An essential part of a salon or spa’s ambiance is a comfortable and enticing climate. Indoor air temperature, quality, and ventilation is a large part of that environment, and it takes the right equipment to make it all come seamlessly together. Here’s what you need to know about your salon or spa’s air quality and climate control system so your clients can enjoy their services in a relaxing atmosphere.
What the HVAC?
Known as the technology of indoor environmental comfort, HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Like with many commercial businesses, HVAC is an essential part of any salon, spa, nail, brow or lash studio to provide thermal comfort and improve indoor air quality. With functions that are entirely interrelated, a good HVAC system will regulate temperature and humidity using fresh air from outdoors.
The building your salon or spa is located within may have an HVAC system that was previously installed. While it may be appropriate for some businesses, a standard HVAC system might not be the right one for your needs. In order to improve indoor air quality, your HVAC system may need to be redesigned or augmented to handle the unique air quality issues of your business. Your salon or spa will likely need a combination of a well-designed general HVAC system, a source capture system, and a professional-grade air purifier.
Ventilation
The process of exchanging or replacing air, ventilation provides high indoor air quality. The process involves temperature control, oxygen replenishment, and removal of moisture, heat, odors, airborne bacteria, smoke, dust, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Ventilation also introduces outside air, keeps the interior air circulating, and prevents it from becoming stagnant. Ventilation is one of the most critical factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings of any size.
Ventilation systems will vary greatly by design and cost. It’s advised to purchase a system that falls within your budget and works best for your business’ needs. Not every salon needs to buy the same system and not every salon will look the same after the installation is completed.
Source Capture System
It’s also advisable to have an exhaust system that can provide for proper ventilation where required. In the case of a nail salon, for example, the installation would be suggested at each workstation or table.
Designed to capture vapor and dust particles at the source, a source capture system extracts these particles from the breathing zone. According to the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), source capture systems are the most effective way to remove salon dust and vapors from the air. Published by the PBA, the Safety Guidelines for Controlling and Minimizing Inhalation Exposure to Nail Products outlines that source capture systems should draw 50 cubic feet per minute of airflow at a minimum when measured six inches from where the dust and vapors are released.
Air Purifiers
If explicitly designed for a salon or spa, a standalone air purifier may be useful for providing fresh air and removing much of the orders, fumes, and airborne particles not removed by the source capture system. These air cleaners are usually outfitted with HEPA (High Energy Particulate Air Filters), which are designed to remove vapors and dust in the air near the unit.
Filtering Systems
Many experts recommend installing a multi-stage filtration system to improve indoor air quality. In such a case, the layer of filters should include a pre-filter to remove the large particles and a HEPA filter or an electronically enhanced filter, sometimes called E-HEPA filters, for smaller particles. The third filter should be an activated carbon filter to rid the smallest particles. Special HVAC filters designed with replaceable activated carbon panels and electrostatic dust filtering material are recommended, which will remove residual salon vapor and dust not captured by a source capture system or by a room air purifier.
Heating
Heaters are appliances designed to generate warmth, aka heat, for the building or space. Heat can be provided through central heating using a furnace, boiler or heat pump to heat water, steam or air in a centralized location like a furnace room in a smaller building or structure, or a mechanical room in a large building. From there, the heat is transferred utilizing convection, conduction, or radiation and that heat keeps your facility warm during the cooler months of the year and times of the day. The type of heating that’s best for your facility depends on its location, size, configuration, and need based on outside temperatures and the number of people inside.
Air Conditioning
An air conditioner or air conditioning system provides cooling and humidity control for all or part of a building. Cooling is the transfer of heat energy utilizing radiation, conduction or convection. In the case of a conventional split system, air conditioning happens by taking advantage of a physical law: when a liquid converts to a gas, it absorbs heat, and when a gas turns to liquid, it releases heat. In simple terms, air conditioning systems use these principles to move heat from indoors to outdoors using a closed loop of pipes to circulate a refrigerant. Within this system is a compressor to convert the compound to a gas to heat and an expansion valve to turn it back to liquid and release heat. The refrigerant chills the indoor air, and the resulting gas is continually compressed and cooled for conversion back to a liquid again.
It’s important to use the right type and size of air conditioning unit or system for your facility based on its location, size, configuration, and amount of heat emitted from warm bodies, equipment, and various thermal appliances. An undersized system will not provide sufficient cooling when needed while an oversized air conditioner will often cause issues with humidity. If your air conditioning system is too powerful, it will tend to cycle on and off more often and not remain on long enough to remove moisture from the air. Controlling humidity in a salon or spa is critical. High humidity can make your facility uncomfortable to be in but can serve as a breeding ground for contaminants including mold, mildew, and bacteria. If different pollutants are circulating through your salon or spa, people sensitive to irritants may begin to experience allergic reactions and could develop other illnesses.
Inadequate ventilation can also cause excess humidity. A qualified HVAC installer or technician can correct this problem for you by re-routing ductwork or even adding makeup air.
Dehumidification
A dehumidifier is an air-conditioner or air-conditioner-like device that controls the humidity inside of a facility. An evaporator provides dehumidification or air drying in an air conditioning system. Moisture that lingers in the air condenses on the evaporator coil tubes is collected at the bottom in a pan and then removed into a central drain or onto the ground outside.
Because an air conditioning system moves heat between the indoor and outdoor coils, it’s important to keep both clean. In addition to replacing the evaporator coil air filter, it’s also necessary to clean the condenser coil on a regular basis. Failure to keep the condenser clean may harm the compressor.
Energy Efficiency
Since the ‘80s, manufacturers of HVAC equipment have been creating more efficient systems. Driven initially by rising energy costs, more recently energy-saving efforts have been inspired by an increased awareness of environmental issues. Also, improvements to HVAC efficiency can help improve the health and productivity of the occupants of the building or space, which is a win for any business.
Installation
Before you begin your HVAC, source capture system, and air purifier installation or augmentation, make sure to review your lease and consult with your landlord for any terms or conditions that will govern construction and renovation projects on the leased property. If needed, consult with an attorney for help reviewing or interpreting your lease.
Be sure to hire a qualified professional that understands what is required and can provide you with the services you need. Locate an architect, a mechanical engineer or contractor and interview more than one professional for each service required. The Blue Book Network of Commercial Construction is a good online resource for locating mechanical contractors.
Look for a licensed contractor who communicates well and answers all of your questions. Make sure they have experience with ventilation systems that require source capture ventilation. After selecting your professional, have them provide you with a written and detailed contract and estimate, a copy of their liability and worker’s compensation insurance policies, plus the building permit and plans if required for your area. Once the installation is complete, ask for a signed certification from a ventilation professional showing your business meets any ventilation requirements for your area.
Maintenance
Be sure to have your HVAC, source capture system, and air purifier equipment serviced regularly. A qualified HVAC company can assess your system and advise you on how to improve indoor air quality. They can design a system to meet your unique needs and provide you with preventative maintenance services that can ensure the proper operation of your system and the comfort of your clients and staff.
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