If you or your staff are experiencing the following; headaches, skin problems, unexplained fatigue among people working in the building OR Many short sick leaves then you have a problem with your indoor air and should read further.

Active Oxygen is a very effective disinfectant deodorant for ventilation systems. As it leaves no chemical residue, it is ideal for continuous dosing of air conditioning systems in occupied building, where it provides the following benefits:

• Cleaning duct systems
• Cleaner space/rooms served by the duct system
• Fewer incidences of illnesses transmitted by airborne pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
• Reduces build up of mould on ventilation system filter and on condenser coils.
• Slower Food spoilage rates, less food poisoning and increased shelf life of fresh foods.
• Reduced indoor air pollution levels
• Reduced tendency for Building Related illness (BRI)
• Reduced tendency for Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
• Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Can reduce power consumption and system costs by 30% due to less make up air required (as cleaner recirculated air) and lower pressure drop (due to less mould on filter and condenser coils).

Introduction
In a study completed in Sweden it was found that more than 500 people die every year as a result of poor indoor air. Sweden is not the only country that is experiencing the trend of an increasing number of people suffering from allergies and asthma. This is a global phenomenon.

It is actually quite frightening to know just how much we depend on indoor air for survival. We spend up to 90% of our day indoors. This means that the air we breathe comes almost exclusively from indoor sources. Most of us are no doubt aware of the dangers we face when in an outdoor environment but we are very ignorant of those we face indoors.

Why We Need Good Ventilation
All air contains pollutants, albeit in varying degrees, depending very much on time and place. We do a lot to reduce the emissions that could harm outdoor air but we do little to improve the quality of indoor air.

By definition indoor air is contaminated air from outside. Consider this; what we breathe indoors is actually a mix of outdoor air and pollutants from construction materials, people, animals, machines and other items or things we find indoors. It is often the case that these pollutants are trapped indoors and a special system is required to remove them.

There is no doubt that people feel better when they have clean air to breathe. Everyone knows what it is like to walk from inside a 'stuffy' room to outside. We perform better when breathing fresh air and it has also been proven that with improved air flows the number of sick days goes down translating into improved productivity. 

SBS or Sick Building Syndrome
One of the consequences of a poor indoor climate that is somewhat obscure and difficult to deal with is the so-called Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS can manifest itself by a number of different symptoms such as nausea, headaches, itchiness, nasal problems and many more. A person that is afflicted with SBS is often so only in a specific building with the problems becoming worse the more time they spend in the building. However almost immediately after leaving the building these symptoms will begin to lessen. It has been shown though that over extended period SBS sufferers will suffer from a lowered resistance and their symptoms will become more acute.

The factors that play a large role in the incidence of SBS is poor ventilation, dampness or mould, poor cleaning and the presence of copying machines and air humidifiers.

Factors Affecting Us

Air Velocity
If indoor air is to maintain a high standard it cannot be allowed to stand still. The concept on which ventilation is based is the removal of stale air and replacing it with fresh air. When air is moving too fast however people also experience negative effects. Drafts for many is as big a problem as stale air! It is therefore important to be able to control the velocities of air flow in ventilated areas.

Humidity
In recent times, "dry air" has become something of a buzzword. Many people ask for humidifers in an attempt to remedy what they consider to be dry air. Very often however their diagnosis of "dry air" is wrong. Instead in most instances the real cause is an incorrect ambient temperature. Lowering the temperature in a room will increase the relative humidity.

To install an air humidifier can also often make the situation worse since high humidity results in other issues. For example the risk of damage from moulds and dampness increase substantially. At an air humidity of 45% which is easily achieved through the use of a humidifier, dust mites thrive.

Air Pollution
Pollution of indoor air is a combination of the pollutants from several sources. Outdoor air that is not cleaned can get in, both through the ventilation system and also through other openings in the building. Construction material and interiors can also emit pollutants. All modern ventilation systems have filters that can cleanse the air of the larger particles and pollen. However these have to be properly maintained or they simply will not work. The largest risk however comes from ultra fine particles.

The Role Of Active Oxygen

Active Oxygen is enriched oxygen and is nature’s own powerful purifier. The many possibilities for using Active Oxygen are due to its oxidizing and germicidal properties.

Active Oxygen kills micro-organisms by breaking down their protein structure. It sterilizes a wide range of bacteria, virus’s moulds, fungus, yeast’s mildew, amoebae and algae, including various pathogenic and non-pathogenic germs.

Active Oxygen also deodorizes many organic and inorganic odours, both gases and small particulate. It does this by a process of oxidation, permanently converting the odour into water vapour, and other compounds such as carbon dioxide.

Active Oxygen leaves no chemical residue as unused Active Oxygen rapidly decomposes back into oxygen. Since it is generated on site the safety problems associated with liquid disinfectant storage, handling and transportation are reduced. 

