City investing $3.6 million in air purification system improvements across City facilities

HAMILTON, ON – With $3.6 million in funding support through the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (COVID-19 Resilience stream), the City of Hamilton is making air purification improvements across City facilities over the coming months with the goal of improving air quality and reducing airborne and surface contaminants such as bacteria, pollutants and viruses.

Earlier this year, the City completed the installation of in-duct air purification systems at Macassa Lodge and Wentworth Lodge and earlier this week, crews completed system upgrades at City Hall, Lister Block, Provincial Offences Administration (POA) office, and the Red Hill Family Centre in collaboration with CityLAB and participating students.

Through the CityLAB program, Mohawk College students from the Engineering Technology program have been able to gain hands on experience with in-person monitoring, sampling of equipment, ensuring performance standards, collecting data from the web-based systems, and auditing for new installations at the long-term care facilities, City Hall, Lister Block, POA and Red Hill Family Centre and others.

Following the completion of this phase of work, the City will use the remaining funds to support improvements at additional City-owned facilities across Hamilton with a focus on areas that serve vulnerable populations, high occupancies and where activities take place that are at higher risk of infectious aerosol particle generation such as senior centres, recreation centres and arenas.

A tender for the remaining improvements at City facilities as part of this federal investment is expected to be released later this year, with all improvements being completed by December 2023.

Quick Facts

• REME LED air purification systems are Health Canada approved and work by absorbing moisture and converting it into low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor which helps to sterilize the air by removing bacteria, pollutants, allergens, and toxins. In addition to its capability to eliminate airborne allergens from the air, benefits of installing air purification systems on site include relieving asthma symptoms, odor neutralization and improved sleep quality.