There are many air purification products sprouting all types of claims however very few provide the high levels of protection and efficacy of air filtration they promise to deliver. The reality is not all air purifiers are created equal and businesses need to understand the key differences and what to look for when purchasing and installing air purification units.
Thanks to COVID, the need for air purification is now much better understood across the world. Effective air purification products can help to improve the environments in which we live and work by making the quality of the air healthier to breathe. We spend the vast majority, about 90%, of our time indoors, and the spaces in which we live, work, study and play can influence almost every aspect of our lives, including our health and well-being.
The risks of airborne diseases like COVID, the common cold and influenza viruses have helped us to become more aware of the importance of indoor air and the role it plays.
In addition to the risks of airborne infections studies have also shown that poor indoor air quality is associated with a number of cognitive function impairments, including our ability to concentrate and process information. However, if you’re looking to invest in your health by purchasing an air purifier, keep in mind that not all air purifiers perform the same.
What should we consider when choosing an air purifier?
Some of the factors you need to consider include filter efficiency, clean air delivery rate (CADR, which indicates how frequently the air in the space is replaced with clean air), whether the purifier generates harmful byproducts like ozone, and how much noise it makes.
System strength
It makes sense that if you have a smaller space you will need a smaller air purifier and that in bigger spaces with more traffic you will need a more powerful unit or more units. Air purifiers must be capable of processing all of the air in a space. It is important to understand the strength of a unit and how much space it can reach. This involves determining the size of an area, air flow and ventilation and the capacity requirements of each air purifier to be installed.
Air filtration efficacy
Single-pass efficiency of a filter is a measure of its ability to reduce the pollutant concentration in the air that passes through it. The commonly used filter efficiency metric is MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value), which ranges from 1-16, and the higher the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating, the higher the particle removal efficiency.
Another air purification standard, HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air), refers to air purification filters that can remove at least 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns. Particles that are larger or smaller than 0.3 microns are captured with an even higher efficiency. Delos Intellipure units feature tech tested to show 99.99% efficiency at capturing and removing particles down to 0.007 microns, which exceeds HEPA filter efficiency requirements.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
Another measure of performance for air purifiers is the clean air delivery rate (CADR). A higher CADR value can be used to size portable air cleaners for a given space. The higher the CADR, the more particles the system can filter and the larger the area it can serve. Delos offer air purification units that we call ‘plug and play’. With a range of sizes depending on the area of coverage, the freestanding systems are simply plugged into a nearby power supply.
We also have in-duct systems and solutions. We are part of the indoor generation that spend the majority of their days indoors. For the sake of long-term health, we need to improve the quality of air that we breathe, especially in homes, schools, public transport and workplace.
What is the market offering of Delos?
Before writing a check, It is important to do the research and make sure that the products you purchase are effective, safe to use, and can actually deliver what they claim to be able to do, particularly when you are investing in something that is going to impact your health.
As Delos is a leader in the global market of wellness tech, we offer the most advanced air purification systems available for indoor environments. We are able to provide solutions around placement, size, and management which is essential when installing these systems.
My strong advice when looking to invest in an air purification system is to go with a brand that has done the research and has the evidence to support their claims. Not only will they have the knowledge and experience, the advice and service will be excellent as well.
Delos’ product review process is anchored by Delos Labs, a team of experts in building, behavioural and health sciences. Our process evaluates third-party product test results, applies evidence-based and data-driven research, and consults best-practices to select products that stand up to their claims on performance, safety, and user experience. Delos has selected the best air purification tech after evaluating over 160 similar products.
Anthony Scarff is the managing director at Delos Australia.
