General
What is Active Clean® Technology
Active Clean is an air and surface purification technology. It has been proven in both laboratory and field testing to quickly reduce bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and VOC gases in the air and on surfaces in indoor spaces. A more complete list of tested pathogens can be found.
How does Active Clean Technology work?
Active Clean works by replicating the cleansing power of the sun; this is known as photolysis. Sunlight cleanses the air we breathe by creating hydrogen and oxygen-based molecules that inactivate viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and unwanted gases at the molecular level. Active Clean Technology creates and distributes these same molecules indoors. The molecules are released into the air of a room, traveling safely to quickly inactivate pathogens in the air and on surfaces.
What is meant by “air-scrubbing particles”?
Active Clean Technology produces molecules that fly through the air to inactivate pathogens in the air and on surfaces; imagine them scrubbing the air and surfaces clean. Active Clean is a proactive (as opposed to passive) purification method.
Distinguishing Active Clean from other technologies
What is a “proactive purification technology” and how is it different from passive cleaning technologies?
Passive air-cleaning technologies require that a contaminant be pulled into and pass through a mechanism to be eliminated from the air. For instance, a filter draws air through it to capture contaminants. Passive systems generally work slowly compared to active systems and do not work on surfaces. Proactive purification technologies—such as Active Clean Technology—work by filling the air in a room with active molecules or energy—thereby going to the contaminant. With active technologies, contaminants can be inactivated quickly, even if they are not captured.
Does Active Clean Technology reduce dust, smoke, pollen, or dander3?
Active Clean is a purification technology primarily designed for use against bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and VOC gases. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing dust, smoke, pollen, dander, and other particulates, and is even more effective when used in combination with a HEPA filter. Some Active Clean units include a HEPA filter to optimize the impact on these particles.
What is your response to this statement from the CDC? “Portable HEPA filtration units that combine a HEPA filter with a powered fan system are a preferred option for auxiliary air cleaning, especially in higher-risk settings such as health clinics, vaccination and medical testing locations, workout rooms, or public waiting areas.” Center for Disease Control. (2021). “Ventilation in Buildings.” cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html
Generally, we do not disagree with that, which is why we have combined HEPA filtration with Active Clean Technology in our Active Clean Medical Guardian, which has been cleared by the FDA, as a Class II Medical Device for use in healthcare settings. With Active Clean , HEPA filtration units can be materially more effective. Most importantly, Active Clean meets all CDC guidelines for emerging air disinfection technologies. This includes documented data under as-used conditions from multiple third-party sources. Moreover, devices with Active Clean Technology have been shown to meet the CDC recommended UL 2998 Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Zero Ozone Emissions.
Why use Active Clean Technology instead of a homemade Corsi-Rosenthal box?
Corsi-Rosenthal boxes rely on filters and are passive technology. This means they must wait for contaminants to pass through the filters to be effective. Active Clean Technology is proactive purification, which means it meets and neutralizes contaminants out in the room.
One must also consider space. The largest Active Clean model (designed for large public spaces such as gymnasiums) takes up a little over 2 cubic feet of space. A Corsi-Rosenthal box with a 20-inch box fan would take up over twice that. Because of this Active Clean Technology can be installed in elevators, buses, cars, and right inside HVAC systems, while Corsi-Rosenthal boxes cannot. Additionally, Active Clean Technology is produced in ISO qualified factories; it is not homemade and susceptible to novice assembly mistakes.
How is Active Clean distinct from other purification technologies?
Please see each individual technology below.
Active Clean is not an air filter such as HEPA or MERV 13.
- Pathogens may not be inactivated by filters; they are merely trapped
- Filters are passive systems, so they must wait for airborne pathogens to come to them
- Read more about filters.
Active Clean is not traditional ionization.
- Ionizers use electricity to produce ions; these ions impart an electrical charge to nearby particles, clumping them together and causing them to fall out of the air
- Ionizers may also inactivate pathogens incidentally, but their primary goal is to cause particles to fall out of the air and onto surfaces
- Particles that fall to a surface can easily be stirred up once more
Active Clean is not a ventilation solution.
- Increasing ventilation and filtration in indoor spaces will potentially require the replacement of both older HVAC systems and modern highly engineered HVAC systems
- Increasing airflow through denser filters may increase the carbon footprint of those using these new systems and filters, this effect could also be compounded by increasing the amount of air needing to be heated or cooled
- Bringing more outdoor air in at the wrong time of day can potentially increase particulate matter
Active Clean is not UVGI purification.
- Robot-style Whole Room UV light can be helpful but has some key disadvantages
- Whole Room UV only treats what is directly exposed to the UV light
- Whole Room UV can only be used in unoccupied rooms as it is harmful to the eyes and skin
- Wall-mounted UV lights must be shielded, making them a passive technology
- Wall-mounted UV lights must be shielded, making them a passive technology
- UVGI does not reduce unwanted gases
- Read more about Active Clean vs. UVGI.
Active Clean is not PCO technology.
- Early generation PCO-type air cleaners can generate ozone and VOC gases, potentially making them unsafe to use in indoor environments
Active Clean is not a chemical surface disinfectant.
- Surface disinfectants are chemical agents that can kill or eliminate microorganisms on surfaces
- Surface disinfectants introduce chemicals into environments
- Most surface disinfectants do not protect against microbes re-introduced after application
Read more about Active Clean Technology vs. other methods.
Technology
I’ve heard that PCO devices end up producing harmful byproducts such as VOC gases?
