New Research Finds Possible Association Between Wildfire Smoke and Increased COVID-19 Infection Rates

The wildfire season of 2020 set several records in the United States, with 2.3 million more acres burning than the ten-year average. This year’s fires may bring even more damage. Oregon, for example, has already experienced 26 large wildfires, compared to last year’s seven large wildfires by the same point in the year.

Wildfire season is also well underway in California,  Washington State, Nevada, and several Canadian provinces, but the effects of the smoke are being seen across the continent. Washington D.C. is experiencing haze and decreased air quality, the sun is glowing red in New York City, and Baltimore and Philadelphia have issued air quality warnings due to wildfire smoke.

What Pollutants Does Wildfire Smoke Produce?
Wildfire smoke contains a variety of gaseous pollutants, which are the products of combustion, including:

carbon monoxide
nitrogen oxides
carbon dioxide
methane
ozone
water vapor
smoke odor

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers particulate matter to be the primary public health threat coming from wildfire smoke. Particulate matter refers to microscopic particles suspended in the air made out of any material. Particulate matter is classified by its size range as follows:

PM10 – particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less.
PM2.5 – particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less.
PM1 – particles with a diameter of 1 micron or less.
Study Finds Link Between Particulate Matter from Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 Infections

The study, conducted in Reno, Nevada, by the Center for Genomic Medicine at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Washoe County Health District (WCHD), and Renown Health (Renown), was published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.

The study sought to examine a possible connection between the elevated presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air following wildfires in 2020 and the rate of COVID-19 infection in the area.

The researchers found that a 10 µg/m3 increase in the seven-day average of PM2.5 was associated with a 6.3% relative increase in the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Specifically, the increase was seen two to six days after the increase in ambient pollution, suggesting that even short-term exposure to particulate matter pollution increases the likelihood of infection.

This result supports the findings of previous research, which suggests that the presence of fine particulate matter in the air is linked to increased COVID-19 infections.

Why Does Polluted Air Increase the Risk of COVID-19 Infection?
Scientists speculate several reasons why the presence of pollution in the air, specifically PM2.5, is associated with increased COVID-19 infections.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may modify immune system responses and increase inflammation, leaving the body more susceptible to respiratory viruses.
A study conducted in Italy in 2020 found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was present on the surface of PM2.5 particles. This finding has led scientists to hypothesize that the presence of particulate matter in the air may increase the spread and prolong the survival of the virus, as well as other pathogens.
Elevated levels of PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air may lead to over-expression of the ACE2 receptor in the respiratory tract. The ACE2 receptor is responsible for allowing the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter the cell. Experts are uncertain whether this effect is produced by short-term exposure to polluted air or  only long-term exposure. More research is needed.
People tend to gather indoors when wildfire smoke is present outdoors, leading to increased spread through direct contact.

Particulate Matter Is a Known Public Health Threat
While the evidence that the presence of PM2.5 is linked to COVID-19 infection may be new, particulate matter is known to cause and worsen a variety of health conditions:

irregular heartbeat
aggravated asthma or other respiratory conditions
heart attacks (usually nonfatal)
coughing, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms of an irritated respiratory tract
premature death, especially in individuals with heart or lung disease

Improving Air Quality During Wildfire Season to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Protecting indoor spaces from the nuisance odors and harmful effects of wildfire smoke, including increased risk of COVID-19, can be achieved through high efficiency air filtration.

To target particulate matter, experts from leading international air filtration manufacturer Camfil recommend a fibrous filter rated MERV 14A or higher, if possible, such as the Durafil ES2. For air handling units that lack sufficient space for a MERV 14A-rated filter, a long-lasting panel filter such as the 30/30 Dual 9 is advised.

To target gaseous pollutants, such as ozone, Camfil also recommends a molecular (i.e.- contains activated carbon) filter, such as CitySorb DP or a CityPleat.

If space is limited, Camfil recommends CityCarb I, which is a combination filter that uses MERV14A and a high-capacity molecular filter.

Alternatively, an in-room air purifier, such as the City M, which works independently of a building’s HVAC system, contains both a HEPA filter and a high capacity molecular filter.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at https://bit.ly/3zPlYLq

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Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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An Up-Close Look at the Most Energy Efficient Bag Filter on the Market

What Is A Bag Filter?

