News Post

UNIS Hanoi Air Monitoring System

With the rise in AQI level in Hanoi, we want to address concerns over how UNIS Hanoi monitors the air quality and our AQI procedures.

The air monitoring station that UNIS Hanoi uses is known as the AQM 65. This is a fully integrated air monitoring station that continuously monitors common air pollutants particulate matter or TSP (Total Suspended Particles) PM 10 to PM 2.5 which are part of multiple equations that produce the AQI or Air Quality Index. Our station is serviced regularly to ensure optimal readings. The latest service was conducted last week and ESS (Environmental Source Samplers) has informed us that our data can be trusted.

With that, we realize there are still some questions regarding differences in readings, reporting, etc. It is important to note that when comparing to the the readings at the US Embassy, UNIS Hanoi is 500m away from the Vo chi Cong highway, which means we are not greatly affected by the highway when the wind blows from the east. Our station is also located on the roof level of our Sports Centre so the intake is measured at 12m above the ground. Due to the location of UNIS Hanoi, we tend to experience better air quality than other areas in Hanoi. The data provided by our equipment is an average over the past hour of posting. UNIS Hanoi posts every hour at 11 minutes past the hour. You can review our readings here tso.unishanoi.org . It is worth noting that the at-home versions of measuring tools are not calibrated to the concentration levels of their location. They also do not have the capacity to measure all the various particulates necessary to produce the same results that the AQM 65 does.

The UNIS Hanoi AQI station is regarded as a standard of reference in Hanoi. In fact, the Vietnamese government has recently recommended that one of its consultants work with the school to validate his AQI readings.

To ensure that even on bad air days, our classroom air is filtered, UNIS Hanoi has equipped each room with a Blue Air machine. The operations department maintains these machines and changes out the air filters on an annual basis or sooner if indicated. Our operations staff is also working to ensure all of our teachers understand how the machines work and the optimal location for placement in a room. In addition, rooms are spot checked for indoor air quality levels to ensure the filters are performing as designed.

The school has stringent procedures that we follow to ensure that as the air quality levels change throughout the day, the health of the students is not compromised. Please view our guidelines  here

Misty Shipley
Director of Finance and Operations

Director of Finance and Operations