The Powers That Be

The term “the powers that be” is a phrase used to refer to those individuals who collectively hold power over a particular domain. The phrase often connotes a sense of resignation or cynicism and is used when referring to a large corporate entity or government structure that has enough power to affect change even if it is not for the betterment of the populace as a whole. Many of us see this process take place with the corporations we work for and with laws passed by local, state and federal governments.

In today’s world of social media and instant information and instant feedback from anyone and everyone on every level we have the power to express our opinions and feelings about those issues that dramatically affect us and yet “the powers that be” continue to try to convince us that  we need to follow their lead. This is especially true in the area of indoor air quality and air filtration or air purifying systems.

For years the the most commonly used air cleaner for the residential market was the electronic air cleaner. This device was considered the standard in the industry and laid claim to a number of performance guarantees that were never achieved. Yet people continued to purchase it because this was the only system HVAC contractors new how to install. And,they required very little maintenance or cleaning. The interesting part is that people didn’t realize the poor dust removal performance until medial air filters entered the scene.

Electronic air cleaners only needed to be cleaned or washed down a couple of times a year. The one big selling point to the consumer was the fact that you didn’t need to replace anything…ever. Just clean the particle collecting plates or wires on a regular basis and make sure the power pack was working correctly. When high grade media air filters were introduced into the market the HVAC contractors fought their entry with a lot of energy. While electronic air cleaners were being sold for $600.00 to $1,200 dollars installed. A filter frame and filter media unit was only a few hundred dollars and more often than not just included in the price of the HVAC system installation.

Once homeowners began to realize that the air media filters, which were usually a pleated polyester or cotton fiber material, were more effective at remove the airborne dust particles the sales  of electronic air cleaners dropped dramatically. Even though air media filters had to be replaced once every three months or so, the vastly improved dust collection was preferred.

Pure Air Systems offers a complete line of HEPA, Carbon and polyester dual-layer ring panel air filters that are very effective at removing and reducing harmful airborne contaminants. These systems are normally attached to the existing HVAC systems and in many cases can used as stand alone units. It is interesting that today, “the powers that be” now recommend HEPA or other types of media air filters over any of the electronic air cleaners currently on the market.  For more information on the complete line of commercial grade air filtration systems available from PAS please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or you can follow us on Twitter at: @pureairsystems

 

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Full Metal Jacket

The other day I watched  Stanley Kubrick’s iconic war movie “Full Metal Jacket” on HBO. I had seen this film before but there was a scene that took place in a helicopter that I somehow forgot. The main character, who was a journalist, was hitching a ride in the copter to the front lines. He was sitting next to a soldier manning a 50 caliber machine gun who was firing the gun at Vietnamese running through their rice paddies.

The journalist asked the gunner how many people he thought he had killed? The gunner said,”About 150.” The journalist asked, “Any women or children?” The gunner replied, “Around 50.” The journalist has a shocked look on his face and says, questioningly, “You shoot women and children?” The gunner replies calmly, “Yes.” The journalist is appalled. He looks at the gunner and says, “How can you shoot women and children?” The gunner thinks for a second and says, “It’s easy…I just don’t lead them as much.”

We can justify things we do depending upon what is happening at the moment. Somehow even though we know its not the right thing to do or could even impair our health, we tell ourselves we will correct the problem before it becomes critical. Most often we don’t. This is especially true when it comes to health issues related to lifestyle.

One of the most challenging issues we deal with today is the amount and types of airborne contaminants we inhale every minute and their overall affects on our current and future health. We all know cigarette smoke is harmful both in direct smoking and second hand smoke. We also know working in and around dusty, dirty, commercial and industrial environments is both dangerous and can have an immediate affect on lung capacity and other significant side effects.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based, fan powered, commercial grade air filtration systems since 1985. These systems have proven to be some of the most effective air filtration products for removing and reducing the levels of harmful airborne particles smaller than 0.3 microns. This includes much of the particulate generated by cigarettes and other airborne contaminants.

The HEPA and Carbon based PAS systems can be attached to existing HVAC systems and air handlers as well as being used in a stand-alone configuration. The systems range in size from 300 CFM to 2000 CFM. These systems all use digitally controlled ECM motors so air flow adjustment to CFM levels of less than 50 CFM are possible with all the units. This means the systems can be used in any residential application as well as those commercial, medical and industrial markets where finite control of air flow is critical.

