Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
ASME Awards
Medistar for
Indoor Air
Filter System
How Camfil
Views the
Industrial Air
Filter Market
Post COVID
Camfil Compares
N 95 Respirator
to Air Filters
and
Recommends Use
of the MERV A
Value
Blueair
Purifiers Used
In Every Room at
Page8 Hotel
Air Purifiers
Can Help Fight
COVID-19 if They
Have the Right
Features
NBC List of Best
Air Purifiers to
Shop in 2020
___________________________________________________________________________
ASME Awards
Medistar for
Indoor Air
Filter System
The American
Society of
Mechanical
Engineers
(ASME) has
named Medistar
Corporation as
one of five 2020
Emerging
Technology Award
Recipients for
inventing
the Integrated
Viral Protection
(IVP
Air) Biodefense
Indoor Air
Protection
System™. IVP Air
is a division of
Houston-based
Medistar Corp.
IVP’s new
Biodefense
Indoor Air
Protection
System is proven
to destroy
SARS-CoV-2
(99.999%),
anthrax spores
(99.98%), and
other airborne
pathogens
instantaneously,
in a single
pass. The IVP
HVAC filter can
be installed in
existing
residential or
commercial
ventilation
systems. The
United States
Center for
Disease Control
reports that the
airborne virus
can travel up to
18 to 20 feet
and can be
suspended in the
air as a
contagious virus
for over 18
hours. Research
also shows that
circulating the
cleanest air
possible in a
room will help
decrease the
spread of
COVID-19.
“Our entire IVP
team is elated
to be recognized
for our
achievement in
creating a
medical
technology that
addresses the
coronavirus
pandemic by such
a reputable and
reliable source
as ASME,” said
Dr. Garrett
Peel, founding
partner of IVP.
“Using science
and technology
effectively is
what will lead
us through and
out of this
public health
crisis. This
invention by
Monzer Hourani
offers people of
all ages the
ability to
breathe with
confidence,
knowing that the
spread of
airborne
COVID-19 is
being mitigated.
Our systems are
being installed
inside
performance
centers,
schools, office
buildings,
hospitals,
restaurants,
gyms, convention
centers, hotels,
and places of
worship.”
The IVP system
was designed by
IVP founder and
inventor Monzer
Hourani, who has
a background in
physics,
science, and
engineering.
Hourani is also
the founder and
chief executive
officer of
Medistar Corp.
He developed the
advanced
biodefense
system in
partnership with
Dr. Garrett
Peel, co-founder
of IVP; Dr.
Zhifeng Ren,
director of the
Superconductivity
Center of Texas
at the
University of
Houston; and
other scientists
at the UTMB
Galveston
National Lab and
University of
Texas A&M
Engineering and
Experiment
Station.
“The COVID-19
pandemic
derailed the
best-laid plans
for 2020. And
yet, the
response from
the engineering
community has
been
remarkable,”
commented Tom
Costabile, ASME
executive
director and
CEO. “The
editors of Mechanical
Engineering magazine
spotlight these
technologists as
all of us at
ASME celebrate
engineers
everywhere who
have applied
their heads and
their hearts to
meet real human
needs this
year.”
How Camfil Views
the Industrial
Air Filter
Market Post
COVID
In the following
paragraphs
Camfil weighs in
on how
Industrial Air
Filter
Manufacturers
are Re-Thinking
the
Post-COVID-19
Workplace.
While it might
be a long time
before we have a
full
understanding of
how exactly the
virus SARS-CoV-2
spread COVID-19
through cities
and communities,
what we do know
is sufficient
for commercial,
industrial, and
retail operators
to begin work on
their post-COVID
playbooks. In
order to defend
against both
current and
future viral
outbreaks,
companies need
to adopt
strategies that
emphasize indoor
air quality and
new ventilation
solutions.
According to the
Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
(CDC), the virus
that causes
COVID-19 spreads
primarily
through small
respiratory
droplet nuclei
and aerosols
produced from
infected humans
when they cough,
sneeze, talk or
even just
breathe. With
this basic
information in
mind, it comes
as no surprise
that many
transmissions
take place at
the office or
place of
business when
people are in
close quarters
for extended
periods of
time.
