Many times, you’ll hear about air purification systems for residential customers. However, having purification systems isn’t just for the average homeowner. Rather, the commercial building owner should also consider investing in air purification systems to keep people, processes, and equipment safe from airborne impurities.
What Are Air Purifiers?
Air purifiers our systems that have filters that remove pollutants and unwanted particles from the air. Air purifiers work by using a fan that sucks air into the purifying unit and circulates it through the filter and back out into the room. Filters are made of fiber, paper, or even mesh. It’s crucial to know that air purifier filters need to be changed on a consistent basis for the purification system to work appropriately. When comparing the cost of potential air purification systems, it’s always essential that you factor in the cost of regularly replacing the filter for the system that you’re going to be purchasing.
Most Common Types of Pollutants
Airborne pollutants fall into two different categories: biological and chemical. Most air purifiers are specifically designed to target biological pollutants, which include dust mites, germs, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. In most commercial settings, chemical pollutants are the most common. These pollutants can be caused by construction by-products, combustion by-products, manufacturing processes, and indoor accidents. They can even be brought in from the outside via your ventilation system. Chemical pollutants can be harmful to both the people in your facility as well as your equipment.
Types of Commercial Air Purification Systems
There are five main types of air purification systems that you can install in your commercial building. Each system comes along with its own benefit, and you may find that you need to use multiple systems in order to filter out the most common pollutants that you have inside your building.
Germicidal Air Purifier
The air filter on your HVAC system is great at catching larger airborne particles like dust, debris, and dander. However, bacteria, viruses, and other germs can easily pass through most HVAC air filters. This is where germicidal air purifiers are necessary to help trap, kill, and prevent harmful pathogens from living in your indoor air.
Bipolar Ionization Generators
If your HVAC system is rooftop mounted, then you may be able to benefit from a bipolar ionization generator. This is a self-cleaning air purification system that works by emitting both positive and negative ions. This works to kill bacteria, mold, and viruses, as well as to control odors. With bipolar ionization generators, you don’t have to worry about modifying any of your existing ductwork.
UV Lamps
UV or ultraviolet lamps are another type of air purification system that you can use to remove bacteria, fungi, and mold from your building. These lamps emit UV-C light that works to sterilize your equipment and air so that it’s cleaner and healthier to breathe.
HEPA Filters
Another popular method for air purification in a commercial building is a HEPA air filter. Known as a high-efficiency particulate air filter, this mechanical air filter is constructed of a fine mesh material that removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or bigger. This includes pollen, dust, mold, and bacteria. These filters are highly recommended to prevent respiratory issues like allergies and asthma.
Air Exchangers
Air exchangers work to circulate air throughout your building regularly. This helps to keep the air from going stale. Additionally, it helps to replace polluted air from the inside with fresh air from the outside.
There are many factors to consider, from the type of airborne pollutants that you’re trying to get rid of to connecting to your existing HVAC system. With so many different air purification options, it’s a good idea to consult a professional about which ones you should utilize in your building.
Top Reasons to Invest in Commercial Air Purifiers
Commercial air purification systems may seem like a great idea to invest in. However, you may just have not gotten around to it yet. If you’re still on the fence about investing in this type of system, it’s important to understand all the benefits that you can gain from having one.
Odor Elimination
Probably one of the biggest benefits that commercial building owners enjoy from adding an air purification system to their structure is the elimination of unwanted odors. When smells get trapped within your building, it can be very unpleasant for both employees and visitors alike. These smells can come from many different sources, including smoke, cooking, chemicals, pets, and even musty air. These nasty smells can ruin the atmosphere that you’re trying to create within your building. When you invest in an air purification system, it will work to eliminate all of those unwanted odors.
Fewer Bacteria and Allergy Symptoms
Apart from getting rid of dust and other airborne particles, an air purification system can be a great option to help significantly reduce the number of bacteria inside your building. This can help to keep your workers healthy and happy. You’ll likely notice workers taking fewer sick days. Additionally, those staff members and customers who suffer from allergies will experience fewer flare-ups. This is because an effective air purification system will remove unwanted allergens like pollen, dust, mold spores, and pet dander.
Consistently Fresh Air
If you’ve ever opened up the door to a cabin or summerhouse that has been sitting all winter long, then you’re familiar with the musty scent of air that isn’t fresh. No one likes being in an area where there isn’t fresh air as the mustiness can drastically reduce productivity and cause other symptoms like headaches and fatigue. When you invest in an air purification system, you can ensure that each room gets proper ventilation and has fresh air delivered to it to reinvigorate your employees.
Longer Lasting HVAC System
One of the worst things you can do to drastically shorten the life of your HVAC system is to have it constantly dirty. When you install an air purification system, it helps to remove unwanted airborne particles from the air inside of your building. This means that the air circulating throughout your HVAC system is relatively clean. This allows your HVAC system to work more efficiently and experience less wear and tear on its internal components. This means that investing in an air purification system for your building can actually help to extend the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Air purification systems are a worthwhile investment for any commercial building owner. Not only do they help to extend the life of your existing HVAC system, but they also work to maximize productivity and keep your staff and clients healthy and happy.
Professional Air Purification Services
Beyer Mechanical offers air purification services for the San Antonio, TX community. Our team also provides a full range of commercial heating and air services. We can assist with all of your HVAC construction and design needs as well. Simply contact us today to get help with your commercial building.