With the continuous bombardment of airborne chemicals, gases, particulate and plant and animal matter, our lungs are being challenged every day.  While it is possible to isolate yourself as much as possible from known, harmful airborne contaminants, the ability to condition your living and working environment with one of our HEPA based air filtration systems is just as important.

For more information on how we can assist you in breathing better and improving your living and working environment please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. You need to take the lead in this issue.

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Fresh Air

When we hear the term “fresh air” we often think about being outside next to the ocean feeling the breeze or on top of a mountain breathing the cool, crisp air. Or, when you are stuck indoors in a building or home for long periods of time you might say, “I’m going outside to get some fresh air.” If we really believe the air is better outside, why do we spend so much time indoors? And, more importantly, what is fresh air?

In reality the term “Fresh Air” is really a misnomer. While it is true that air outdoors is not prone to have that “stale air” smell you have indoors due to lack of ventilation, the levels of airborne contaminants and gaseous molecules outdoors is often not any lower. Yes, that is correct. Depending upon where you are outdoors the levels of harmful airborne particulate and gaseous pollutants can be extremely high.

You already know that during the spring and fall of the year various grasses, weeds, trees, etc. produce pollen of all sorts creating significant allergic reactions and health problems. Is this fresh air? You are outside…aren’t you? Or if you are in a downtown area of a large city you can sometimes feel some stinging in you eyes and throat. That’s usually caused by the high levels of gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbons from all the vehicles. Of course you also have all the airborne particulate that is produced by tires grinding dirt into sub-micron particles. So now that we have identified fresh air let’s take a look at the process of using outside air for ventilation and reduction of CO2 in homes and buildings.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based fan powered, commercial grade air filtration systems since 1985. These units were not only designed to filter the air in a room, home or commercial facility but also to concurrently introduce small amounts of outside air and filter that air prior to introducing it to the indoor environment. As we mentioned before, the term fresh air is really a misnomer. Unless the outside air source is filtered prior to mixing with the indoor environment, it is not fresh air.

The PAS product line is capable of introducing high percentages of outside air that is filtered by three different medias. First there is a polyester dual-layer ring panel filter that is designed to take out the larger particles. Second the carbon media removes many of the odors and gases. Third, is the HEPA filter itself which is a certified HEPA rated at 99.99% removal of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. This three stage filtration ensures that any outside air will be in actuality, “Fresh Filtered Air.”

So the next time you hear the term fresh air remember there are levels of fresh air and you need to make sure that you use the right filtration process to ensure you and your family are breathing fresh air.

For more information on this concept and the complete product line offered by PAS please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. You can also contact us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Your Health – Your Choice

From the TV to the newspapers, magazines, online media, Facebook, etc. etc., you are constantly besieged with warnings and comments about how to best take care of your body to ensure a long healthy life. We all know the dangers of cigarette smoke, lack of exercise and eating all the wrong  foods, but we never think much about the air we breathe.

In many parts of the US when the weather conditions are right, you might have an “ozone” alert and are warned to stay inside or minimize your outside activities and reduce your driving if at all possible. In the summer months these “nozone” periods may last a few days to weeks at a time. The levels of both ozone and suspended particles can be extremely high on these days and breathing in large amounts of these pollutants can even affect  healthy people.  While staying indoors can help….it is not the total solution.

You have heard the comments about indoor pollution being worse than outdoor pollution a hundred times from air filtration manufacturers and home builders alike. In essence, this is true. The tighter home and building construction designed to help conserve energy use for heating and cooling has also created a tighter living and working environment. It has also reduced the amount of fresh air circulating in the house or building.

For over 25 years Pure Air Systems has been making HEPA and Carbon based, fan powered, commercial grade air filtration systems that can really help you improve your indoor environment. The HS series of PAS filtration systems are designed so they can either be attached to the return air side of any HVAC system or used as stand-alone units. In either installation configuration the HEPA systems can not only filter all the air in your home 48 times a day but also introduce outside, filtered fresh air. This dual-style capability is unique to the PAS line of air filtration products.

HEPA filters are the only true way to consistently remove the small, sub-micron particles that can be harmful when ingested into your lungs. Over time even small concentrations of harmful airborne particles can create significant health issues. The longer we live in our increasingly polluted environment the more doctors and scientists are convinced environmental factors are major contributors to a wide range of chronic diseases.

