MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — According to Frost & Sullivan, the global indoor air quality (IAQ) industry has witnessed fast-paced growth over the past few years. Additionally, technological development is of primary importance for stakeholders in this domain. This comes from new analysis from the firm, Trends in Indoor Air Quality in Buildings.

“Although there are no regulations on indoor air quality, increasing health concerns coupled with growing awareness provides an opportunity for manufacturers in this space to address the issues associated with this industry,” said Technical Insights Industry Manager W. F. Kee. “A growing number of manufacturers in the global IAQ industry are incorporating technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) that have the capability to combat indoor air pollutants.”

Although the prospects for the IAQ market look upbeat, there are some challenges that are proving to be growth bottlenecks, said Frost & Sullivan. High initial costs are deterring deep market penetration. In this mature market, product differentiation is a great challenge for companies and an even greater one for new participants entering the fray. Manufacturers use one or a combination of the handful of technologies used to purify indoor air.

New participants may find it a safe option to merge with a company that has a strong foothold in this market. Partnering and collaborating with a company in a different region can mutually benefit both companies.

IAQ product developers could collaborate with universities and research institutes to innovate new technologies, processes, and products, Frost & Sullivan said.

Awareness programs or workshops are essential to showcase the capabilities of the technology. Consumers must be updated on the latest technologies available in the market.

“To promote the use of such technologies, it is important to target specific geographic areas,” said Technical Insights Analyst Anupkumar Patil. “Traditional filtration, along with new technologies such as PCO and UV disinfection, can be more successful in North America, where health issues are afforded top priority.”

Publication date:08/15/2011