The air people breathe is no longer taken for granted as environmentalists and doctors raise the alarm about contaminants and particulates that cause global and personal harm. In light of these air quality developments, The NEWS’ fourth annual Dealer Design Awards’ Indoor Air Quality category winners have brought to this competition their best offerings for cleaner, healthier air. With a gold award secure, Purafil Inc.’s Purafilter® - OA resembles a traditional HVAC air filter that can be used in areas with and without serious air quality issues. Winning silver, Trane’s 2/4 TEE3D Air Handler with built-in Trane CleanEffects™ air cleaner offers a cleanable air filter that never needs replacing. The bronze winner, Airguard a Clarcor Co.’s Legacy Filter provides a green solution for commercial applications.

GOLD WINNER

Purafil Inc.’s Purafilter® - OA (Outdoor Air) is designed for use in high-occupancy commercial environments such as schools, hospitals, office buildings, and airports where the outdoor air quality does not meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) current National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines or has been deemed otherwise “unacceptable” as per ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, and optimal IAQ is a requirement.

The Purafilter resembles a traditional HVAC air filter and can be used in conjunction with an existing HVAC system. The filter can also be used in areas without serious air quality issues. The combination particulate and chemical filter effectively removes odorous and irritating contaminants from the indoor environment. Through a physical and chemical process, the Purafil® Triple-Blend Makeup Air Media within the Purafilter-OA chemically transforms and removes criteria pollutants such as NOX and sulfur dioxide. These among other contaminants are effectively prevented from ever entering an air space.

“I would market this filter to nursing homes,” noted one judge. “This also looks like a good solution for school districts trying to meet ASHRAE 62.1-2004 requirements.”

Contractors benefit from the filter’s design flexibility, its low-pressure drop, and higher removal capacities for the specific contaminants typically found in commercial facilities. According to the company, it is easy to install and is designed as a retrofit filter; therefore, the existing HVAC system will not require renovations.

SILVER WINNER

The Trane 2/4 TEE3D Air Handler with built-in Trane CleanEffects™ Air Cleaner is a 1-inch filter that removes up to 99 percent of airborne allergens down to .3 microns from the filtered air. The six-way convertible, variable-speed air handler contains Trane’s Comfort-R feature that delivers 12 speeds for more consistent temperatures, greater humidity control, better air heating, and high efficiency.

Whole-house air cleaners have typically been separate units. With the 2/4 TEE3D, however, contractors are able to market this unit as an integrated piece. The unit is 23.5 inches wide at 3 tons.

One advantage for the contractor is labor savings. There is no field wiring or duct transitioning required. This saves the contractor approximately one hour of labor per install. There is also no transition, gasketing or sealing required.

The cleanable air filter never needs replacing, said the manufacturer, making it easy for contractors to slide out and wash it as part of an annual maintenance agreement.

Self-diagnostic controls provide complete diagnostics, and a system fault analysis is also included for quick gas flow shut-off coupled with automatic ignition retry after sensing a fault mode.

“It’s nice to see gaskets on units to make them more airtight and it’s nice to see the filter integrated into the unit,” remarked one judge. “This is a good idea.”

BRONZE WINNER

The Airguard Legacy is a high efficiency rigid cell filter designed for use in HVAC systems. Its de-sign combines cell sides of high-strength, high-impact polystyrene plastic with a Channel-Flow molded synthetic media. The media is molded into a series of preformed channels that direct air through the filter, resulting in lower resistance.

Legacy is available in a MERV 14, 4-inch deep box style filter and a MERV 15, 12-inch single header style. Both options exceed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirement of MERV 13 for filtration, while maintaining or lowering end user energy costs. MERV 15 is also hospital compliant for full patient care.

The Legacy operates in multiple conditions, including variable air volume systems, high airflow, turbulence, high moisture, and some chemical or corrosive conditions. It can withstand tough environments and is completely incinerable, which aids in disposal. “This looks like a great commercial product,” said one contractor judge.

The overall low weight allows contractors ease in handling and transporting filters. The 100 percent synthetic media is durable, resists tearing and abrasion, and is highly damage resistant.

HONOREES: IAQ

GOLD
Purafil Inc.
www.purafil.com
Purafilter®-OA

SILVER
Trane
www.trane.com
2/4 TEE3D Air Handler with Trane CleanEffects™ Air Cleaner

BRONZE
Airguard, a Clarcor Co.
www.airguard.com
Legacy

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Carrier Corp.
www.carrier.com
Infinity™ Air Purifier

Broan-NuTone LLC
www.broan.com
Broan® Smart Sense® Ventilation System

Publication Date: 07/16/2007