July 26, 2006—Concerned about poor indoor air quality (IAQ)? No problem. Just install an air cleaner / purifier and everything will be fine, right? Well no, not necessarily. According to a new report from Air Quality Sciences (AQS), no matter the type or size of the building, air cleaning alone won’t do the trick. Also, not all air cleaners / purifiers are alike.
According to the AQS report, “Clearing the Air on Indoor Air Cleaners / Purifiers,” determining what type of air cleaning system or room air cleaner / purifier to use can be a complicated as it depends on what types of indoor air pollutants are to be removed, the size(s) of the indoor space(s), the type of building and what activities are going on in the building. Budgetary (first cost and maintenance) and energy costs and conservation considerations also must be taken into account. Further, when it comes to some types of air cleaners, marketing claims can be very confusing, the report noted.
For instance, says the report, some air cleaners are especially designed to remove particulates only, while others also are fitted to remove gases, vapors and odors. Some rely on physical mechanisms to capture contaminants and others electrically charge particles to attract them into filters. The filters themselves come in a variety of styles, sizes and materials, the report said.
An important guide in choosing an air cleaning system or room air cleaner / purifier to is review the results of independent product testing for performance. AQS offers a comprehensive test method that assess the effectiveness of air cleaners / purifiers in four distinct areas, which are not covered by other test methods.
Air Quality Sciences, Inc. is a fully integrated indoor air quality (IAQ) company that provides solutions to create healthy indoor environments and avoid potentially dangerous indoor pollution.
For more information on this test method, contact AQS at 770.933.0638 and ask for Product Evaluations. The AQS report, “Clearing the Air on Indoor Air Cleaners / Purifiers,” is available at no charge under the White Paper section of the Premium Content Page of the AQS – Aerias IAQ Resource Center Web site.