Bag filters,  commonly used air filters in industrial and commercial HVAC systems, can be used as the sole air filter solution or as prefilters in front of final filters for applications experiencing a high dirtload. . Bag filters, also referred to as pocket filters, are frequently used in residential buildings to improve indoor air quality and comfort. With a lower resistance to airflow, higher dust holding capacity and longer lifetime than other filters, bag filters may be the perfect solution for many applications.  

The Only Bag Air Filter that Doesn’t Require a Prefilter

Because of its unique construction, which uses tapered pocket stitching to prevent pocket contact throughout the depth of the filter ensuring uniform airflow and optimal use of the media area, Camfil’s Hi-Flo ES is the only bag filter in the HVAC industry that does not require a prefilter. To maintain flexibility regardless of turbulence or variance in airflow, as well as eliminate air bypass through stitching points, pocket stitching is sealed. The results: lower labor costs, a longer filter life, fewer filter changes, lower HVAC energy costs, lower disposal costs, and an overall more environmentally-friendly product. 

Why Choose Camfil’s Hi-Flo ES?

Lower HVAC energy use than competitive filters.

Compared to competitor filters, the Hi-Flo ES uses 27-50% less energy through the HVAC system. Hi-Flo ES pocket filters improve indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption. The Hi-Flo’s conical pockets, seam design, and stitching technique allow air to flow as freely as possible through the filter. This lower resistance, combined with filter media engineered to capture and hold a large volume of airborne dirt,  results in improved filter performance, and considerably lower life cycle cost of the filter. 

 

Longer life than competitive filters. 

As well as reducing HVAC energy consumption costs, the Hi-Flo ES lasts 25-50% longer than comparable rigid filters on the market, saving labor and filter replacement costs. In addition to lasting 12 months or longer guaranteed, the Hi-Flo ES is complete with several design features that make it easy to install and replace, including cleverly designed packaging that allows for up to eight filters to be carried at a time by a single person.  This packaging takes up just a quarter of the space that rigid filters do which equates up to a 70% reduction in disposal cost.

 

Read a summary of the Hi-Flo ES highlights here. 

Camfil Hi-Flo ES Basics

An overview of the Hi-Flo ES unique product specifications:

 

APPLICATIONS	Multi-pocket, high-efficiency filters with tapered pleats and pockets available in 12″, 15″, 22″ and 30″ depths
GUARANTEED SERVICE LIFE	Guaranteed up to 12 months even without a prefilter
MATERIALS	Frame:  Plastic, ABS Media:  Glass fiber that maintains MERV value for the duration of service life Gasket: Neoprene
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE	160°F (71°C)
RECOMMENDED FINAL PRESSURE DROP	2x Initial pressure drop
EFFICIENCY	Available in MERV 15/15-A, MERV 14/14-A, MERV 13/13-A, and MERV 11/11-A
RATINGS	5-Star ECI value  (indicates that the filter performs in the top 20% of all similar products across the HVAC industry) Listed as UL 900 by Underwriters Laboratories
DEPTH	Available in 12”, 15”, 22”, and 30” depths

 

(Find the full product specifications here.)  

Camfil Hi-Flo ES Applications 

As a powerful, long-lasting air filter available in four depths and four efficiency levels, the Hi-Flo ES can be used in a wide range of HVAC applications across industry segments. 

 

Protection Against Wildfire Smoke. 

As summer approaches, the threat of wildfires becomes more prominent. In recent years, wildfire season has been lasting longer and starting earlier, causing more destruction to nearby communities, as well as spreading harmful contaminants far and wide as smoke is carried hundreds of miles or more from the site of the fire. 90% of wildfire smoke is made up of PM2,5 particulate, or particulate less than 2.5 microns (or 0.0001 inches) in diameter, causing a range of health problems from allergy-like symptoms to aggravating chronic heart and lung conditions.

 

When wildfire pollution enters the HVAC system of a hospital, office building, school, or other public building, it can have the following effects: 

• Destroying or damaging products and equipment in production facilities.
• Exposing patients in hospitals to increased risk and complications in a wide range of health conditions.
• Decreasing productivity in office buildings and schools. (Read about the relationship between indoor air quality and productivity here.) 

 

Camfil’s Hi-Flo ES is one of several air filters produced by Camfil that can protect building inhabitants and guests from the risks of wildfire smoke. Ensure a rating of MERV-13A or higher for the best protection.

 

Food Safety Applications

Clean air is crucial to food and beverage manufacturing processes, not just for protecting the quality of the final product, but also because contaminants in the air can interfere with the function of production equipment. 