Indoor Air Quality
Duct systems are not only a perfect conduit for the spread of micro organisms, but they are also its source. Their environments are especially conductive to increasing bacteria and moulds. Because they re-circulate large volumes of indoor air, they can transport “system generated” micro-organisms, from room to room and therefore from person to person.

In the majority of cases, the effect of filtration is reduced because the proliferation of micro organisms occurs downstream to the filters, allowing micro organisms to travel through space before returning to the HVAC system. Also viruses and most bacteria are too small to be captured by the average filter. Filters are ideal breeding grounds for micro organisms too and rely on regular maintenance to perform according to specification

Active Oxygen and Ventilation Ducts
Active Oxygen gas is widely used to treat Ventilation ducts using 2 methods. Periodic Duct cleaning and Continuous Duct dosing. It is ideal for air conditioning ducts and heating ducts, found throughout residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

1. Periodic Duct Cleaning: Active Oxygen gas is widely used for duct cleaning and disinfecting, where it is particularly effective against mould, mildew, odours, bacteria and legionnaires disease. This is known as Periodic Duct Cleaning because it is undertaken by Duct Cleaning Contractors whilst the building is unoccupied.
2. Continuous Duct Dosing Active Oxygen is also used for duct dosing. Active Oxygen purifiers are installed as an integral part of the duct on a permanent basis. By gently injecting the correct Active Oxygen dosage, destruction of microorganisms and odours, both in the duct system as well as in the space/room served by the duct system occurs.
   Active Oxygen has gained a rapid reputation for improving indoor Air Quality and preventing “Building related Illnesses”.

Active Oxygen Duct Dosing is suitable for residential and office buildings, hotels, clubs, hospitals, animal holding facilities, etc. It is also ideal for air-conditioned food storage and preparation areas where it not only improves air quality, but also can extend the shelf life of fresh food.

Dosing the air conditioning system will reduce odours and harmful microorganisms in the space being ventilated, as well as preventing microorganisms from growing and multiplying within the ductwork itself.
Application for Duct Dosing
Active Oxygen air purifiers can be used to treat air and surfaces in al types of duct systems:

• Refrigerated air conditioning units.
• Evaporative air conditioning units.
• Heating systems.
• Fan and Filter systems
  
  Active Oxygen is suitable for residential, commercial and industrial systems.

Control Methods for Duct Dosing
An ambient Active Oxygen sensor/controller like those of Aeroqual can be used in conjunction with Active Oxygen purifiers to automatically control the Active Oxygen output, maintaining a predetermined concentration level. e.g.: 0.04ppm or 0.1ppm. This ensures that Active Oxygen levels remain in a safe range but yet affording all the benefits.

Duct Dosing versus “In Space Purifiers”
Active Oxygen purifiers are available, which can be mounted in the space itself – to the wall to the ceiling space and protruding into the space, or used as a portable unit.

Duct dosing however is preferable to mounting in the space itself – for the following reasons:
The Active Oxygen deodorises and disinfects the duct and space, not just the space.

The Active Oxygen is dispersed into the space relatively evenly. This is based on the assumption that most air conditioning duct systems are well designed and balanced, to spread the conditioned air (cooled or heated throughout the whole space.

By injecting Active Oxygen into the same system, Active Oxygen is carried with the air and distributed evenly.
The Active Oxygen purifier is hidden from view. Therefore when a duct system exists, duct dosing should be used as the method of choice.

Active Oxygen Dosing versus Sanitising Liquids
Some companies offer sanitising liquids, which are injected into the duct, as either large mist droplets of fine aerosols.

They can be injected periodically or in some cases, continuously. Sanitising liquids can have the following disadvantages:

1. They “wet” the inside of the duct. This in turn attracts and holds dust and therefore the dust builds up and lines the duct. Eventually the dust dries up and is re-entrained into the airstreams, supplying a steady stream of dust into the conditioned air and into the space.
2. Because of the “wetting effect”, when dust builds up on the liquid the anti-microbial action of the liquid is impaired, as it is insulated from the airstreams dust. Even in dustless conditions, the anti-microbial effect is eventually “used up” and is not continuous.
3. If the liquid is applied periodically then shortly after application its concentration in the duct is high. During this early stage, the air can entrain the liquid and deposit it in the space at reasonably high concentrations, as a mist or solvent. This is unacceptable for people working in the space.
4. The liquid clings to duct walls. Thus it does not sterilise those microorganisms, which travel down the centre line of the duct.

Active Oxygen duct dosing however, does not “wet” the duct, does not attract or release dust, is continuous and steady state (assuming maintenance and control), kills micro-organisms both on duct surfaces and in the airstreams, and leaves no chemical residue as it returns to oxygen after a short period.

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