22 April 2021
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LG Artcool with particulate filtration, ionisation and UV technology
Vish Sodhi, national specification manager for LG Electronics Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, discusses why improvements to air conditioning fan coil filtration are a welcome addition.
The international community is working to understand the effect of indoor air quality (IAQ) on our overall health, life expectancy and more.
Europeans in modern society spend approximately 90% of their time indoors from home and work to school and public spaces. Best practices for operation and maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to optimise indoor air quality while reducing risks is more important than ever before. Studies have shown that air pollution can negatively impact our health.
The current global pandemic also focuses on the adverse health effects caused by inadequate ventilation. In areas with a higher concentration of pollution, research has found that this lower air quality can exacerbate several health conditions, including respiratory diseases and cardiovascular damage, and is linked to premature mortality worldwide.
In 2009, it was estimated that 83% of people living in cities across Europe have been exposed to pollution at levels above World Health Organisation guidelines. The air we breathe contains visible or invisible pollutants, whether produced by humans — like exhaust fumes, cooking methods, cleaning products, or the environment — such as pollen, bacteria, and fine dust. And because indoor air is more concentrated, its quality is typically worse than that of open space.
Five-step air purification
Offering a solution to the problem of ultrafine dust sees air conditioning manufacturers improve their air purification processes with high-performance products that deliver clean air in large spaces. Recent introductions include a five-step air purification process that removes odour, germs, and invisible particulate matter of 1.0µm, graded as fine dust. This filter can generally be cleaned with water, allowing semi-permanent usage for a healthier indoor space.
LG has recently received the seal of approval from Allergy UK for its air purification kits for one way and four-way cassettes. This follows tests undertaken late in 2020 and systems also meet Korean standards SPS KACA002 132:2018 for indoor air cleaners.
The test on the one-way cassette saw the air purification test achieve a 99.9% reduction in 50nm ultrafine dust in thirty-five minutes with the appliance operating and achieving a 91.2% reduction in Staphylococcus Epidermidis bacteria in sixty minutes in a 60 m³ chamber with the appliance operating. It also achieved a 95.3% reduction in Phi-X174 virus in thirty minutes in a 60 m³chamber with the appliance operating.
The four-way cassette tests saw the air purification unit achieve a 99.9% of 50nm ultrafine dust within ten minutes with the appliance operating and achieve a 99.9% of 100nm ultrafine dust removed in nine minutes with the appliance operating. The results for bacteria and virus removal were equally impressive, with the achievement of a 99.9% reduction in Staphylococcus Epidermidis bacteria in sixty minutes in a 60³ chamber with the appliance operating and a 99.4% reduction in Phi-X174 virus in thirty minutes in a 60 m³ chamber with the appliance operating.
Integrated technology
Further anti-bacterial technology is being added to air conditioning products across the industry so users can breathe easier. Ultraviolet LED technology ensures the air passing through is clean and reduces the bacteria present on the unit’s fan. The UV rays emitting LEDs are placed underneath the fan and directly damage the DNA of microorganisms, thus making it impossible for them to multiply.
This is an area of activity that will continue to grow in importance and see increasing activity levels from all companies operating in the sector, contributing to this vital technology and a person's overall wellbeing.
