Coronavirus-hit schools offered free COVID-19 killing tech

Coronavirus-killing company Purer Clean Air is offering free virus-killing technology to COVID-19 hit Scottish schools to help reassure staff, pupils and parents that they are safe.

After seeing reports in the media on how some parents and staff were reluctant to return to the schools where there have been clusters of coronavirus, Purer Clean Air Chief Executive Raymond McGurk felt he had to act.

“Schools need to be open”

He said: “When you see in the media that people are afraid for their children or their partners, it’s a very emotional thing, but the schools need to be open so that parents can get back to their jobs, the economy can try to get going again and children get the education that they need. Schools need to be open – they are a vital part of the community.

“So we’ve decided that we’ll work with the schools impacted and see what technology we can offer that will help reassure parents, pupils and staff around the quality of the air in the schools.

”What this will let them do is create areas that are free of COVID-19.”

Clears COVID-19 in under 20 minutes

The technology – which can clear a room of COVID-19 in under 20 minutes – is already in use in the NHS Nightingale hospitals in England, Chinese hospitals, a Welsh gym chain, Glasgow dental chain Commonwealth Dental Practice and taxi companies.

The devices are so effective due to their DNO filters. The DNO Filters in the ‘HA series’ air purifiers capture, kill and convert pollution and particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns.  As the average COVID-19 particle is 0.12 microns, the filters can kill viruses up to 40 times smaller than COVID-19.

Kills tobacco and alcohol fumes as well as CO

The air purifiers also remove other pollutants such as nitrogen and sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, bacteria, formaldehyde, odour from tobacco and alcohol, along with some of the smallest pollutant and micron-level particles from the air.  The air purifiers are highly energy efficient with low running costs.  The DNO filters last up to 18 months between replacement.

Through LEDS on the exterior, the air purifiers detail the air quality levels in a room or building.  The HA800 unit delivers purer clean air to over 800m2 of area but other unit sizes – including car units – are available.

The air purifiers were originally created to combat air pollution in general but their capacity to capture and kill micron level particles means they can easily destroy COVID-19 and similar viruses. It has been evaluated and approved by Swiss-based SGS, the world-leading inspection and certification company.

Oxford scientist expertise

McGurk was approached by Healthy Air Technology UK – whose Oxford scientists are behind the device – due to his passion and expertise over air quality issues.

He said: “This is about safety and providing reassurance. People need equipment like this so they can get on with running their businesses and providing a safe service.”

McGurk – who is also a director of indoor air quality experts BRS Technology – was contacted to partnership with the Healthy Air Technology UK scientists due to his previous work and campaigning for better air quality, particularly in social housing.

Dr Tiancun Xiao, Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Inorganic Chemistry Department who helped develop the science and technology around the ‘HA series’ of air purifiers, said: “Recent scientific research shows that coronavirus can remain viable in the air for up to three hours and can exacerbate underlying health conditions.

“From a clinical perspective using medical grade air purification systems has a positive impact by diluting concentrations of air pollutants and viruses quickly to safe levels.”

Jim Brathwaite CBE, Chairman of Healthy Air Technology, said: “Healthy Air machines can continually clean the air of viruses and bacteria that float in the air. For some businesses, machines like this are what make the difference between being able to operate and not.”

McGurk added: “What we have to stress though – and this is vital – is that while our purifiers kill airborne pollutants and coronavirus to levels of at least 99.99%, there is still the need to clean surfaces and follow the recommended advice for social distancing.

“As we’re reaching out to the schools and education bodies around this, that’s something we need to stress – our technology can clean the air but you still want to observe the other guidelines as well for maximum protection.’’

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