their purchase is carried out by parents.
Devices must have certificates of conformity. Certificates of registration for medical equipment are not required when installing devices in bedrooms and playrooms.
When selecting an air purifier, it is necessary to take into account that a large number of children in the same room complicates the task of air disinfection. Choose devices with a large performance reserve.
The rate of spread of infection and the severity of the disease depend on the number of viruses that have entered the human body and the readiness of the immune system to resist pathogens.
Air purification devices can reduce the concentration of pathogenic microflora in the indoor atmosphere several times. These devices have long been used in healthcare settings and significantly reduce the risk of infection transmission. But there are no devices capable of 100% purifying the air of viruses and bacteria in a room where people are present.
During epidemics, air disinfection devices can significantly reduce the likelihood of the spread of disease, but it is equally important to ensure a healthy atmosphere in rooms where children are present for a long time throughout the year. This will strengthen the body's defenses. Viruses attack everyone, but not everyone gets sick, and those who get sick experience the disease differently.
The dirty air of city streets and especially indoors weakens the immune system. Clean air strengthens.
Rospotrebnadzor has determined the following parameters for preschool children's organizations air environment. (SAHPIN 2.4.1.3049-13) The air temperature in the playroom is not lower than 21 C. The bedroom is not lower than 19 C. Relative humidity is 40-60%. The air exchange rate is 1.5-2.5. Airing for 10 minutes every 1.5 hours. Concentration harmful substances air in rooms with constant presence of children should not exceed maximum permissible concentrations (MPC). These norms are not always observed for various reasons. This is especially true for ventilation and maintaining the required humidity.

What air purification devices can be used in kindergartens and schools?

medical bactericidal ultraviolet irradiators - recirculators.
medical photocatalytic air purifiers
household and industrial air purification devices including ionizers.
household and industrial air humidifiers.
medical air humidifiers with volumetric disinfection function.

Each type of device has its own advantages and disadvantages. Read more below

Bactericidal recirculator or UV irradiator closed type.

A bactericidal recirculator or closed-type UV irradiator is a medical device for disinfecting air in the presence of people. Used throughout hospitals. The most popular in kindergartens. The action is based on ultraviolet irradiation of air passing through the chamber under the influence of fans.

Very simple to implement. They consist of a housing, ultraviolet spectrum lamps, a fan, power supplies and control units. As a rule, they have a lamp operating time counter. Thanks to the protective screen, ultraviolet rays do not escape beyond the device. Lamps must be replaced after 8000 - 9000 hours.

Irradiators OPEN type differ in the absence of fans and the absence of a protective screen in the case. The action is based on direct irradiation of the entire volume of air in the room in the absence of people. It is not advisable to use such devices in children's institutions.

Advantages of bactericidal recirculators

They have been used in medical institutions for a long time. There are Roszdravnadzor certificates for all devices
High level of consumer confidence.
Easy to maintain.
High rates of air purification from viruses and bacteria
Ultraviolet rays can neutralize some toxic chemicals.
When air is irradiated, the ion balance is restored.

Disadvantages of bactericidal recirculators

It is necessary to change lamps after 8000-9000 hours. (1 year of continuous work)
They do not remove dust, aerosols, mold spores and some bacteria from the air.
Low efficiency in purifying air from toxic pollutants chemical compounds.

Bactericidal recirculators different manufacturers have virtually no significant differences. All use standard 15 and 30 watt lamps and commercially available fans for system units. The main differences between different devices brands- price and design of the case.

Photocatalytic air purifiers.

Photocatalytic cleaner is relative the new kind devices used for air purification and disinfection in medical institutions, industry and at home. The principle of operation is the oxidation and destruction of microorganisms and toxic chemical compounds on a catalyst under the influence of ultraviolet rays. They have a wider spectrum of action than UV recirculators. Cleaning is carried out in the presence of people. All photocatalytic cleaners have dust filters.

Pros of photocatalytic air purifiers.

Used in medical institutions. Some devices have Roszdravnadzor certificates.
High rates of air purification from viruses, bacteria, mold spores.
They purify the air from most toxic chemical compounds.
Cleans the air from dust and aerosols.
When air is purified, the ion balance is restored

Cons of photocatalytic air purifiers.

Dust filters need to be changed every 4 to 12 months. (depending on model)

Spraying disinfectant solutions in the presence of people - comparatively new way combating airborne infections. The technology is simple and effective. Water containing active components is sprayed using an ultrasonic humidifier. Silver ions or ozone dissolved in water are used as a disinfectant. To date, Roszdravnadzor has approved only devices using silver ions (Aquacom humidifiers) for use in medical institutions. The effectiveness of this equipment has been confirmed by numerous clinical studies.

The main advantage of these technologies is that processing is carried out simultaneously throughout the entire volume of the room.

The second significant advantage is that these devices are able to maintain the required humidity in the room.

The disadvantages include the need for daily maintenance - adding water.

How do medical devices differ from household devices?

Medical devices have certificates confirming their effectiveness against the tested types of bacteria and viruses.
Medical devices typically have more low productivity than household ones at the same price.
Household appliances have more cleaning stages.
Household appliances have a more modern and high-quality design and more modern system management.
AND Appliances and medically safe for use in the presence of children.

How to choose a device for a specific room?

An air purifier can only effectively purify the air in the room where it is installed.
The performance of the device must correspond to the volume of the room. Manufacturers of medical equipment recommend passing the entire volume of room air through a recirculator once in one hour. But in kindergartens the population density is very high. Several times more than in hospitals. Therefore, it is worth increasing the air circulation rate. The more air passes through the device, the lower the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in the air will be. According to various estimates, the optimal rate of air circulation through the device is from 1 to 3. I.e. the entire volume of air should pass through the device one to three times per hour. For example. Volume game room 100 cubic meters. You need a device with a capacity of 100 to 300 m3 per hour.
Two devices with a capacity of 50 m3/h. located in different places rooms are better than one per 100 m3/h.