 

In one case study, a North American packaged food manufacturer with operations across the world was able to cut filter costs by 26% each year using the Hi-Flo ES with Camfil’s 30/30 panel filter as a pre-filter. 

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

 

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/

 

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Camfil Releases 2020 Sustainability Report, Showing Ongoing Dedication to Protecting People, Processes, and the Environment

The annual report provides in-depth information on all aspects of Camfil’s business, products, and future directions to the public. 

Each year, Camfil publishes a Sustainability Report to showcase the actions taken and further steps in the works by the company to further their mission of providing clean air to all and protecting people, processes, and the environment. 2020 was an especially challenging year for everyone, and the report shows Camfil’s involvement in fighting the coronavirus pandemic from the front lines. 

The full Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.  

Camfil’s Core Values and Goals 

The work conducted by Camfil over the course of 2020 was based around the framework of the company’s core values and goals, as well as their mission statement and vision statement. 

Camfil operates by the following core values: 

• Reliability. “We are reliable because we know the market; we are honest and truthful. Our people, products and processes must always meet, or exceed, agreed results.”
• Commitment. “We are committed to always striving for the best possible solutions, and we are at the forefront of technological and environmental developments in our fields of expertise.”
• Customer service. “We put our customers first. We focus on identifying customer needs and creating long-lasting customer value.”
• Teamwork. Working together makes us stronger and increases employee satisfaction both locally and globally.
• Local presence. Local understanding and presence in local markets builds customer relations and satisfaction. 

Camfil’s vision statement is phrased as a question that aims to promote debate and raise awareness around the issue that fuels all of Camfil’s work — “Clean air – a human right?” 

Camfil’s mission statement is “to protect people, processes and the environment by defining, developing and delivering solutions that combine clean air with energy efficiency in a sustainable and profitable way.” 

Finally, Camfil’s growth and profitability goal is to “achieve organic growth well above market growth with maintained profitability.”

The full Sustainability Report provides an interview with Mark Simmons, CEO of Camfil, who talks in-depth about the company’s sustainability engagement and vision. 

Camfil’s 2020 Achievement Highlights 

As they made significant contributions  in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic while pursuing existing sustainable development and workplace equality goals, 2020 was a busy year for Camfil. Here are just a few of the ways Camfil has shown continuous dedication and commitment to producing premium air filtration technology and furthering their belief that clean air should be a human right. 

• Won the Grand Indoor Climate Prize in Sweden for the Megalam EnerGuard, an advanced HEPA filtration system used in cleanrooms. 
• Launched Clean Air Week in response to the UN’s International Clean Air Day
• Acquired Airpure, a leading Australian air filtration provider. 
• Participated in the annual CamfilCairing Week, where employees help local communities and run sustainability activities. 
• Began construction of a new facility in China to address air quality issues across the Asia Pacific region. 
• Acquired Resema, a Swedish ISO-certified and AAA-rated air filtration company. 
• Constructed a new facility in Arkansas, USA, after destruction caused by a tornado. 

4 of UN Sustainability Goals Highlight Camfil’s Global Impact

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs aim to protect the earth, fight poverty, and reduce inequality globally, meaning that businesses must make significant efforts to help meet them. 

Camfil is committed to all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, but has determined that they can make the most impact on the following four. 

SDG #3 — Good Health and Well-Being 

“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” All of Camfil’s work revolves around improving health and well-being for all by protecting human beings from harmful contaminants in the air 

SDG #8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth

“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.” Camfil provides safe working conditions for over 4800 employees across the world, enriching economic growth in the 30 countries the company operates in. Additionally, Camfil’s Code of Business Ethics, Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Handbook protect employees and customers alike. 

SDG #11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities 

“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.” With some of the most energy efficient air filtration systems available on the market, Camfil’s products not only aid human health concerns and make cities safer by reducing the volume of harmful pollutants that enter people’s lungs, but do so with less negative impact on the environment than most other filters. 

SDG #12 — Responsible Production and Consumption

“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Across Camfil’s four business areas (filtration solutions, air pollution control, power systems, and molecular contamination control), Camfil is committed to continually improving processes and products to better protect the environment. 

Camfil and the Pandemic — Fast Innovation Provides Critical Air Quality Solutions

Camfil’s clean air solutions were vital to the fight against the coronavirus around the world, providing devices to quickly and easily create pressurized isolation rooms in hospitals to contain virus spread, as well as commercial and industrial solutions to keep people in public buildings safe. 