Young children are especially susceptible to lung damage at early ages as their lungs are not fully developed until after 10 years of age. Maintaining a relatively clean environment for children and also older adults with reduced lung capacity is critical. With medical costs sky rocketing , preventative health practices are essential today for minimizing unnecessary medical expenses.

Pure Air Systems has systems installed in thousands of homes, offices, commercial operations, medical facilities and major pharmaceutical operations across the US and around the world. For more information on our complete product line please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or like us on Facebook at; www.facebook.com/pureairsystems.

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Electronic vs Non-Mechanical Filtration

Most people refer to air filtration devices as either air filters or air purifiers. In truth, these two methods are worlds apart in the way they collect or remove airborne contaminants. The term non-mechanical refers to any media type filter;  i.e. fiberglass, polyester, cotton, woven and non-woven, HEPA, etc. Mechanical or Electronic filters would include electronic air cleaners, ion generators, ozone generators, and any filtering device that uses electricity or some type of moving part incorporated into the device.

Before I get any further I do want to state that the term ” air purifier” is a misnomer. Nothing purifies the air. You can purify water or chemical solutions but not the air. However, this term has become a standard part of the filtration market so I will use it.

From a performance point of view, the purpose of any air filter air purifier should be to “remove” the offending airborne particles from the room, house, or area where you live or work. The operative word here is “remove.” The non-mechanical type of filter incorporates a media that has openings in the media itself that make it either more or less dense. The less dense medias like fiberglass filters allow a lot of air to pass through but collect only the larger dust particles and debris. The more dense medias like polyester and some non-wovens like the Filtrete filter from 3M, collect a much higher percentage of the smaller and finer particles.  The less dense media has a lower pressure drop across its surface and has little resistance to air flow. The more dense media is much more restrictive.

Air purifiers, for the most part, use a combination of a positive/negative process to capture airborne particulate. This usually takes the form of a surface or plate that is charged to collect particles that have the opposite electrical charge. It is like running a comb through your hair to build up a static charge and then placing the comb next to small pieces of paper and watch them stick to the comb. Same principle. Unlike media filters that use the collected particulate on their surface ( sometimes referred to as dust cake ) thus collecting more and smaller particles, the electronic air cleaners or purifiers have no depth collection process and once the plates or collection surface gets too dirty or the collected particles loose their charge, the particulate detach and are put back into the air stream.

There are trade-offs in using the two methods. The non-mechanical filters eventually have to be replaced. As they collect more particles the ability to pass air through them is reduced and the pressure drop becomes too high for the fan/motor assembly normally used to pull the air through the filters. The plates or collection surfaces of the electronic devices can be cleaned manually and then put back into service. They also have very little resistance to air flow. The non-mechanical filters, however, are much more effective at removing small, respirable sized particulate.

The type and design of filtration device you choose depends upon the purpose and type of particulate you need to remove. For what it is worth, non-mechanical filters are predominantly used in the following types of applications and markets. Hospital surgery rooms, medical clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, clean rooms, isolation rooms, micro chip manufacturing, optics manufacturing, the CDC, medical laboratories and any process or operation that requires the removal of harmful airborne allergens or pathogens.

For more information on the design and operation air filtering devices please go to our website a: www. pureairsystems.com.

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Two Hospital Labs Use PAS Portable HEPA Systems

Recently two major hospitals purchased one the model HPS 500 portable HEPA systems by Pure Air Systems. They are Bellevue Hospital in New York City and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence Rhode Island. The HEPA units were purchased for the medical laboratory for each Hospital.

Bellevue is the oldest public Hospital in the country, founded in 1736, and one of the most well known in the U. S. Rhode Island Hospital is one of a group of medical facilities in Rhode Island which service almost the entire state. Each of these Hospitals enjoys a reputation for providing state-of-the-art medical care using the latest advancements in medical technology.

A clinical laboratory or medical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are done on clinical specimens in order to get information about the health of a patient as pertaining to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. These facilities maintain a semi-clean room environment so there is no cross contamination of specimen samples.

The Pure Air System portable HEPA units use a certified, commercial grade HEPA filter that removes 99.99% of airborne particles 0.3 microns or larger and removes a high percentage of particles down to 0.12 microns. These units are fabricated from powder coated steel and use a four speed blower/motor assembly to allow for variations on air flow to meet the specific needs of the customer. These units also have a combination prefilter/carbon medial filter to remove large particles, reduce odors and help maintain a longer life for the HEPA filter. With air flows up to 500 CFM the portable units can provide significant air exchange rates even in large areas.

