High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are the key technique used for particulate removal in individual and integrated public safety systems. The effectiveness of HEPA filters has been proven over decades, to regulate the spread of airborne particles and organisms like viruses and bacteria. Many studies recommend HEPA filters in hospitals, infection control clinics and other healthcare facilities to eliminate germs and other harmful particles.
Effectiveness of HEPA filters.
Air purifiers with HEPA filtration by Castellex Bio series air filters can capture particles the size of the virus that causes COVID-19 and even smaller than that. The virus that causes COVID-19 is approximately 0.125 micron (125 nanometers) in diameter. It falls within the particle-size range that HEPA filters capture with extraordinary efficiency: 0.01 micron (10 nanometers) and above. Castellex air purifiers and Biological air filtration stations are most efficient—almost 100% at 0.01 micron—at capturing ultra-fine particles below the 0.3-micron HEPA test standard. A 2016 study by NASA found that “HEPA filters are nearly 100% efficient at capturing the spectrum of particles down to the very smallest airborne particles.”
Castellex HEPA removes 99.97% of particles of size 0.3 microns or above that. The particulate matter below 0.3 microns will be captured by electrostatic attractive force to HEPA material. The efficiency of HEPA filters is measured at MPPS (most penetrating particle size).
High-efficiency air filters are often installed in HVAC systems, filtering out biological pollutants and particulates carried by the airstream, preventing them from recirculating back to space. When unfiltered air flows through the HVAC unit, the air filter captures and holds the pollutants in the air. Thus, the choice of Castellex HEPA filter can provide an additional layer of protection from airborne pathogens.
It’s also important to understand, HEPA filters don’t actively kill living organisms. They work by capturing and holding microorganisms or particles within the matrix of the filter.
How Airborne Viruses Spread?
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses including COVID-19 spread in the air by close person-to-person contact, especially when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Small aerosol particles from a bodily fluid, cough or sneeze can remain airborne for hours. Millions of viruses present in the air and the surfaces can easily be transmitted with simple contact. According to scientists, coughs and sneezes can travel several feet and stay suspended within the air for up to 10 minutes and virus on a surface can survive up and remain infectious to four hours at room temperature.
Why there is a need for air filtration?
Using air filtering near a coronavirus the patient can adequately reduce the viral load within the surroundings and can help to decrease the probability of others becoming infected. The critical mode of disease progression occurs through lung tissue re-infection through air circulation in the environment of the patient. The natural load of disease transmission from one individual to a different individual through the air could function as a mechanism of self re-infection, leading to the progression of the infection across multiple regions of lung tissue.
The only way to reliably remove germ-containing particles virus sized particles from the air is by circulating the entire volume of air in a room or enclosed space multiple times per hour to increase the likelihood that nearly weightless virus particles will enter the airflow of a filter. Castellex uses this technology for air purification. Air filters reduce the airborne presence of infectious viral particles. Airborne particles get accumulated in the air filters during this process and reduce the risky presence of viral particles on the surfaces that need to be touched necessarily. Their use may reduce the risks posed by gaps in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), reducing the chances of alert people being infected.
Thus, the filtering of the air in and around the surroundings of a patient can reduce the viral load in the environment. More importantly, viral concentration in the patient’s lungs may reduce. So installing Castellex air purifiers around a patient may lead to a decrease in the severity of the symptoms.
How Castellex Air Purifiers Can Help?
The filters in Castellex Bio series air purifier can trap airborne particles by utilizing the size exclusion, in which the air is forced through the filter and the particles are physically captured. In general, removal and disinfection are the two major methods that have been adopted to control bioaerosols in the environment. In the removal technique, Castellex air purifier with filters (high-efficiency particulate air filter) is used to capture and eliminate infectious bioaerosols. In the disinfection process, disinfectants such as a light catalyzer, UV lamp, and chlorine are used to kill microorganisms in the air. Castellex’s high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration technique is used successfully to reduce bioaerosols in laboratories and hospitals. The major working of the Castellex high-efficiency air filter involves removing microparticles from the air in the indoor environment. Also, the indoor installation of an air purifier can significantly reduce airborne bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria. Researchers have reported the effective performance of the HEPA filter against aerosolized bacteria through experiments.
Air filtration solutions depend on the level of risk in which it is used. Most densely populated areas such as laboratories, content structures, isolated areas require a very high level of protection compared to low-risk areas or controlled areas such as homes or small business areas. Effective protection for low-risk areas like homes, small gatherings etc.… is offered by ES The Castellex Air 70 Bio, a four-stage air filtration (recirculation) system. This air purifier improve air quality suitable for domestic and commercial environments for protection against general pollution, but also effective against Bio related pollution. This system is fitted with a highest-rated H14 HEPA High-Efficiency Particulate filter, an F7-rated pre-filter and capable of removing general pollutants, harmful microscopic particles, ultra-fine particles, pollen, Allergens, Mould, traps most known biological pollutants including bacteria and some viruses. Castellex Air 70 Bio is an individual or collective recirculation filtration system (Air Purifier) intended for use in individual rooms or areas where several people gathering together, like sitting/dining room, waiting rooms, schools, nurseries, orthodontic cabinets, etc.
