The Peipon School in Porvoo Finland was built in 1975 and has 49 staff members and 409 students. The school was suffering from “sick building syndrome” as a result of mold growing inside the walls.

Case: Porvoo Peipon school, Finland

Unit: Genano 310

Location: Classrooms and Offices

Problem: "Sick Building Syndrome” - As a result of the poor indoor air quality people complained of the following symptoms:

* Headaches

* Itchy and watery eyes

* Skin irritation and congested sinuses.

Students also had trouble breathing and concentrating. Staff sick leaves were increasing at an alarming rate. Teachers could only teach for 30 minutes in a class before having to open a window and circulate the air in the room from the outside.

The Porvoo inspector for the Finnish Occupational Health and Safety Office inspected the school after numerous parental and staff complaints. Upon completing his inspection he declared that unless the air quality is improved the school must be shut down.

The solution: The city of Porvoo decided to renovate the school and cut out the infected problems. However, they needed to improve the air quality immediately so classes could continue and the students and staff were protected.

After evaluating several air cleaning options, the city purchased Ten (10)Genano 310 units to protect the staff and students during the renovations. The school placed 1 Genano unit in each trouble area and moved them around the school as needed.

The results: One (1) week after the units were installed all symptoms among the staff and students cleared up. Sick leaves among the staff dropped dramatically.

The city did not have to close the school.

NOTE: School maintenance staff commented that the units were easy to care for and easy to move when they were needed in other parts of the school.  The staff also voiced concern about what would happen when the renovations were completed and the city of Porvoo moved the units to another troubled building in their district.  They had come to rely on Genano to protect them in their working environment.