How Hospitals Do
it: Ventilation
and Industrial
Air Filters
Businesses
looking for a
way to protect
their workers
from the ongoing
threat of
infection should
look no further
than our
healthcare
system, which
has been
addressing
airborne
pathogens for
decades.
One of the
difficult things
about COVID-19,
as well as other
dangerous
pathogens, is
the nuclei and
aerosols can
remain suspended
in the air for
as many as three
to four hours
inside a room.
This is why
hospitals and
health centers
have invested
heavily in
research to
identify
filtration
solutions.
Appropriate
ventilation is
capable of
replacing,
filtering, or
re-circulating
indoor air at a
rate that can
significantly
reduce the
spread of
airborne
pathogens.
As states,
cities, and
countries begin
to test the
waters of
re-opening, many
businesses are
still scrambling
to come up with
a plan that
satisfies their
clients,
employees, and
shareholders all
at once.
The next
question that
arises is
whether
commercial and
industrial
segments
duplicate the
healthcare
community’s
dedicated
commitment in
providing
cleaner air
inside their
facilities.
Increased Air
Filtration Can
Slow COVID-19
Understanding
the infection
mechanism most
likely to
increase risks
in different
facilities
requires a
dedication to
research. If
acted on, data
is able to drive
innovation.
While the
solution to
preventing
infections from
a particular
virus may take
longer than we
want, the
benefits from
these attempts
provide a higher
level of indoor
air quality in
the interim.
Indoor air
quality is
directly linked
to lung health
and healthy
lungs are in
turn linked to a
lower likelihood
of serious
COVID-19
symptoms. Add
this to the
growing pile of
evidence that
IAQ, pandemic or
no, is a
valuable
investment for
companies of any
size.
If you were not
familiar with
the N95
respiratory mask
before the
COVID-19
pandemic, you
almost certainly
are now. The
fabrics that
make up the N95
mask are easy to
breathe through
and able to
filter out
dangerous
airborne
pathogens too
small for our
eyes to see. In
times like
these, N95 masks
can be the
difference
between life and
death. While the
N95 is widely
known, the
meaning behind
the letter N and
the significance
of the number 95
may be a
mystery.
N95 masks are
highly regulated
by NIOSH (The
National
Institute for
Occupational
Safety and
Health) and
should not be
confused with
FFP masks which
are regulated by
CEN (European
Committee for
Standardization).
NIOSH classifies
the respiratory
masks they
regulate into
one of three
categories based
upon the
intended use.
One of the
categories is
the “N” class
which stands for
Not-for-Oil.
This mask is
designed for use
in applications
where the
particles
encountered
consist of dry,
ultra-fine
non-oil aerosols
such as those
generated from
grinding,
sawing, and
thankfully in
today’s world,
biological
particles. The
number “95”
stands for 95%
particle capture
efficiency.
Higher
efficiencies are
available, but
the N95 mask is
the one most
commonly used by
medical
personnel.
Once these masks
have been worn,
they are not
laundered with
other hospital
fabrics. Despite
the high demand
for these masks
during the
COVID-19
pandemic,
manufacturers
continue to
recommend
disposing after
a single use and
not worn day
after day. The
CDC has issued
guidelines when
masks may be
reused, but the
guidelines are
limited and
recommended to
be overseen by
professionals.
The demand has
driven companies
to urgently
research
effective
methods to
sanitize and
recycle masks.
If masks could
be easily
cleaned and
safely reused,
demand could be
met; however,
it’s not a
simple task to
remove the dirt
particles and
maintain the 95%
particle capture
efficiency.
The fabrics
(known as media)
used to
construct many
of these masks
are nonwoven,
which is to say
the fibers are
randomly
arranged, not
woven from yarn
in a repeating
pattern like the
fabric commonly
used in
clothing.
Nonwoven fabrics
are not unique;
they are used in
countless
applications we
encounter every
day. However,
the next step in
the process is
unique and the
secret to the
mask’s
performance. The
nonwoven media
used in many of
these masks is
infused with an
electrostatic
charge creating
an effect,
analogous to a
magnet, known as
an electret.