Mobile or stationary.

This can be dangerous because... the device is within reach of children. Children can try playing with it. The device is not very stable, and most recirculators have mercury lamps installed inside them.
We know from experience that a mobile device does not actually move during operation. When purchasing, many expect that the staff will move it from room to room after the children, but this does not happen. The device is located in one corner, and is not always turned on, because... They forget to turn it on after moving.
A mobile device takes up a lot of space.
A mobile device is more expensive than a stationary one. Often for the same money you can buy two stationary ones.
The air disinfection device does NOT have an immediate effect. He needs time to clear the air. It is better for the device to work constantly.
As experience shows, disinfection devices that no one moves or touches work most effectively, i.e. according to the “set it and forget it” principle.

How often should the air disinfection device be turned on?

The air purifier must operate continuously in the presence of people. People breathe continuously and exhale viruses and bacteria along with the air.

The best option would be to install a device with a weekly timer. The device will turn on itself in the morning and turn off in the evening, skipping the weekend. And you will only need to approach such a device to replace lamps or filters.

Unfortunately, most medical devices do not have daily or weekly timers, and only a few can operate from an external timer. It is better not to turn off such devices, otherwise they will forget to turn it on.

If you do not find the question you are interested in on our website, please send it to us by email.

Unfortunately, almost all children who start going to kindergarten get sick. Typically in gardens the air does not circulate and is not purified(only periodic, often insufficient, ventilation through the windows). Stagnant air, stuffiness, heat, increased level carbon dioxide– an ideal environment for the rapid spread of bacteria and viruses.

For a child to breathe, it is necessary not less than 20 m 3 / h of air, accordingly, with an average number of children and staff in a group of 20 people, the minimum air exchange rate is 400 m 3 /h. Due to natural ventilation through cracks in transoms and vents (inflow no more than 5-10 m 3 / h through 1 window) provide even minimum rate inflow is impossible. Full ventilation of the room every hour open windows, especially in the cold season, is dangerous for the health of children. Typically, kindergarten premises are ventilated only when children are out for a walk - 1-2 times a day, in cold and hot weather for only a few minutes, so that the air in the room has time to warm up/cool down before the children return.

How can I solve this problem?

1. Install supply ventilation (ventilators) of sufficient capacity, equipped with filters with the maximum level of air purification

Supply ventilation constantly supplies fresh air to the room. In the cold season, you can turn on the air heating to comfortable temperature. The ventilators are equipped with fine air filters that prevent the smallest particles of dust, pollen, viruses, allergens, bacteria, carcinogens, exhaust gases and other harmful substances, as well as odors from entering the room. The internal walls of the device are heat and noise insulated.

In this way to the kindergarten premises fresh, clean air rich in oxygen will constantly enter, desired temperature . Air exchange will improve: forced ventilation stimulates the operation of the hood.

Why will children get sick less? Bacteria, viruses and other harmful substances will not linger indoors. Thanks to constant air circulation, the supply of clean air, normalization of CO 2 levels, the overall microclimate in the room will become healthy. Children will feel better and have stronger immunity simply by breathing clean, fresh air. For children's institutions, we primarily offer a breatherRoyal Clima Brezza with medical grade cleaning supply air, which has successfully proven itself in the market.

2. Use an air washer

In winter, the absolute moisture content in the street air is low, and when heating radiators are operating, the relative humidity drops to minimum values. Why is it dangerous? low humidity? The mucous membranes, which have the function of counteracting harmful viruses and bacteria, lose several times their effectiveness, which contributes to the development of infections and respiratory diseases,According to SanPin with requirements for the work of preschool educational institutions, relative air humidity in rooms with children should be 40-60%. However, during heating season humidity itself does not rise above 20-30%.

Will help solve this problem air washing, which not only increases the humidity level, but also cleans the room of dust, pollen, unpleasant odors. In car washes, unlike ultrasonic humidifiers, used traditional principle evaporation of water, so they are completely safe. The sink is easy to use: just add water to it regularly and periodically wash the drum.

3. Buy an air purifier/disinfectant

The cleaner is intended for continuous prevention from infectious diseases . It protects the room from all infections, allergens, toxins, harmful substances and odors. There are many air purifiers on the market, but for kindergartens we recommend Tion Clever, the cleaning and disinfection class in which complies with sanitary standards. We do not consider purchasing an air purifier mandatory. for all kindergartens - this is advisable if the administration does not allow the installation of ventilators (in this case, the purifier is extremely necessary for the relative normalization of the microclimate).

In Tion Clever no ultraviolet lamps– accordingly, there are no risks associated with them (harmful radiation, risk of mercury leakage, need for special disposal of the lamp). Thanks to low level noise - quieter than the ticking of a clock - the purifier can be placed in the bedroom.

The disinfectant will attract all bacteria, viruses, spores to its filters, and purify the air of all types of contaminants. Viruses and bacteria of all types are not only disinfected on filters with an efficiency of 99.9%, but are also completely destroyed. This a sterile system whose filters will never become a source of infection, regardless of operating time.

Installing a purifier or sink- a simpler event, since such a device only needs to be hung on the wall or placed on the floor, and plugged into an outlet, and for ventilator installation you need to drill a hole in the wall. This procedure does not require approval.

Devices work most effectively when combined. Supply unit saturates the room with fresh, clean air. Air washing supports optimal level humidity and cleans the room from dust. The disinfectant purifies and sterilizes the air in the room at a deeper level. These devices will create a favorable microclimate in kindergarten and significantly reduce the incidence of illness in children.