The Gold award in the Indoor Air Quality category goes to the CASPR Transit by CASPR Group.
CASPR Transit brings proprietary POCx technology, which was designed for medical-grade environments, to improve air quality for the transit industry. The product is designed to improve air quality and to reduce odors, allergens, and pathogens in the air and on surfaces in places where in-duct installation of an air purification solution is difficult.
CASPR Transit has been designed specifically for buses and trains, where odors can rapidly become a nuisance for users and where bacteria and mold are hard to control. Its small footprint and low profile (10.19-inch length x 7.81-inch width x 3-inch height) means limited interference with aesthetics or operations, and it is designed for continuous use with little to no maintenance required.
The PCOx technology used in the CASPR Transit was designed for indoor pollution control, odor reduction, and contamination prevention. The continuous disinfection technology converts H2O and O2 in the air into safe but effective levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through photocatalytic conversion. Multi-wavelength UV light is used to illuminate a honeycomb matrix treated with a proprietary photocatalytic coating. H2O molecules found in ambient humidity then react, continuously forming H2O2 at low levels in the air. The H2O2 disperses throughout the targeted area, coating surfaces with oxidizing molecules that constantly work to reduce the bioburden of clinically relevant pathogens.
The systems have undergone rigorous lab and field testing, with a university study in December 2020 showing a reduction in SARS COV-19 of 93.39%. The units have been field tested by independent labs in athletic facilities and gyms, medical practices, and retail/restaurant outlets. Additional studies and trials on the CASPR Transit have been made in major metropolitan transit authorities, including New York City, and the technology is and has been recognized by NASA for innovation.
Robert Scamell is director of maintenance for Staten Island Ferry, which uses the units.
“About ever model they have, we’ve installed,” he said. “It’s a very simple install. It’s a 3-inch hole that goes into the ductwork for zip screws that hold in place, and then it plugs into a regular 110 outlet and has Bluetooth to tell you if there’s any failures on the unit, so you can be notified without having to actually go in there in spaces that are hard to get to.
“We bought it more for passenger protection and worker protection during the pandemic,” he continued. “But it’s a longer-term solution, because it’s not going to be just COVID — there’s other stuff down the line, and it gives you better bacteria and mold protection in spaces that get wet.”
The unit’s small profile is designed for ease of installation. The installer merely needs to identify a discreet, flat surface to accommodate the unit, connect the leads to a power source, and secure in place. It is available in 12 VDC, 24 VDC, or 100-240 VAC power delivery options for flexibility of use. Finally, the unit is designed to minimize on-site maintenance. Once installed and turned on, the CASPR Transit will run continuously without an operator. After running CASPR Transit continuously for 12 months straight, the maintenance team will need to replace the PCOx cell, which can be purchased from CASPR or a distributor and is easy to install.
CASPR’s PCOx technology is the product of two decades of research. The conversion of the product to a transit-appropriate unit took an additional two years of research and development. While designed for use on buses and trains, CASPR Transit is being retrofitted for use in ferries and on airplanes as well.
The Silver award in the indoor air quality category goes to Thermaduct for its Thermaround pre-insulated solution, designed for applications that require a round or spiral format for rooftop ductwork.
Thermaround provides lightweight protection against the outdoor elements. Its patent pending process allows for a continuous cladded surface with as little as one solvent welded seam. This high R-value system offers a minimum R-12 insulated value and extremely low air leakage. Its UV stable 1,000-micron vinyl cladding is up to five times thicker than what is traditionally used to clad outdoor ductwork, establishing a durable solution that will naturally shed water. In the interior, air passes over a smooth aluminum surface free from loose fibers to give the building better IAQ performance. Strong 316 stainless steel draw band connections allow for quick installation.
Thermaround is an outdoor doublewall spiral alternative for supply – 10-inch positive; return – 8-inch negative; highly corrosive environments; pools and natatorium environments; schools, hospitals, and health care offices; and retail/multifamily buildings.
Thermaround provides duct, insulation, and cladding all in one product. The installer will not be required to wait on other trades to finish the job. Thermaround uses a double layer of phenolic insulation that provides a built-in coupling system. To finish connections, drawbands allow for single-tool assembly for fast installation in outdoor environments. Its insulation — Kingspan KoolDuct — was chosen as a lightweight option that also provides high R-value insulation that meets the 25/50 flame and smoke spread (ASTM E84 & NFPA 90A).
Thermaround phenolic ductwork enables a lightweight ducting solution for applications where weight concerns may be an issue. Adding more HVAC load requirements on buildings may require additional structure to be able to support the weight of double-wall metal ductwork.
The ultimate goal with Thermaround is to create a duct that offers the highest thermal value with near zero air leakage.
The Bronze award in the indoor air quality category goes to Aerapy’s Zone360X upper air ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) device.
Zone360X was designed using horizontal louvres to create a zone of UV-C disinfection in the upper portion of rooms 500 to 1,000 square feet in size. The patented design includes a built-in fan at the bottom of the unit for additional, immediate airflow and to draw pathogens into the path or “zone” of the unit’s UV-C to help continuously sanitize the air. Each round trip from upper room to lower room continues to reduce pathogen load in the space.
It has the option of three fan speeds (ranging from 100 cfm to 530 cfm) that can be increased or decreased based on room occupancy. The noise level of its integrated fan is rated at 43-48dB at the base, so when placed at ceiling heights, it will be quiet in work environments (estimated less than 35dB when installed at 9.8 feet). It produces no ozone and has a sleek, modern design. The units are currently installed in hospitals, banks, restaurants, and schools.
Fasteners are toolless, so all the technician needs to maintain the unit is a ladder, dust cloth (for cleaning), and the new UV bulb. The fasteners stay attached to the unit so they don’t get lost during yearly UV bulb changes, and the UV bulbs are also toolless and snap in for quick changes. Safety switches are included, so if the technician accidentally removes the bulb cover, the unit will shut itself off.
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