The
electrostatic
charge greatly
enhances the
media’s
filtration
efficiency
because the
charge attracts
small diameter
particles to the
relatively large
diameter fibers
in the media.
Without that
charge, many of
these particles
would otherwise
easily pass
straight through
the media.
This media is
typically
sandwiched
between two
outer layers of
fabric which
acts as a
prefilter to
capture large
particles and to
protect the
media from being
damaged. Safely
protected within
the mask, the
charged fabric
makes an ideal
filter for a
respiratory
mask.
Unfortunately,
an
electrostatically
charged media
may turn out to
be a very poor
choice for a
common HVAC
system intake
air filter.
“The most
critical
performance
characteristic
of an air filter
is particle
removal
efficiency. The
efficiency of an
air filter is
based on a test
standard known
as the MERV
(Minimum
Efficiency
Reporting Value) scale
developed by the
ASHRAE 52.2
committee. Air
filters are
tested in a
laboratory
setting.
Basically, an
amount of test
dirt with known
particle sizes
is introduced
upstream and
particles that
pass through are
counted
downstream. The
percentage of
particles the
filter captured
is used to
compute a MERV
value.
The MERV value
is critical
because the
individuals
responsible for
the air quality
inside a
commercial
office building,
retail space,
manufacturing
facility or
hospital for
example, use the
scale to select
the MERV value
that delivers
the air quality
needed for the
safety of the
people, products
or equipment
within their
unique facility”
according to
Dave Blackwell,
Director of
Healthcare for
Camfil, USA. “An
air filter made
from a nonwoven
media containing
a strong
electrostatic
charge, would
seem to be an
ideal fabric to
use for many
products,
including air
filters” says
Blackwell.
“However, one of
the reasons you
can’t use the
same N95 mask
day after day is
why an everyday
intake air
filter, made
with an
electrostatic
media, is not a
good long-term
decision.”
It was stated
earlier that the
“N” in N95 means
the mask is
intended for
non-oil aerosols
and the “95”
indicates the
percentage of
ultra-fine
particles the
mask will
capture. The
outer layers of
the mask act as
a prefilter to
capture large
particles and
heavy moisture
when the user
inhales or
exhales. The
prefilter
ensures the
highly-charged
media in the
center generally
only encounters
the dry,
ultra-fine
particles that
escape capture
in the outer
layers. The
magnetic-like
effect of the
charged media
attracts these
small particles
out of the
airstream and
onto the fibers.
As ultra-fine
particles
accumulate on
the charged
media, an
interesting
phenomenon
occurs that many
may recall from
a grammar school
science class. A
magnet will
attract a steel
coin and if the
coin is put on a
piece of paper,
it can be moved
across the paper
with a magnet
held underneath.
Turn the paper
sideways and the
coin will not
fall; appearing
to defy gravity.
However, add
more sheets of
paper, repeat
the experiment
and eventually a
point will be
reached where
the magnet’s
influence is
unable to
penetrate the
paper and the
coin falls to
the floor.
An air filter
made with
highly-charged
media will do
the same. Much
like the magnet
and a single
piece of paper,
the filter may
achieve a very
high initial
particle removal
efficiency
(MERV) when
brand new. When
the electret is
performing at
peak capacity,
dirty particles
passing by in
the airstream
are powerfully
attracted to the
fibers.
However, as
particles
accumulate on
the fibers, they
begin to act as
an insulator
much in the same
way adding paper
reduced the
magnets ability
to hold the coin
in place.
As the
insulation
effect
continues, dirty
particles begin
slipping past in
greater numbers.
There is an
inverse
relationship
between
increasing
insulation and
particle capture
efficiency. If
it were possible
to visibly
display the MERV
value of an
installed filter
undergoing this
process, the
numbers would
continuously
drop as time
passed; 15 to 14
to 13 to 12 for
example.
Eventually the
filter may
bottom out three
or four levels
lower than what
its value was
when brand new.
If a facility
manager
installed a
filter with a
high MERV value
(i.e. MERV 15)
only to discover
later it was
actually
performing at a
much lower level
(i.e. MERV 12),
the consequences
could be severe,
particularly in
these days where
there is a high
awareness of
airborne
viruses.
