NY Expo Shows IAQ Products With a Flare
NEW YORK - At the 2008 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), indoor air quality (IAQ) products came in many shapes and sizes, but they all had the potential to help HVAC contractors help his or her customers in very critical ways: ventilation, purification, and filtration.
Filter manufacturer 3M (www.3M.com) used the expo to introduce a line of Filtrete filters for commercial buildings. The filters feature integral seals designed to help reduce air bypass. Use of the filters may also earn points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Amcor Inc. (www.amcorgroupusa.com), introduced several new air treatment products.
The AA-1 Active Air Aroma Remedies is an hour glass-shaped aromizer, designed to help soothe asthma symptoms and relieve inflammation associated with common colds. It comes with citrus oil sachets that are activated by heat. (According to the manufacturer, citrus oils are cold pressed from the rind of fruit. These natural essences include lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and more.) Additional sachets are sold separately.
The company said its AM-45 air purifier/ionizer is ideal for high traffic areas because it operates very quietly. It features an electronic control, three speeds, and a timer that allows the user to operate the unit continuously, or at one-, two-, four-, or eight-hour increments. The AM-45 has a five-stage filtration system consisting of a mesh prefilter, an electrostatic filter, a granulated active carbon filter, and a PCO (photo catalytic oxidation) filter working in conjunction with a UVA lamp.
The AM-30 mini air tower air purifier/ionizer is said to be ideal for homes, apartments, or offices. It features electronic control, three speeds, and has a five-stage air purifier filtration system consisting of a washable mesh prefilter, titanium dioxide filter, electrostatic washable filter, and a UVC germicidal bulb, as well as permanent washable filters. Independent lab test results indicated that after only two hours, the AM-30 kills up to 92.4 percent of bacteria and germs, said the company.
The AM-29 is a nightlight tower air purifier/ionizer. It has a three-stage air purifier featuring a UVC germicidal bulb, electrostatic washable filter, and ionizer. The AM-29 has a “soothing” nightlight and permanent, washable filters. The unit boasts an integrated collection cartridge designed for easy maintenance.
Carrier Corp. (www.carrier.com) introduced the Infinity™ air purifier, which it said captures and kills airborne allergens, bacteria, molds, and viruses.
“When Dr. Willis Carrier invented modern air conditioning more than 100 years ago, one of his primary objectives for ‘conditioning the air’ included addressing indoor air quality,” said Bob McDonough, president, Carrier Residential and Light Commercial Systems.
The device uses a three-step process. First, “precision-point” ionization is designed to charge particles entering the device. Second, the charged particles are then captured on a media cartridge, it said. Finally, using ion bombardment and an electric current flow, the media kills captured pathogens, said the company. Carrier said the system requires no cleaning; maintenance includes periodic replacement of the media cartridge.
The Circul-Aire® subsidiary of Dectron Internationale (www.circul-aire.com) introduced the APS-250 portable gas-phase air purifier, designed for removing chemical odors and airborne gaseous contaminants from residences, offices, electronic control rooms, nursing homes, classrooms, and other smaller-occupied spaces. It recirculates up to 250 cfm of indoor air through a 1-inch-thick bed of Multi-Mix® chemical filtration media, said the manufacturer.
The company said it can formulate a Multi-Mix blend, designed to target specific chemicals, such as H2S, SO2, CL2, and NH3. Commonly found outdoor air contaminants, such as ground-level ozone, aromatic hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, and other vehicle emission byproducts, are also removed, it said. Maintenance requires replacing the pleated filters and the Multi-Mix annually.
Ductcap Products (www.ductcap.com) said its Ductcap cover is a “plastic bag with an elastic band sewn on the open end.” According to the manufacturer, it is designed to help protect internal components from moisture, dirt, and debris, protecting equipment warrantees, and ensuring that the next connection has a clean surface. During removal, the cap slides off with no adhesive residue. The product also is reusable.
Panasonic’s (www2.panasonic.com) WhisperComfort Spot ERVs use two ducts - one to exhaust stale air and the other to supply fresh air from outside. Its low-rate, continuous run is designed to help ensure chemicals and indoor pollutants are vented out and replaced with fresh air.
When air is brought in from the outside, the company noted that the patented capillary core inside WhisperComfort fans transfers heat and moisture to the supply air coming in so that it tempers the indoor temperature and moisture levels. It also keeps air pressure balanced by supplying air to replace exhausted air, it said.
The Robertshaw high-efficiency air cleaner from Invensys (www.invensys.com) features a specially woven glass fiber mesh designed to trap particles as small as 0.01 microns. Plus, the company said the media is resistant to UV radiation so these units can be combined with Robertshaw UV lamps “for even more effective control of indoor air pollutants.”
Two sizes are available for most any application. A media condition indicator gauge is included to inform homeowners when media change is required.
Sterile-Aire’s (www.sterile-aire.com) Steril-Zone™ in-room air purifier is a stand-alone, self-contained unit designed to be operated in rooms up to 1,000 square feet. They feature patented TV emitters, extended-life carbon filters, a 95 percent efficient particulate filter, a 250-cfm variable-speed fan, and a changeable UVC cassette. The product does not produce ozone, the company said.
