With a new focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) brought on by the pandemic, air-conditioning product suppliers are finding new ways to integrate systems and add-ons that will provide clean air to hotel guestrooms and public areas.
To address the need for new technology that eliminates harmful pathogens and pollutants from the air, Friedrich Air Conditioning Co. has released Friedrich FreshAire IAQ, a suite of IAQ options and added capabilities for the company’s A/C products.
“We have experienced significant demand for IAQ products and capabilities, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jerad Adams, the company’s senior manager, product management. “We responded with added capabilities and new options for our entire portfolio. We really took this as an opportunity to solidify our reputation as the leading U.S.-based manufacturer of complete room air conditioning solutions designed to deliver healthier IAQ and tackle serious issues such as the removal of allergens, pathogens and pollutants from indoor room air.”
The FreshAire IAQ accessories can be used with Friedrich VRP, Vert-I-Pak and PTAC units, among others.
The products are available for both commercial and residential use. Adams pointed out that hoteliers will find a cost saving by installing the FreshAire IAQ accessories over purchasing new units.
“We find that hoteliers are seeking IAQ product education yet can easily get lost in a vast array of third-party options and technologies,” he said. “Friedrich’s approach is different. We offer customers factory-certified IAQ accessories that have been preselected and tested to meet our equipment’s performance criteria, while addressing poor air quality in the room, near the source. In-room applications also reduce the heavy cost burden and labor of installing whole building systems solutions and dedicated outdoor air systems. We see significant ROI opportunities as guests are willing to pay a small nightly premium for healthier air and clean rooms.”
The FreshAire IAQ line, Adams noted, uses a number of methods to complete the task of cleaning the air.
“We have embraced ASHRAE [American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineer] and other scientific recommendations for how to best achieve exceptional IAQ by addressing not only advanced make-up air and filtration, but also integrating sophisticated air purification and UV-C lighting capabilities,” he said. “The launch of FreshAire IAQ made Friedrich the first company in the U.S. to offer complete and effective room-by-room A/C solutions that meet rigorous standards for delivering safer, healthier indoor air quality.”
The product line includes FreshAire MERV 13 Filtration, Friedrich UV, FreshAire Purifier by iWave and FreshAire Make-up Air (MUA). All of the accessories are available for a number of Friedrich systems. For example, FreshAire MERV 13 Filtration is available on Friedrich Kuhl, Vert-I-Pak and VRP systems, while Friedrich UV can be used with Friedrich PTAC, VRP, Vert-I-Pak and Floating Air Ductless Mini-Split units.
Fresh Air MERV Filtration, the Friedrich executive explained, “is effective at capturing and removing microorganisms from the air, which according to ASHRAE, the leading authority on the science behind advanced IAQ, includes harmful airborne viruses.”
The company partnered with NuCalgon, a manufacturer of bipolar ionization equipment, for FreshAire Purifier by iWave, which “purifies air by creating negative and positive ions that attach to particles such as bacteria, mold and viruses, while also safely reducing allergens, smoke, static electricity and controlling odors without creating ozone or harmful byproducts,” said Adams.
It also teamed with Fresh-Aire UV, a provider of UV light and carbon products, for Friedrich UV, where, Adams noted, “germicidal UV-C light is emitted, killing mold, bacteria and viruses.”
The FreshAire Make-up Air system brings in outdoor air, and then conditions and filters it. “This technology helps building owners meet ASHRAE 62.1 requirements,” said Adams. “The result is a revolutionary HVAC product capable of unparalleled IAQ and optimal temperature and humidity control.”
While the FreshAire accessories are available to hotels that have already installed Friedrich A/C systems, Adams noted that they will be preinstalled in all future units.
“Demand is now driving the availability of more factory-installed IAQ options to save valuable time at installation,” he said. “I don’t believe the baseline technology has advanced much, although other IAQ manufacturers may disagree. However, OEM [original equipment manufacturer]integration has rapidly evolved. We work directly with IAQ manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the products are optimized in our equipment and do not erode system performance. You will continue to see this, as an industry, in all future HVAC equipment launches.”