Members of
ASHRAE’s 52.2
committee were
aware of this
phenomenon.
Appendix J was
added to the
Standard so
consumers would
know the actual
MERV value of a
filter as it is
in use, not just
when brand new.
The Appendix J
conditioning
step addresses
the
electrostatic
charge from the
media. The
result of the
second test is
listed as a
filter’s MERV-A
value which is
the particle
capture
efficiency
without the
benefit of an
electret.
For example, an
initial MERV
test conducted
on a filter with
an electret may
result in a
published value
of MERV 15.
However, the
same filter
tested under the
Appendix J
procedures may
perform as a
MERV 12. Putting
the two test
results together
would result in
the filter being
labeled as a
MERV 15 /
MERV-A-12A.
This indicates
once the
electret is no
longer
effective, the
filter performs
as if it is a
MERV 12. A
filter
constructed
without the
value of an
electret, could
perform as a
MERV 15 under
the 52.2
standard. The
Appendix J
procedures are
conducted, but
since there is
no electret to
begin with, that
filter still
performs as a
MERV 15. The
labeling
therefore would
show the filter
as a MERV 15/
MERV-A-15A
indicating the
filter performs
as a MERV 15
before and after
the influence of
any electret
present has
dissipated. A
consumer who
determined a
MERV 15 is
required for a
particular
application
would know which
filter to
select.
Camfil’s Dave
Blackwell makes
the point.
“Charged media
is one solution
for N95 masks
because it
delivers a high
capture
efficiency. The
downside is a
short service
life. Air
filters can’t be
replaced every
day like masks
can. What would
medical
personnel do if
they wore the
same N95 mask
for weeks at a
time and somehow
the rating on
their mask
changed as the
electrostatic
charge became
less effective?”
questioned
Blackwell.
“Would medical
professionals
wear a mask that
changed from N95
to N85? N80?
N65? I don’t
think so.
Unfortunately,
labels don’t
magically change
on masks any
more than they
do on air
filters, but if
the labels could
change, would a
facility manager
install a filter
with a MERV that
changed from
MERV 15 to 14 to
13 and then 12?
Of course not.
That’s why a
anyone
responsible for
the safety of
others should
select a filter
based on its
MERV-A value.
That number
doesn’t change.”
Blueair
Purifiers Used
In Every Room at
Page8 Hotel
In a YouGov
survey commissioned
by leading air
purification
brand Blueair,
it was found
that there is
consumer demand
for clean air
hotels, with 54
per cent of
Brits
considering air
quality to be
important when
choosing a
hotel.
Prior to the
government-stipulated
lockdown, Page8
had begun its
soft launch and
was on the front
foot thanks to
its status as
the first ‘clean
air’ hotel in
central London,
a title it
claimed by
placing a
Blueair air
purifier in all
138 rooms.
Experts from the
Swedish brand
Blueair tested
the difference
in air quality
before and after
using an air
purifier in the
rooms of Page8
Hotel. Thanks to
the efficiency
of Blueair’s
unique
HepaSilent™
filtration
technology,
airborne
particles were
reduced by 96
per cent after
using an air
purifier for
only one hour,
making the air
in the hotel
rooms as pure as
the Swedish
Archipelago.
Air quality is
directly related
to the quality
of our health
and environment.
After a long day
of activities,
Page8 which is
located in the
heart of London,
welcomes urban
explorers back
to the hotel
with the purest
air, detoxing
them from the
pollution of the
city and
providing a
hygienic, clean
environment for
a quality
night’s sleep.
All 138 rooms,
from single to
family rooms,
are equipped
with a Blueair
air purifier to
ensure our
guests are
breathing the
purest air
throughout their
stay.
To be effective,
the filter "must
be able to
consistently
draw in enough
air to reduce
the amount of
particles
containing the
virus that
persist in the
air,” explained
James Dickerson,
Consumer
Reports’
chief science
officer. HEPA
filters in most
residential air
purifiers are
certified to
capture 99.97%
of particles
that are 0.3
micron in
diameter. The
filters can
capture both
smaller and
larger particles
even more
efficiently,
including the
coronavirus.