The HPS series of portable HEPA units are approximately 13″ square  and 21″ long and weight less than 30 lbs. They are rugged and designed for continuous use operations. These units represent some of the most powerful,portable, true HEPA filtration systems on the market today.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing high end, commercial grade, HEPA filtration systems since 1985 and has their systems in commercial, institutional, industrial and residential applications around the world. So for Bellevue and Rhode Island Hospitals, the choice was easy. Buy the best portable HEPA systems on the market for their laboratories.

For more information on the HPS series of portable units and to view the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or call us at: 800-869-8025.

 

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The Knights of The Round Table

When King Arthur formed the Knights of The Round Table he wanted men of courage, honor, dignity, courtesy and nobleness.  They protected ladies and damsels, honored and fought for kings, and undertook dangerous quests.  There were 12 knights, not including King Arthur himself, with Sir Lancelot being the most famous of the knights. The legend of the knights tells us they were always reliable and never wavered from their goal. Its hard to find that type of allegiance these days. Especially from people and companies that promise one thing and deliver another.

It is interesting how companies and individuals in business use some of the same words to describe their business ethics as those used by King Arthur to describe the purpose of the Knights. The words may be the same but the end results are often vastly different. It is why, perhaps, we don’t believe what people tell us they will do until we actually see the end result for ourselves. It is unfortunate, but often true.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. And much like the stories of the Knights the reliability of the air filtration systems by PAS are almost legendary. Here is an example of what often takes place when a new company or customer purchases a system from PAS for the first time.

A mechanical contractor in Kansas was working on a project that  required one of the larger HEPA systems, the model 2000HS. This customer had reviewed the specifications on the website and after three additional phone conversations decided to purchase the unit. The contractor was still somewhat skeptical about buying something he had not seen before and lamented about his history of purchasing products for the first time and being told it would be exactly what he wanted only to find out that when he received the product the construction and quality were severely lacking.

The contractor was told that if he didn’t think the quality and performance of the 2000HS wasn’t better than what he thought he actually ordered then we would pay to ship it back and refund his money on the spot. The unit was shipped out. Three days later it arrived by truck to the job site. The contractor called back after he had time to look at the system and test the overall capabilities of the unit and told us the system was 10 times better than he had expected. He was absolutely amazed that he actually got something that was better than what he wanted.  He said that almost never happens.

Maybe that is what one of the damsels in distress said when one  of the knights came to her rescue. We are not sure. But we do know that the HEPA and Carbon based products manufactured by Pure Air Systems will meet or exceed your needs. We may not be legendary yet…but we are getting close.

For more information on the complete product line offered by PAS, please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com.

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Built To Last

With US companies continuing to use more off shore operations to manufacture their products,  the quality of some of these products has become suspect. Where a company once used heavy duty metal construction they now use high density plastics and other non-metalic components to fabricate the end product. In some cases the substitute materials are better, but in many cases they are not.

In the air filtration and air purifying market the trend has been to use lighter, less expensive plastic type materials especially for powered devices. For throw away air filters the use of cardboard frames is still the norm as plastic is more expensive. For some residential applications the use of plastic materials is appropriate as these devices are not usually subjected to harsh environments although they are often placed in unconditioned areas. For the commercial, industrial and institutional markets, however,  the environments can and usually are much more challenging.

Pure Air Systems, has been manufacturing high end, commercial grade, HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. From the beginning PAS used nothing but steel for the fabrication of their products. Even the new portable unit now available from PAS is fabricated from steel and the complete product line uses a powder coated paint process to ensure durability in any environment. To be sure there are very few, if any, other filtration companies that use this type of construction for their products.

In the majority of non-residential applications the PAS systems are mounted in and around the heating/cooling air handling systems. In many cases they are used as stand-alone units. Often they are located in non- heated or cooled environments and many times they are located outside.  And, in the case of many manufacturing and process facilities, the environments can be caustic or contain gases that can etch or destroy plastic type materials. In thousands of installations in these types of environments the PAS product line has proven to be one of the most reliable and durable filtration systems available on the market today.