Additionally, Camfil leveraged decades of research and expertise to design FFP2-standard masks for healthcare workers on the front lines. 

For more information about Camfil’s 2020 achievements as well as future directions, download the full 2020 Sustainability Report here. 

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/ 

 

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Media Contact: 

Lynne Laake 

Camfil USA Air Filters 

T: 888.599.6620 

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter 

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

 

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Air Filtration Experts from Camfil Demonstrate Air Filter Solution Strategy, Saving this North Carolina Pump Station Tens of Thousands of Dollars

City of Washington, NC — A City of Washington pump station had to replace a $30,000 electrical control panel after hydrogen sulfide gas destroyed it. After consulting with Camfil, one of the world’s leading researchers, engineers, and manufacturers in the air filtration industry, the pump station has found a solution that will save them from having to make costly future replacements.

In a new video, Gary Chrismon, Camfil’s East Coast Molecular Segment Manager, and Adam Waters,   Director of Public Works for the City of Washington, NC, explain the problems occurring as a result of hydrogen sulfide gas, the solution implemented, and why it works so well.  

A pump station is a facility for pumping wastewater from the source location to a waste treatment plant. The pump station in question was originally built as a contained pump station, meaning that all the water and air were contained within the station. As a result, hydrogen sulfide gas (which is poisonous, corrosive, and flammable) was coming up through the electrical system and causing corrosion to important electrical components of the pump station as well as posing a serious health threat to employees. 

Camfil installed equipment to monitor the corrosive gas so that by analyzing the data recorded, an appropriate solution for the size of the space and the volume of gas could be implemented. To prepare for the solution, Camfil advised the facility to create a duct system to draw in air from the outside, creating a positive displacement pressure. This pressurization ensured that the hydrogen sulfide gas couldn’t make its way out of the well and into the room. 

Based on scientific test results, Camfil’s CamCleaner 1000V proved to be the best solution to control molecular corrosion and improve air quality for the protection of staff and high-end equipment. The CamCleaner 1000V contains carbon media specially designed for the gaseous contaminants typically found in pump stations, wastewater treatments plants and other similar applications.  The system flows 1000 cubic feet of air per minute which is first directed through a  MERV14A prefilter, then through specially designed cylinders which hold carbon media specifically selected for its ability to adsorb hydrogen sulfide. The treated air then exhausts back into the space through a MERV11A final filter. 

“We have an operator who comes in here four or five times a week, and he’s performing maintenance and doing checks and readings. And we noticed, after the unit was installed, a tremendous increase in air quality in the facility,” adds Mr. Waters. 

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/ 

##

 

Media Contact: 

Lynne Laake 

Camfil USA Air Filters 

T: 888.599.6620 

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter 

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

 

 

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Air Filtration Experts Discuss the Importance of Proper Ventilation and Filtration for Protecting Faculty and Students as Loosened Masking Guidelines Raise Questions

A case study in an east coast university from air filtration industry leader, Camfil, highlights the importance of MERV-A rated air filters. 

 

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) loosened their masking guidelines, recommending that vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks or physically distance themselves from one another in public spaces. 

“Essentially, a mask is a final filter. It’s the last line of defense between what’s in the air around you and what goes in your lungs,” says Mark Davidson, Camfil’s Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials, “Now that the mask may be gone, the next line of defense, practically speaking, becomes the facility manager at whatever building you happen to find yourself in.”

In a new video, Allen Oakes, Branch Manager for Camfil’s Birmingham, Alabama, location, explains what facility managers can do to effectively protect building inhabitants, pointing to a recent case study from an east coast university. 

 

ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) has recommended filters with an efficiency rating of MERV13 or higher to best protect public building inhabitants from virus transmission risks. Some jurisdictions even mandated this filter efficiency before public buildings were permitted to reopen.

 

However, not all MERV13 rated filters maintain that efficiency throughout their lifetimes. ASHRAE also designates some filters as MERV-A, which means they underwent additional testing showing that their rated efficiency will last throughout their lifetime. (Mr. Oakes provides a detailed explanation of what MERV and MERV-A ratings mean in the new video.) 