The key is to
have any sick
person isolate
in one room.
“The faster an
air purifier can
exchange air in
a room,
successfully
passing it
through its
filter, the
better its
chances of
capturing the
virus-laden
particles," said
Dickerson. "Even
then, it’s not
going to
eliminate all of
the particles,
nor will the
filter capture
virus that has
landed on
surfaces in the
room.”
When considering
an air purifier
purchase, look
for its clean
air delivery
rate, or CADR.
Look for a rate
of more than
240, or roughly
five air
exchanges per
hour.
Consumer
Reports’
top picks are
the BlueAir
Classic 605,
which costs
$830. In
particle
reduction tests,
the air purifier
was rated
fastest and
best.
For less money,
the Honeywell
HPA300 for $220
scored excellent
at its highest
speed and very
good on a lower
speed.
Here are some of
the leading and
most popular air
purifiers
according to
NBC. You can
find their
cleaning
capacities and
whether they
equip HEPA
filters or have
been approved by
AHAM.
1. Blueair
Blue Pure 411
Air Purifier
The Blueair Pure
411 is one of
the best budget
air purifiers,
though it only
purifies smaller
spaces. This
model is great
to have in your
home office or
living room
(which you are
likely spending
more time in
right now). The
purifier is
compact and
comes in
different colors
to match your
room’s decor.
This model comes
with the brand's
own own
HEPASilent
technology
(which is not
the same as an
approved,
true HEPA
filter) and a
CADR rating.
Besides being
affordable, the
Pure 411
has low-cost
replacement
filters and is
more
energy-efficient
than other
models.
Blueair Blue
Pure 411 Air
Purifier
2. Levoit
LV-H132 Air
Purifier
The Levoit
LV-H132 removes
particles from
the air with its
three stage
filtration
system including
a pre-filter,
true HEPA filter
and activated
carbon filter.
It circulates
the air in the
room over four
times in an hour
and is equipped
with a built-in
smart filter
replacement
reminder and
night light.
3. Molekule
Air
The Molekule Air
has a sleek
design and
includes two
filters,
designed to
capture
pollutants
smaller than the
average air
purifier using
PECO technology.
Though the
Molekule is more
expensive than
other air
purifiers, it
boasts hundreds
of positive
reviews and a
new approach to
air
purification.
4. GermGuardian
AC4825 Air
Purifier
The GermGuardian
AC4825 is a
3-in-1 air
purifier that
includes a HEPA
filter, charcoal
and PCO filter,
UV-C sanitizer
and TIO2
treatment. It is
equipped with
three speed
settings and
comes with a
filter
replacement
indicator.
GermGuardian
AC4825 Air
Purifier
5. Honeywell
True HEPA Air
Purifier
This model is
made for larger
rooms and has a
true HEPA
filter.
Honeywell claims
this purifier
filters and
circulates air
up to five times
an hour. This
model is
relatively
affordable given
its size, and
comes with
features like a
timer setting,
filter change
indicator. It
has two filters:
a pre-filter to
capture large
particles like
pet hair and
lint, and a HEPA
filter for
smaller
particles.
Honeywell True
HEPA Air
Purifier
This
recently-released
model is an air
purifier,
humidifier, and
fan, all in one.
The Dyson Pure
Humidify +
Cool boasts a
sleek design and
plenty of bells
and whistles,
including a
space heater,
sleep timer, Wi-Fi
connection,
Alexa
compatibility
and nighttime
mode. It also
has a HEPA
filter and is
one of the only
models that
allows for
oscillation.
While pricier
than other
models, the
Dyson may be
best for
shoppers looking
for extra
features.
7. Austin
Air Healthmate
Standard Air
Purifier
This model
offers a
four-stage
filter, which
includes a HEPA
filter, with a
60-square-foot
radius. It
uniquely has
four filters,
removing a
different type
of particle at
each one. This
includes a large
particle
pre-filter for
dust and dander,
a medium
pre-filter for
mold, a carbon
filter for
chemicals and
gases and a HEPA
filter for
smaller
particles. This
model is much
larger and
heavier than
others — it
weighs 45 pounds
— but includes
rollers for
easier
transportation.
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