Three basic techniques can help achieve air purification: containing contaminants, inserting products in the air to clean it, and killing impurities.
The containment approach incorporates HEPA filters into the HVAC system. HEPA filters are pleated mechanical air filters that can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The diameter specification of 0.3 microns corresponds to the worst case or the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) and includes dust, mold, fungus, tobacco smoke and chemicals.The insertion approach adds products to the air to deactivate impurities. These may include spray gases, ions or ozone. Although effective when injected into a space, the elements can have a negative impact on customers and employees when used in high quantities. For this reason, inserting products into the air for purification typically takes place after hours. The contaminant killing process involves the use of UV-C germicidal lights operating at precisely 254 nanometers or wavelengths.
