Applied Photonix Position Statement on Healthcare Air Quality

Position Statement Applied Photonix /ViroZap Product in Mitigating Healthcare/Hospital Air Quality Concern

Background

Air quality in healthcare facilities and hospitals is critical for patient safety, staff well-being, and infection control. Published data1-8 highlights the risks of airborne contaminants, including pathogens, chemical pollutants, and particulate matter, which can compromise recovery and health outcomes. Effective ventilation, air purification, and monitoring systems are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure compliance with standards like ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021. Addressing air quality challenges including ventilation system design requirements that creating safe and healthy environments in healthcare units and hospitals. That is one of the essential components for providing environmental control in these facilities.

ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021

ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-20219 outlines ventilation requirements for healthcare facilities, ensuring environmental control for patient care, comfort, and safety. It addresses inpatient, outpatient, and residential health spaces, focusing on air quality, filtration, pressure relationships, and thermal conditions. The standard emphasizes infection control, energy efficiency, and compliance with design and operational guidelines. It integrates updates for outpatient and residential facilities, aligning with Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) standards. Key features include enhanced filtration, unoccupied turndown provisions, and behavioral health considerations. This comprehensive framework supports optimal healthcare environments while maintaining flexibility for diverse facility needs.

Photonix's air purification technology

Photonix's air purification technology10, featuring Plasmonic Photonic innovation, is a game-changer in indoor air quality. Utilizing Prefiltration, HEPA filtration MERV 14 (MERV - Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), patented plasmonic nanoparticles and UV-A light, it effectively neutralizes airborne pollutants, including viruses, bacteria, mold, and VOCs. The technology is integrated into their ViroZap products, which are FDA-cleared and meet ASHRAE and CDC standards. With energy-efficient design and compatibility with HVAC systems, it ensures clean air while minimizing energy consumption. Applied Photonix's solutions are versatile, catering to homes, offices, and healthcare facilities, making them a reliable choice for advanced air purification needs.

Conclusion

Photonix's air purification technology significantly improves indoor air quality using an effective filtration technology up to MERV- 14 with a prefiltration screening and plasmonic photonic purification techniques designed to eliminate contaminants, thereby fostering a healthier environment. This technology has successfully undergone efficacy testing by an independent laboratory, demonstrating its effectiveness against two types of aerosolized viruses (both RNA and DNA), two categories of bacteria (Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative), and two varieties of mold spores. The results from these tests were obtained under conditions with a flow rate of 500 CFM, revealing that all six bioaerosol challenge organisms were reduced by a net log of 4.0 or more (99.99% or higher) within a 20-minute timeframe. Furthermore, it adheres to the ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021, fulfilling the ventilation, filtration, and air quality standards required for healthcare facilities. This compliance ensures effective management of airborne contaminants, promoting asepsis and patient safety in accordance with industry standards, including ASHRAE Standard 241-2023, ASHRAE 62.1-2019, CDC (center For Disease Control) as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submission 510(k) premarket notification, among others. In conclusion, these technology/products meet or exceed ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021

Signature

Dr. Rajiv Sahay, FIAS, CIAQP
President/ CEO

References

1. Farha Ibrahim, Ely Zarina Samsudin, Ahmad Razali Ishak, and Jeyanthini Sathasivam (2022): Hospital indoor air quality and its relationships with building design, building operation, and occupant-related factors: A mini-review. Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 8; 10:1067764.
2. Ding Li, Han Xiao, Shuang Ma, Xiangxue and Zhang (2022): Health Benefits of Air Quality Improvement: Empirical Research Based on Medical Insurance Reimbursement Data. Front Public Health. 2022 Mar 3; 10:855457.
3. S Y Chair, S T Ng, C Y H Chao, and J F Xu (2023): Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in healthcare: a scoping review J Hosp Infect. 2023 Nov: 141:33-40.
4. M.O.P. Alvarengaa, J.M.M. Diasb, B.J.L.A. Limac, A.S.L. Gomesd and G.Q.M. Monteiroa gabriela (2023): The implementation of portable air-cleaning technologies in healthcare settings – a scoping review. Journal of Hospital Infection Volume 132, Pages 93-103.
5. Benedikt Lenzer, Manuel Rupprecht, Christina Hoffmann, Peter Hoffmann, and Uta Liebers (2020): Health effects of heating, ventilation and air conditioning on hospital patients: a scoping review BMC Public Health. 2020 Aug 26;20(1):1287.
6. Sai Saran, Mohan Gurjar, Arvind Baronia, Vijayalakshmi Sivapurapu, Pralay S. Ghosh, Gautham M. Raju and Indubala Maurya (2020): Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in intensive care unit. Crit Care 24, 194 (2020).
7. Medical Advisory Secretariat (2005): Air cleaning technologies: an evidence-based analysis. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2005;5(17):1-52.
8. NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB 2023/01A): Application of HEPA filter devices for air cleaning in healthcare spaces: guidance and standards
9. ASHRAE (2021): ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021 Health Care Facilities. ISSN 1041-2336.
10. Applied Photonix ViroZap (2025): Protection against the most damaging airborne threats. Virozap | Breathe easy, with Virozap. (https://www.aphotonix.com/)

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