Cranston Uses New Chemical-Free Technology To Disinfect Schools

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston Public Schools rolled out new technology district wide that disinfects classrooms without the use of harmful chemicals, school officials said Friday.

The school district partnered with biosafety technology company R-Zero to roll out the new UV-C disinfection technology. School officials said the implementation is part of Cranston’s commitment to improving student engagement and enabling a higher standard of health and safety in every school building across Rhode Island’s second-largest district.

On Monday, August 29, Cranston Public Schools welcomed over 11,000 students and staff back to classrooms for the 2022-2023 school year. In preparation for students' return to school, the district deployed 18 Arc UV-C systems across the district's 26 schools. Currently used by more than 1,000 schools across the country, Cranston is the first district in Rhode Island to use this technology.

School officials said the change was made in part by the coronavirus pandemic affecting in-person learning and highlighting a need to make school buildings healthier for students and staff. Policymakers are now highlighting the role of healthy buildings in education, as seen with the release of the federal government's National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and the EPA’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge earlier this year.

"As a district, we've long been committed to innovating the physical learning environment with the goal of keeping our students engaged," said Edward Collins, the chief of facilities at Cranston Public Schools. "Adding R-Zero’s UV-C technology to our already robust health and safety protocols provides our district with a more effective, efficient and safer way of maintaining healthier indoor learning environments."

School officials said R-Zero’s Arc device allows the district to disinfect air and surfaces, without the use of harmful chemicals, while still eliminating 99.99 percent of air and surface microorganisms in just 7 minutes.

"We applaud Cranston Public Schools for taking a leading role in creating physical learning environments that promote greater health and achievement for all students," R-Zero CEO Grant Morgan said. "The addition of R-Zero’s sustainable biosafety technology is a testament to Cranston’s commitment to the health and performance of their students. We are proud to support Cranston Public Schools in creating safer indoor learning environments that will pay dividends long beyond the pandemic."