Some PCO devices do that, Active Clean does not — Active Clean is not PCO. While the technologies are similar, Active Clean's proprietary catalyst allows for the breakdown of VOC gases. And unlike some PCO devices, devices with Active Clean Technology have been shown under CDC recommended UL 2998 procedures to meet zero ozone claim requirements.
Does Active Clean Technology shed titanium dioxide dust?
According to an extensive study of Active Clean devices under field conditions, “In all cases, titanium dioxide levels were found to be below levels of concern.”
Did the CDC recommend against devices that produce gaseous hydrogen peroxide?
No, the CDC “does not provide recommendations for, or against, any manufacturer or product.” They advise consumers that many air cleaning technologies are “emerging.” Thus, consumers should “request testing data that quantitatively demonstrates a clear protective benefit and occupant safety under conditions consistent with the intended use.” Center for Disease Control. (2021). “Ventilation in Buildings.”cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html. Active Clean (founded in 1924) invests millions into regularly testing its products to provide customers with this data. And as stated above, Active Clean has been shown to meet CDC guidelines for emerging air disinfection technologies, including UL 2998 zero ozone claim requirements. The CDC does not endorse Active Clean or any other specific brand of products.
Superoxide and hydroxyl ions are negatively charged ions. Isn’t negative ionization dangerous?
Negative ionization’s dangers mostly stem from negative atomic ions, such as the hydrogen anion H−. Bi-polar ions typically charge dust and other physical particles, aiming to clump them together. Some studies suggest this may cause them to stick to the lungs. In contrast, superoxide and hydroxyl are gaseous negative molecular ions, which aim to deactivate germs directly rather than clumping them together.
“Hydroxyl radical” sounds like “free radical.” Aren’t free radicals bad?
Hydroxyl radicals are created outdoors by sunlight and help clean the outdoor air every day; Active Clean Technology merely creates these molecules indoors too. Free radicals are different from hydroxyl radicals. Free radicals have been associated with unwanted health effects.
Does Active Clean Technology produce ozone?
Every electronic device has the potential to produce a negligible amount of unintentional ozone. The California Air Resource Board (CARB) and UL 2998, require that air cleaning devices do not produce more than 0.05 ppm of ozone. CARB and UL have cleared every Active Clean device presented. The Active Clean Beyond Guardian Air, for instance, has been shown to produce a peak ozone level of 0.0008 ppm—less than 0.02% of CARB’s permissible limit.
Efficacy
How effective is Active Clean Technology against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19)?
The Active Clean Surface & Air Guardian/Aerus Pure & Clean successfully reduced airborne SARS-CoV-2 viral particles below the detectable limits in ONE minute in an enclosed space under laboratory conditions.
What else has Active Clean Technology been proven to do?
Unaffiliated laboratories have completed extensive testing to prove that devices with Active Clean Technology—when used as directed—can eliminate up to 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, and mold spores in the air within minutes, and on surfaces within hours. Full list of tested pathogens is available.
How effective is Active Clean Technology under field conditions?
With over 70 products featuring Active Clean Technology, virtually any indoor space can be outfitted with a custom solution. We have run many tests over the years that validate the efficacy of Active Clean Technology in live field settings and encourage new clients to run such tests as well to ensure efficacy on site meets their expectations. Active Clean does have sensors that monitor results as well.
Is Active Clean Technology effective?
Every application is unique. We endeavor to custom design Active Clean to achieve desired outcomes in every installation. One extensive field study of Active Clean devices in a real-world school setting had this to say: “It is reasonable to assume that: If used according to manufacturer’s recommendations and in combination with an appropriate cleaning program, the tested devices [Active Clean] will safely and continuously eliminate viral particles in air, reduce bacterial loads and minimize other ambient dusts.” Active Clean also offers before and after environmental testing and ongoing sensor monitoring to validate its efficacy.
Economics & Environmental
How can Active Clean Technology help your organization’s budget pressures?
Common guidance suggests increasing ventilation and filtration while only briefly acknowledging what kind of economic impact this might have on energy costs, existing infrastructure, and pathogen reduction outcomes. Building ventilation is a complicated field that requires balancing energy efficiency, temperature, humidity, indoor contaminants, and outdoor contaminants. Regarding the latter, bringing in outside air at the wrong time of day might increase contaminants indoors. Active Clean can provide sensors to monitor and optimize indoor air and the introduction of ventilated outdoor air.
How quickly can your units be installed?
Very quickly. Each induct unit can be installed in less than an hour by your in-house maintenance personnel. Our portable units require no HVAC modifications at all and can begin operating immediately, making them perfect for a home or office setting where you want to plug and play within 5 minutes.
How much maintenance is required?
Very little. When used as directed, we recommend replacing Active Clean cells once a year; this is comparable to the maintenance of other cleaning technologies. HEPA filters and activated carbon filters in Active Clean units need replacement about once every 6 to 12 months. All these replacements can be performed by in-house personnel in a matter of minutes.
Why does Active Clean Technology claim to have a low carbon footprint?
Active Clean devices don’t require installing high-MERV filters which can strain the HVAC system and increase energy costs. Also, most units use about as much electricity as a light bulb. Active Clean, properly installed and monitored, may also allow for the reduction of heated and cooled outdoor air ventilation and on MERV 12-14 filters.
How can installing Active Clean Technology aid your organization’s ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance) goals?
By installing a solution with a low-carbon footprint that does not leave residual surface chemicals, Active Clean Technology can be an integral part of your organization’s energy and environmental goals. Your commitment to employee/staff/customer/student peace of mind may also boost your reputation for good governance and social responsibility and reduce costs.
