Lisburn-based tech firm OKTO Technologies has announced a new air filtration system that can remove 99.98% of the Covid-19 virus from indoor air.
As the Covid-19 lockdown measures ease, some businesses are struggling to re-open buildings safely. It's now mandatory to wear masks indoors in public areas such as shops in Northern Ireland to help prevent the spread of the virus, which spreads primarily through tiny respiratory droplets.
While the virus is small enough to get through the material mesh in a cloth mask, air flow simulations show that the mask prevents droplets from speading far from a cough or sneeze. The problem in offices and commercial buildings is that air is often re-circulated in ventillation systems and the virus can be small enough to get through existing filtration solutions in use.
Lisburn-based OKTO Technologies has now announced the creation of its new air filtration system and wellness division OKTOair, with the goal of revolutionising Building Management Systems to eliminate harmful viruses and indoor air contamination. The group has developed a new system that it claims removes 99.98% of Covid-19 virus particles from indoor air within 10 minutes and 100% within 45 minutes.
The new technology reportedly uses artificial intelligence and sensors to monitor 11 key air quality metrics in real time, including CO2 and carbon monoxide levels in addition to contaminants such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. It can detect contaminants, employ the air filter technology, and automatically open or close vents and windows to manage airflow.
OKTO expects this technology to become an integrated part of new high-end hotels and super-prime residential developments. The firm is also developing standalone installations that can be added to existing Smart Building Systems, and will develop a range of units for the domestic, commercial, and industrial scales.
Philip Dowds, MD of OKTO Technologies commented on the technology: "OKTOair elevates our Smart Buildings Technologies ethos to a new level by creating living spaces which enable occupiers to thrive and flourish. In the midst of the most densely populated and polluted city centres, where property prices are at a premium, our solutions offer optimum control, comfort, health, wellbeing and ultimately, peace of mind."
Source: Written based on press release
