What is an Air Purifier ?
An air purifier or air cleaners as they are sometimes called, is a self contained unit that sits in a room they are to serve and must be plugged into an electrical socket. They typically comprise of a filter and a fan that sucks the room air into the filter system and discharges purified air back in to the room. As air moves through the filter, pollutants and particles are captured. MMS Medical is the authorised distributor of the Rensair Hospital Grade Air Purifier in Ireland, one of the leading products in air filtrations in the world.
What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air and refers to filters made in accordance with specific requirements. HEPA filters are mechanical filters with a capacity for sifting small particles at a much higher rate than any other conventional filter.
What’s important about HEPA filters is they’re incredibly effective at capturing almost every size of particle. They can capture viruses, bacteria, pollen, PM2.5, allergens, and more.
What is a HEPA 13 Filter?
Rensair was orignally developed for Scandiavian Hospitals and is now used around the world, not only in hospitals but in businesses, schools, universities, nursing home, day care centre. Hospital grade HEPA filters are H13 HEPA and above. Rensair contains a HEPA 13 filter.
What is UVC light?
UVC light is short-wavelength ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 200-290 nanometres. It is characterized as germicidal because it inactivates bacteria and viruses, from the seasonal flu to SARS-CoV-2. It disrupts the molecular bonds of their DNA and RNA, preventing the viruses from reproducing and causing illness.
Note that UVC light can be dangerous to humans if used in an open environment. Rensair’s UVC light is safely encapsulated within the filter and hence presents no exposure risk.
How does the Rensair Air Purifier work?
1. PRE-FILTERS
The Rensair air purifier sucks in the surrounding air from the top inlet perforations. Air travels through the removable pre-filters placed at the top of the machine, which catch and trap larger airborne particles and dust.
2. FAN
A powerful fan pushes the pre-filtered air down into the cylindrical shaped H13 HEPA filter located in the middle of the unit. The fan creates high static air pressure in the cylinder, which is necessary to allow sufficient air to flow through the high quality H13 HEPA filter and to boost air cleaning capacity.
3. HEPA H13 FILTER
As air hits the H13 HEPA filter, bacteria, viruses and smaller airborne particles and pollutants become trapped on its inner surface and held in place.
4. UVC LIGHT
An 18w UVC lamp placed in the centre of the cylindrical drum continuously illuminates the entire filtration area. The UVC light breaks down the DNA and RNA of pathogens and thereby inactivates them. This continuous disinfection process ensures that the Rensair air purifier is always safe to operate and maintain.
5. CLEAN AIR
Large volumes of clean air travel out of the unit via the lower perforations. The cylindrical shape of the Rensair air purifier allows air to flow out in every direction, enabling effective air circulation suitable for almost all locations.
What type of stuff will Rensair remove from the air?
A. Bacteria and viruses (Pathogens). This includes but is not limited to the Coronavirus family, Parainfluenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Paramyxovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Francisella tularensis, Haemophilus influenzae, Orthomyxovirus – Influenza, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Adenovirus, Reovirusø , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus parainfluenzae.
B. Mold spores and yeasts
C. Pollen and allergens
D. Odours; typically from household fumes, cooking or smoking
Why is Rensair’s unique airflow system so effective?
For three reasons:
A. Air enters at the top of the unit – away from the ‘dirty zone’ near the floor – and, after passing through pre-filters, is pushed down by a powerful fan into the cylinder-shaped H13 HEPA filter below. Pushing air through the filter is far more effective than sucking it through, increasing air volumes and conserving power.
B. High static air pressure is created inside the cylinder to push air outwards through the dense H13 HEPA filter. This design ensures that air leaves the unit at 360 degrees and full room air circulation is achieved. It purifies up to 560m3 per hour, not just the air immediately surrounding the unit.
C. As viruses, bacteria and other airborne microorganisms hit the pleated inside surface of the H13 HEPA filter, they are trapped. The continued air flow keeps the microorganisms stuck on the filter surface. The uninterrupted airflow means that viruses and other particulate matter are held in place and cannot escape destruction by the 18W UVC lamp. ‘Fly-by-kill’ products do not subject viruses to UVC light long enough to guarantee inactivation, because the particles are moving targets
Why are Air purifiers or air cleaners now recommended for use during the Covid-19 Pandemic?
When the WHO ( World Health Oraganisation) formally recognised that Covid was an airborne transmitted disease, it changed tack and immediately recommended enhanced ventilation of rooms to reduce the concentration of airborne infected particles in the air. This resulted in greater emphasis by the WHO on airborne transmission over fomite transmission. This is in line with scientific research that has been available for a long time and it ties in with previous Coronavirus pandemics (SARS and MERS). This should allow people to prioritise truly effective risk mitigation strategies and motivate the right behaviours to limit transmission, e.g. ventilation, air purification, masks and safe distancing instead of overzealous surface cleaning. In early May, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made similar changes to its Covid-19 guidance, now placing the inhalation of aerosols at the top of its list of how the disease spreads.
To fight infectious aerosols, the air itself is the enemy. That’s where Rensair comes in.
With a unique combination of H13 HEPA filtration and UVC light, the Rensair hospital-grade air purifier from MMS Medical destroys a minimum of 99.97% of airborne viruses, including Covid-19, providing clean air for every person and enabling a safe return to work.
How do I use Rensair Air Purifier?
The Rensair is a portable air purifier that is simply wheeled in to a room, plugged into a standard electrical socket and switched on.
As it does its job, the HEPA filter becomes loaded with contaminated particulate matter. Constant illumination of the filter by UVC light ensures the destruction of all live bacteria or viruses that have been trapped, including Coronavirus. With all contamination eradicated, the used filter is rendered safe and requires no specialist staff for maintenance.
The Rensair air purifier will run for 9000 hours (~1 year) before the HEPA 13 filter and UVC lamp need to be replaced. A service indicator on the unit’s display panel will automatically alert when the parts need to be replaced.
Changing the HEPA 13 filter and UVC lamp is straightforward and can be undertaken in five minutes.
To arrange an onsite assessment and demonstration of the Rensair Air Purifier from MMS Medical please email us on info@mmsmedical.ie