High-risk applications require air protection and filter equipment of HEPA Class H13 or higher besides the use of special personnel protective equipment and clothing. Protection for the high risk the environment is offered by Castellex Air550. The Castellex Air550 Bio is automated three-stage air filtration system with an internal backup battery suitable for use in nuclear bunkers, panic rooms, and bomb shelters as well as in domestic and commercial environments at high risk from pollution or attack. This system is fitted with a high-efficiency main pre-filter, an F7 rated pre filter, impregnated carbon filter and highest-rated H14 HEPA filter capable of removing all known Biological Contaminants, warfare gases, and nuclear fallout from the air. Castellex Air 550 Bio series protect you from all known warfare gases and also Biological weapons/ contamination, radioactive contamination, Radioactive Iodine and Iodine Organic Compounds, Acidic gases, Volatile Organic Compounds and more.
HEPA can be installed in HVAC systems, filtering out biological pollutants and particulate matter carried by the air-stream, preventing them from entering or recirculating back into the room. As unfiltered air flows through the HVAC unit, the air filter captures and holds the airborne particulate pollutants. In HVAC units, ventilation system captures dust particles, chemical contaminants and harmful bacteria and virus along with other toxic particles.
Castellex Bio series and NBC filters and Covid-19
Castellex Bio series HEPA filter tests up to 99.97% efficiency on particles down to 0.3 microns in size, and have the capability to filter down to 0.01 micron at a still extraordinary, yet lesser efficiency. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) falls in between 0.06 micron (60 nanometers) and 0.14 micron (140 nanometers) in diameter.
Castellex Air90 Bio high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can be used as an adjunctive means for decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in individual or healthcare settings. The Castellex Air90 Bio is a four-stage air filtration positive/ negative pressure system designed to improve air quality. This unit is suitable in domestic and commercial environments for protection against general pollution, but also effective against Bio related pollution. Air 90 Bio Medical-grade Filtration unit is capable of removing general pollutants, harmful microscopic particles, ultra-fine particles, pollen, allergens, moulds, biological pollutants including bacteria and larger viruses such as corona, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), Odours / Gases. In this current COVID-19 era, installation of Castellex Air90 Bio in individual rooms or areas where several people gathering together gives an additional grade of protection against the coronavirus, which easily spread by social contact.
The Castellex Air Bio air filtration stations are designed with preinstalled 4 staged high-efficiency filters. 4 stages of filtration provides 4 additional levels of protection.
STAGE 1 UV LIGHT FILTER: UV light harms cells by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, which either kills them or leaves them incapacitated. After prolonged exposure to UV light, cells are unable to perform their vital functions. With an air purifier with UV-light technology, the air is pulled into the appliance and then passes through an internal filter chamber where it is exposed to UV light. UV light, when properly utilized, can reduce or even eliminate the amount of viruses and bacteria in the air.
STAGE 2 PRE-FILTER: Pre-filters are mainly used to trap large particles in the air. This process is extremely effective for removing large particles, such as dust, pollen or pet dander and saves other filters from clogging up too fast.
STAGE 3 HEPA FILTER: High-efficiency HEPA filters used by Castellex effectively trap hazardous bacteria and viruses to provide full protection.
STAGE 4 ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER: The key function of carbon filter technology in VOCs removal. This type of filter is an absorbent filter that will retain certain vapours passing through it to control odours or chemical smells.
Castellex air purifiers utilization for Coronavirus can be considered an adjunctive infection control measure and undertaken with knowledge of HEPA filter functionality and limitations in mind.
Wide Applications of Castellex Air Purifiers for Biological protection
· Castellex Air Purifiers are frequently used in modern buildings in order to control the spread of airborne particulates and infectious agents.
· Castellex is widely used in biological safety cabinets, to provide maximum possible protection for people, products, samples and the medical laboratory environment.
· Castellex Air purifier with H14 filters are used in pharmaceutical industries, to provide maximum protection for the drugs manufactured and dispensed in the pharmacy.
· Castellex Air Purifiers with H14 filters are also used in operation theatres and other critical medical air filtration applications, to ensure safe sterile environment, to protect the patient from infection and employees and visitors from airborne pathogens. Recently, HEPA filters are being installed in critical care patient rooms to protect immunocompromised patients.
· HEPA is used in industrial vacuum cleaners.
· Castellex Air550 Bio and NBC series filters are also used in nuclear power plants, food and beverage industries and other fields were workers are exposed to hazardous materials. Selecting, installing, and maintaining enhanced Castellex air-filtration and air-cleaning systems in building or offices protect the employees who are working there for long hours and also provide a safe environment for customers. Air-filtration and air-cleaning systems by Castellex can remove a variety of contaminants from a building’s airborne environment. The effectiveness of a particular filter design or air-cleaning media will depend upon the nature of the contaminant. Castellex has different filtration units with various specifications according to your requirements.
