Health Protection Agency in Porton Down tests IQAir high-performance air purifying system
Independent tests carried out by the Health Protection Agency in Porton Down, England, which tested the IQAir Cleanroom H13* air purifying system for 4 micro-organisms, showed that the system has a filter efficiency of over 99.52 %.
The micro-organisms that were selected for these tests were Brevundimonas diminuta NCIMB 11091, MS-2 coliphage NCIMB 10108, Bacillus subtilis var. niger NCTC 10073 and Staphylococcus epidermidis NCIMB 12721. The efficiency rate per run is depicted as a percentage mark as follows:
| Micro-organism | Size | Efficiency in percent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 run | 2 run | 3 run | ||
| Brev. diminuta NCIMB 11091 |
gram negative, rod-like, 0.3 x 0.8 microns | 99.923 | 99.846 | 99.870 |
| MS-2 coliphage NCIMB 10108 |
MS2, model virus, 23 nm diameter | 99.665 | 99.604 | 99.524 |
| B. subtilis var. niger NCTC 10073 |
gram positive, spore-like, 1.1 x 0.6 microns | 99.687 | 99.690 | 99.697 |
| Staph. epidermidis NCIMB 12721 |
gram positive, sphere-like, approx. 0.6 microns diameter |
99.879 | 99.886 | 99.870 |
The tests were carried out in a climatic chamber measuring 3 m by 3 m and a ceiling height of 2 m. The chamber was connected to a ventilation system with filtered supply and discharged air and remote-controlled pressure hoses and electric cables to operate fog machines and to extract samples.
A sample of the filtered air was taken from the air outlet and a comparison sample was taken directly at the air intake hose in front of the filter. This procedure was carried out for each of the micro-organisms. Three samples were taken from the filtered air and the comparison sample was tested once.
The results that the Health Protection Agency reached confirm the benefits of using mobile IQAir air filtration systems to support or preserve traditional methods of infection prevention in critical interior areas. The system’s increased mobility means that it can be used as a quick-reaction unit in the case of epidemics or emergencies; the systems can also be connected to special air hoses or pipes to create positive or negative pressure,
so that airborne micro-organisms or patients with immunodeficiencies can be isolated effectively. Because the installation can be carried out with a minimum of effort and time, there are next to no interruptions to normal operations and daily routine work.
Made in Switzerland, the IQAir is the best mobile air filtration system to be classified in compliance with the stringent HEPA filter test norm (EN1822). Each individual unit is tested and certified, not only for filter efficiency, but also for the integrity of the housing and the quality of the conditioned air.
A sheer endless array of useful features include a 6-stage fan with an LED display which shows the air flow rate as well as a microchip-controlled filter level display which is able to calculate when the next filter replacement is necessary by taking the elapsed operation time, fan setting and level of contamination into account. An integrated timer and a remote control are also included in the scope of delivery.
* The test was performed with an IQAir Cleanroom H13 until 03/2004. This model is comparable to the IQAir Cleanroom 250 MG . The IQAir Cleanroom H13 has a larger filter surface and a higher air flow rate than the IQAir Cleanroom 250 MG, but this does not have any effect on the filter efficiency. The differences lie in the filter service life and the size of the rooms. In contrast to the IQAir Cleanroom H13, the IQAir Cleanroom 250 MG has a special V5-Cell filter to intercept a broad spectrum of gaseous harmful substances and odours.