 

“We find that MERV13 filters tend to drop to the equivalent of a  MERV 9 or even as low as a MERV 8 efficiency when their charge dissipates,” Mr. Oakes notes. Effectiveness can deplete in as little as a month or less, depending on the volume of air being filtered and the dirt load accumulated. 

 

The university in the case study had many single-stage air handling units which only had the capability to hold 2″ deep pleated filters which are typically MERV 13 and not MERV 13A filters. Because they would lose efficiency fairly quickly to as little as a MERV 8, the university made the choice to upgrade to Camfil’s 30/30 Dual 9 air filter, a MERV9-A rated filter, in the single-stage air handling units, and supplement this filtration with Camfil’s City M in-room air cleaner in classrooms, dorms, and hallways for additional true HEPA filtration.

 

Each public building has different needs, which should be evaluated by a professional with experience in virus filtration. Recommending different filter styles over the phone in order to achieve a MERV 13 efficiency carries a certain level of risks.   Mr. Oakes adds, “My advice is if you plan on upgrading, make sure you involve a qualified HVAC professional that can help answer these questions to make sure you don’t cause harm to your system or your space.”

 

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

 

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/ 

 

##

 

Media Contact: 

Lynne Laake 

Camfil USA Air Filters 

T: 888.599.6620 

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter 

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

 

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Join Camfil and the Association of Medical Facility Professionals for an Air Filtration and Virus Management Webinar

Join Camfil Clean Air Solutions and the Association of Medical Facility Professionals for a Must-See Air Filtration and Virus Management Webinar

Industry experts in air filtration and engineering will be speaking at a free webinar on June 8 at 1 PM EDT.

Proper air filtration and ventilation have been shown to be key strategies in reducing the spread of COVID-19 infections. As public spaces, including school systems, have moved towards reopening, ventilation and filtration have been an integral part of making these efforts safe.

Industry experts in air filtration and engineering will be speaking at a free webinar on June 8 at 1 PM EDT (12PM CDT, 11PM MDT, 10AM PDT). The webinar, titled “Managing Virus Threats with Proper Air Filtration,” will include a roundtable of experts in the industry, who will share their first hand expertise on how to mitigate virus risks.

The presentation will be hosted by Camfil’s Healthcare Segment Manager Kyle Petersen. With overall responsibility for providing the most compliant indoor air quality solutions to protect patients, visitors, and healthcare personnel in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, Mr. Petersen’s prior experience managing Camfil’s National Accounts Program has exposed him to a broad spectrum of air filtration in a variety of industry segments.

The panel of experts will include, Richie Stever, who served as the infrastructure chief for an entire medical system when coronavirus invaded Maryland in March 2020; Kim Shinn, who’s known as the “sustainability wizard” throughout healthcare and other industries; and Kevin Wood, who has more than four decades of experience in healthcare design, air pollution, and air filtration solutions.

To take advantage of this unique opportunity and learn how to protect your building and its tenants from the threat of COVID-19, register for the webinar here.

Connect with Camfil on social media for more information.

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/

##

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

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Why Do We Get Sick More Often in Cooler Months, and What Can We Do to Prevent Increased Infections?

This winter and early spring, it is especially important to reduce risk factors for spreading infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infections. As many places across the United States move towards reopening, ensuring that we do so safely is essential. In this article, air filtration and HVAC experts from Camfil explain what steps we should be taking in public buildings to limit the spread of harmful pathogens this winter. 

Why Does Cold Weather Increase Infection Risks? 

While it’s not the cold weather itself that makes more people sick in the winter, there are several reasons why we’re more susceptible to catching colds, flu, and other infections during the colder months of the year. 

1. Some viruses and bacteria reproduce more effectively when the temperature is cooler.  
2. When the body is concerned with maintaining its internal temperature, the immune system may be less effective at combating pathogens. 
3. People are likely to spend more time in confined indoor spaces when the weather is colder, which increases the likelihood of encountering pathogens in the air. 

How Do Infectious Particles Spread In the Air? 

There are several variables that affect the possibility we’ll encounter infectious particles while indoors.  

How Large are the Particles We Exhale? 

Particles of different sizes and mass remain airborne for different lengths of time. While under debate due to extensive COVID research, it is generally understood that particles exhaled with a diameter of less than 5 micrometers (µm), or less than half the size of a grain of pollen, are classified as aerosols. Aerosols remain in the air for longer due to their small mass and spread more easily. Particles we exhale that are greater than 5µm in diameter are called respiratory droplets. Research has shown that 5-micrometer droplets fall 1mm per second and larger 100-micrometer droplets fall at 30cm per second. According to Jakob Löndahl, Associate Professor in Aerosol Science at Lund University in Sweden, even these large 100-micrometer droplets can travel a good distance in the air before they settle on a surface. 

