The arrival of the pandemic meant a new focus on the quality of the air that we breathe. While some hotels have been able to completely replace or upgrade their HVAC systems, not everyone has the ability—or the budget—to do this.
“In Europe, the topic of air purification was not particularly relevant before the pandemic, as opposed to, for example, Asia,” said Carsten Hermann, cofounder/CEO, Europe, AiroDoctor, which has recently launched a system to retrofit ceiling air-conditioning cassettes. “We expect this topic to remain important in the long-term, and that the pandemic was merely the catalyst. It’s about an increased awareness among people of the quality of the air that surrounds us and that we breathe. In addition to viruses and bacteria, this also involves allergens, odors and other microorganisms. Hoteliers want their guests to feel at home with them. The feeling of safety plays a very important role in this respect.”
The company has introduced AiroDoctor V10P-AC, what it calls the world’s first installation kit for ceiling cassettes. The kit makes it possible to equip split air-conditioning systems with an antibacterial and antiviral photocatalysis module using UV-A photocatalysis technology.
UV-A photocatalysis, a certified and internationally patented air purification technology, has been proven to decompose 99.9% of pathogens and pollutants using UV-A light from high-power LEDs in reaction with a special catalyst made of titanium dioxide (TiO2). Thus, unlike conventional filter methods, the photocatalysis module sustainably eliminates harmless viruses, bacteria, harmful gases and other particles that are hazardous to health, according to the company.
“Like all of our air purifiers, our AiroDoctor V10 series is designed to be very low-maintenance and extremely durable, with at least 50,000 hours of product lifetime,” he said. “Since the devices are upgrades for existing air-conditioning systems, they can be integrated into a hotel’s existing indoor air infrastructure without any additional planning effort—regardless of the brand or model. Thanks to the automatic mode and operation with recirculated or mixed air, the usage is not only energy efficient, but also sustainable.”
