August 13, 2004—Financial institutions, key government buildings and hospitals are using a new technology for protection against terrorists using biological weapons. The technology safeguards against attacks in which biological agents, such as anthrax, are released inside or near a building.
VIGILAIR systems, engineered by FP Technologies, use a wavelength of Ultra Violet (UV) light that acts as a powerful germicide. UV lights, filtration and reflective materials are configured inside a buildings Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to purify air as it circulates through the system. When engineered properly, radiation produced by the UV lights kills microorganisms such as spores, bacteria and viruses.
“Our technology stops and kills anthrax before it can spread throughout a building’s ventilation system,” says Tim Leach, CEO of FP Technologies.
Systems are designed for installation in any size air handler unit and provide non-obtrusive protection 24 hours a day.
For security reasons, FP Technologies has agreed to not divulge specific facilities using VIGILAIR systems. It is accurate, says the company, that financial institutions and strategically important government buildings in New York use the systems to safeguard their HVAC. The system has also been installed in several hospitals designated as regional Emergency Response disaster centers.