Infection Route

Droplet infection, which is when we inhale infected air at a short distance, contains a mixture of large and small particles. Airborne infection occurs when the particles in the air reach the body and are inhaled directly into the respiratory system. Recent reports by The CDC suggest a  less common but still possible infection route occurs when pathogens in droplets survive on surfaces for a period of time and are ingested after being picked up by our hands, or through other direct contact with the infected surface. 

Ventilation

Poor ventilation is risky because adding fresh outdoor air dilutes airborne infectious particles in a given space and reduces risks.  Recirculating indoor air without filtering it can compound the risk of infection because of the reduction in captured droplets. When air is recirculated around a building through the HVAC system, droplets and aerosols are carried in the airstream to other rooms, thus increasing the radius that infected droplets can travel. With proper air filtration (removing infected droplets along with other airborne particles from the air), this risk can be reduced.

8 Tips to Protect Yourself from Winter Infections 

For the most reduction in virus spread during 2021’s cold months, all of these factors must be addressed. The two following recommendations come from experts at Camfil, one of the world’s leaders in air filtration research, engineering, and manufacturing. 

Keep distance. Maintain the recommended 6-foot distance, as this decreases the chances of droplet transmission from close contact. 

Wash your hands. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently to avoid infection by pathogens your hands may have picked up from surfaces. Post signs urging employees, guests, and building tenants to do the same. 

Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Coughing and sneezing is unavoidable, even if you aren’t sick. It doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of droplets escaping, but coughing and sneezing into your elbow instead of into your hands is the official recommendation of the CDC to reduce pathogen spread. 

Respiratory protection masks (face masks). Wearing a mask that fits properly to prevent the spread of illness has been common practice in many countries since long before 

Keep surfaces clean. Regularly disinfect surfaces, especially in common areas, to eliminate pathogens and infected droplets that have settled on them. 

Review your air filters in the facility. Some jurisdictions have recommended or even required that buildings and facilities upgrade their filters to MERV-13 efficiency before reopening. Find out which air filter your facility should use based on your needs and the capacity of your HVAC system using Camfil’s quick, easy-to-use Air Filter Upgrade Selection Tool.  

Increase the number of air changes. A recent study conducted in Sweden found that poor ventilation is key in the spread of the virus. 

Install an air purifier. Not all HVAC systems are built to handle high-efficiency filters. In this case, you can use a stand-alone air purifier to remove droplets and other harmful particulates from the air instead. 

Air Purifiers to Reduce Winter Infection Risk

Camfil air purifiers are stand-alone air filtration systems, which means that they can be installed in any building space regardless of the current HVAC system’s capacity for air filters. 

City M Air Purifier by Camfil

The City M Air Purifier includes a HEPA-grade particulate filter and a molecular filter that work in conjunction with one another to remove dust, contaminants, harmful VOCs and odors for healthier indoor air. The City M Air Purifier operates very quietly in the background and consumes 50% less energy than units of similar size. Choose the City M for: 

• Healthier, better performing employees.
• Less frequent dusting.
• Less asthma and allergy symptoms and suffering. (Listen to this customer’s experience with allergy symptom reduction after using the City M.)
• Reduced environmental impact.
• Less odors. 

Read more about the City M. 

CamCleaner CC500 by Camfil

The CamCleaner CC500 air purifier was originally designed early in the pandemic for hospitals that needed to create negatively pressurized isolation areas. The unit was also engineered to serve as a stand-alone air purifier for offices, schools, and any other public buildings. The CC500’s MERV-9/9A prefilter extends the life of the 99.995% HEPA filter, leading to lower overall running and maintenance costs. Choose the CamCleaner CC500 for: 

• 500 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of 99.995% HEPA filtered air
• Portability (smooth-rolling caster wheels) 
• Wall or interstitial mounting options when recirculation or exhaust is necessary.
• Hospital-grade cords that can plug into any standard 120-volt outlet. 

 Read more about the CamCleaner CC500. 

For more information about which air purifier is the right fit for your office, workplace, or public building, let a local Camfil expert help you. 

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

 

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 33​ manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 30 countries, and about 4,80​0 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/

 

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