Publication date: 02/18/2008
Filter manufacturer 3M (www.3M.com) used the expo to introduce a line of Filtrete filters for commercial buildings. The filters feature integral seals designed to help reduce air bypass. Use of the filters may also earn points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Amcor Inc. (www.amcorgroupusa.com), introduced several new air treatment products.
The AA-1 Active Air Aroma Remedies is an hour glass-shaped aromizer, designed to help soothe asthma symptoms and relieve inflammation associated with common colds. It comes with citrus oil sachets that are activated by heat. (According to the manufacturer, citrus oils are cold pressed from the rind of fruit. These natural essences include lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and more.) Additional sachets are sold separately.
The company said its AM-45 air purifier/ionizer is ideal for high traffic areas because it operates very quietly. It features an electronic control, three speeds, and a timer that allows the user to operate the unit continuously, or at one-, two-, four-, or eight-hour increments. The AM-45 has a five-stage filtration system consisting of a mesh prefilter, an electrostatic filter, a granulated active carbon filter, and a PCO (photo catalytic oxidation) filter working in conjunction with a UVA lamp.
The AM-30 mini air tower air purifier/ionizer is said to be ideal for homes, apartments, or offices. It features electronic control, three speeds, and has a five-stage air purifier filtration system consisting of a washable mesh prefilter, titanium dioxide filter, electrostatic washable filter, and a UVC germicidal bulb, as well as permanent washable filters. Independent lab test results indicated that after only two hours, the AM-30 kills up to 92.4 percent of bacteria and germs, said the company.
The AM-29 is a nightlight tower air purifier/ionizer. It has a three-stage air purifier featuring a UVC germicidal bulb, electrostatic washable filter, and ionizer. The AM-29 has a “soothing” nightlight and permanent, washable filters. The unit boasts an integrated collection cartridge designed for easy maintenance.
Carrier Corp. (www.carrier.com) introduced the Infinity™ air purifier, which it said captures and kills airborne allergens, bacteria, molds, and viruses.
“When Dr. Willis Carrier invented modern air conditioning more than 100 years ago, one of his primary objectives for ‘conditioning the air’ included addressing indoor air quality,” said Bob McDonough, president, Carrier Residential and Light Commercial Systems.
The device uses a three-step process. First, “precision-point” ionization is designed to charge particles entering the device. Second, the charged particles are then captured on a media cartridge, it said. Finally, using ion bombardment and an electric current flow, the media kills captured pathogens, said the company. Carrier said the system requires no cleaning; maintenance includes periodic replacement of the media cartridge.
The Circul-Aire® subsidiary of Dectron Internationale (www.circul-aire.com) introduced the APS-250 portable gas-phase air purifier, designed for removing chemical odors and airborne gaseous contaminants from residences, offices, electronic control rooms, nursing homes, classrooms, and other smaller-occupied spaces. It recirculates up to 250 cfm of indoor air through a 1-inch-thick bed of Multi-Mix® chemical filtration media, said the manufacturer.
The company said it can formulate a Multi-Mix blend, designed to target specific chemicals, such as H2S, SO2, CL2, and NH3. Commonly found outdoor air contaminants, such as ground-level ozone, aromatic hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, and other vehicle emission byproducts, are also removed, it said. Maintenance requires replacing the pleated filters and the Multi-Mix annually.
Ductcap Products (www.ductcap.com) said its Ductcap cover is a “plastic bag with an elastic band sewn on the open end.” According to the manufacturer, it is designed to help protect internal components from moisture, dirt, and debris, protecting equipment warrantees, and ensuring that the next connection has a clean surface. During removal, the cap slides off with no adhesive residue. The product also is reusable.
Panasonic’s (www2.panasonic.com) WhisperComfort Spot ERVs use two ducts - one to exhaust stale air and the other to supply fresh air from outside. Its low-rate, continuous run is designed to help ensure chemicals and indoor pollutants are vented out and replaced with fresh air.
When air is brought in from the outside, the company noted that the patented capillary core inside WhisperComfort fans transfers heat and moisture to the supply air coming in so that it tempers the indoor temperature and moisture levels. It also keeps air pressure balanced by supplying air to replace exhausted air, it said.
The Robertshaw high-efficiency air cleaner from Invensys (www.invensys.com) features a specially woven glass fiber mesh designed to trap particles as small as 0.01 microns. Plus, the company said the media is resistant to UV radiation so these units can be combined with Robertshaw UV lamps “for even more effective control of indoor air pollutants.”
Two sizes are available for most any application. A media condition indicator gauge is included to inform homeowners when media change is required.
Sterile-Aire’s (www.sterile-aire.com) Steril-Zone™ in-room air purifier is a stand-alone, self-contained unit designed to be operated in rooms up to 1,000 square feet. They feature patented TV emitters, extended-life carbon filters, a 95 percent efficient particulate filter, a 250-cfm variable-speed fan, and a changeable UVC cassette. The product does not produce ozone, the company said.
Publication date: 02/18/2008
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