- AIRVIA AIR PURIFIERS FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS
Every year, we are faced with the same question during seasonal epidemics such as influenza or gastrointestinal outbreaks: are AIRVIA Medical air purifiers effective against viruses and other germs? This year, the frequency of that question has heavily increased due to the coronavirus epidemic and the great anxiety it generates. That being said, here is an article to explain in detail how our air purifiers are capable of destroying 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
How do germs spread?
Before we explain the antibacterial effect of our air purifiers, we must first understand how microorganisms make us sick, and why they are particularly active in winter.
There are two main factors that help explain why there are so many epidemics in winter compared to the rest of the year: close proximity of others and poor air circulation. And both these factors are commonly caused by cold weather: we all tend to stay inside where it is warm and air out our homes less. These two conditions combined are extremely conducive to the development of microbes.
Whether at home, at work or in a public place (public transport, schools, etc.) these places tend to be poorly ventilated when temperatures drop. Resting in close proximity of other humans, which is increased in winter in public transportation and at the office, greatly facilitates the spread of diseases. And there are many transmission channels: whether by direct contact (touching someone sick), indirect contact (touching a doorknob), or by projection (when a sick person coughs or sneezes and projects microscopic droplets filled with germs). Droplets remain suspended in the air or on surfaces and can be contagious for more than 24 hours.
To avoid getting sick, the best solutions are to avoid crowded areas and to air out your space often. But this is not always possible (at the office for example) or easy when it is cold outside. This is where our AIRVIA Medical air purifier can help you fight the spread of diseases, among its many other functions.
How AIRVIA Medical air purifiers eliminate 99.9% of germs
Warning: please note that air purifiers are by no means a miracle or all-in-one solution to fight by itself the coronavirus or any other epidemic. While using our devices can indeed effectively purify the air in your space, this does not in any way prevent the transmission of the virus by other means. The usual hygienic precautions therefore remain essential: wash your hands regularly, wear a mask, do not touch your face, avoid large gatherings or prolonged contact with sick people, etc. More information here.
Our air purifiers combine eight of the best air filtration technologies and are therefore capable of eliminating 99.9% of bacteria, viruses (including SARS and coronavirus), and other microbes present in the air. This is thanks to the combined power of four technologies/actions:
1. Air circulation
Several studies have shown that proper ventilation helps reduce the spread of germs indoors. Stagnant air is more favourable to viruses and bacteria, capable of remaining in the air for several hours and up to a week on a hard surface.
All AIRVIA Medical air purifiers circulate the air in a particularly efficient way. It starts with our innovative cylindrical design which allows for a 360° air intake system combined with a vertical discharge pressurization system. Fresh, purified air is discharged upwards. Since cold air is heavier (denser), it will descend and create a natural airflow. Simply put, we are harnessing the well-known concept that "hot air rises".Air circulation is reinforced by our devices’ power, certified by their very high "CADR": 503.1 m3/h for the AERO 100 and 550m3/h for the PRO 150. CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), a measurement of the volume of air actually purified by a device in a given time, is a benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of a purifier. Our devices are among the most powerful on the market. Their power is, therefore, a guarantee not only of the speed of the purification process but also of the efficiency in dislodging particles and germs.
2. UV sterilisation
UV rays are well-known for their strong antibacterial power as well as being one of the best alternatives to commercial chemicals. Not only they are extremely effective at destroying bacteria, viruses, yeasts and moulds, but they do not lead to any bacterial resistance. This explains why they are increasingly becoming a first choice for many medical centres and hospitals.
All of our purifiers come with a UV lamp that can be turned on and off at will. This function is particularly useful during an epidemic.3. Photocatalysis sterilisation
Photocatalysis is an advanced technology we use to destroy all pathogens with a high rate of success. Photocatalysis is simply an oxidation-reduction reaction which produces molecules that will react with the various germs present in the air, causing them to degrade. It leads to the death of these cells and, thus, their complete destruction.
4. Ionisation
And finally, ionisation is also widely recognized for its effectiveness against bacteria and viruses. Ionisation is the only “active” filtration method in our devices. Our devices are 2 in 1, acting as both purifier and ioniser. Ionisation works by diffusing negative ions in the air. Due to their electrical polarity, these ions are highly reactive and will seek out and destroy viruses and bacteria.
AIRVIA Medical uses a particularly powerful ionisation technology to generate more than 20 million negative ions at the output.In conclusion
One can now better understand the name of our brand "AIRVIA Medical" which refers to the anti-germ action of our air purifiers. They combine 8 different filtration technologies from the medical and research world.
Note that if our devices also use HEPA filters, they are not as effective when it comes to filtering viruses and bacteria.