Aside from the durability of the product line the overall effectiveness and efficiencies of the HEPA and Carbon based units are second to none. Pure Air Systems makes some of the most  powerful, high volume commercial grade, digitally controlled systems on the market today. And because the systems’ variable speed motors are rated 120/240 volt, 50/60 Hz, they can be used anywhere in the world.

Even for those applications in the residential market, the steel construction of the PAS product line offers some major advantages over the plastic type filtration device construction. Many of the PAS 600H and 600HS models, for example, that were sold during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s are still in operation today. Other than changing the filters on an regular basis and perhaps having to replace a motor after 10 years or so, these systems continue to operate effectively and efficiently.

For more information on the complete Pure Air Systems product line and applications please go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or you can contact us at our toll free number.  800-869-8025.

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Process Of Elimination

Whenever I have a problem with a mechanical device I try to use the “process of elimination” approach to resolve the problem. This is usually done by determining what the problem “isn’t” and then solve for what it could be. This process allows me to better isolate the real problem, since once you know what the problem is…the solution should not be far behind.

It is funny how many people have a pre-determined idea of what the problem is that they are facing based upon a one time incident that took place years ago. They automatically assume it is the same issue without even attempting to see if it could be something else. This is especially true with people who suffer from allergies and airborne contaminants. Many individuals will develop allergy  symptoms that they believe can only be caused by one allergen because their symptoms mimic the ones they suffered in prior experiences.

As an example: a woman who has suffered from contact with certain grasses or tree pollen has the same reaction when she is exposed to certain molds. She believes the problem to be grasses or tree pollen even though it is late fall when there is no pollen present in the air. This precludes her from looking at other possible allergens so she decides that the solution is just to stay indoors as much as possible. In reality, the mold in her HVAC duct system or mold that is growing behind walls that got wet during the summer rains due to the small hole in the roof is the real culprit….so the woman continues to suffer through the fall and into the winter.

Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985 and has supplied thousands of allergy sufferers with air filtration systems that have significantly reduced or eliminated their symptoms. Dealing with airborne particles that are invisible to the naked eye can only be accomplished with HEPA filters as all other mechanical or electronic devices are simply not effective in removing the small, respirable sized particles that cause most of the allergic reactions. And, because of the amount of experience Pure Air Systems has in dealing with allergy sufferers, we can offer some constructive comments on what we believe the real problems to be. We understand how to use the process of elimination to determine the real problems. This allows us to better select the best HEPA system for your specific issue.

Pure Air Systems has a significant amount of information on their website that will educate you on the types of allergens present in the air and the HEPA systems available from PAS that will assist you in removing or reducing these airborne contaminants. For more information please go to: www.pureairsystems.com.

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Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust

In 1662 the “Book of Common Prayer” was written an one of the prayers in the book was dedicated to burial services.  The prayer is four lines long but part of it reads “….we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. It’s interesting that this part of the burial service prayer is the most often used in TV, movies and books when showing a burial scene or describing one in print. It’s also interesting to note that all things that die and have died and that have decomposed above ground and turned into dust are still with us.

All this dust keeps getting pushed around by the winds. It continues to get smaller as it comes in contact with a solid object or another particle when it is picked up by the wind. These particles are so small that they can’t be seen with the naked eye ( usually less than 20 microns in size, your hair is 100 microns in diameter ) but they are there none the less. Many of these particles are in the sub-micron range, meaning they are less than 1 micron in diameter. These small particles are easily inhaled and a large percentage of them can be trapped in the mucus membranes and lungs. And, these particles can create havoc with your respiratory system.

People that suffer from allergies due to exposure to ragweed, pollen, grasses and other airborne allergens are much more susceptible to reacting to other airborne particulate that may not necessarily be one of their known allergens. This may be why allergy sufferers who get shots or take anti-histamines may still have their allergic symptoms. For these individuals being outside, especially during the warmer weather, can be a problem. Even being indoors doesn’t always help as these fine particles are brought in on their clothing and through any communications between the outdoors and inside.

To remove these fine particles from the air in your home you will need to use air filtration systems or filters that can trap and contain these finer, smaller particles. While there are a number filtration and air purifying systems available on the market today, only HEPA based filtration systems can really remove the smaller, sub-micron particulate.

Pure Air Systems has been making commercial grade, certified, HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems since 1985. They have thousands of systems installed in commercial, residential, industrial, institutional and medical facilities around the world. Their wide range of HEPA filtration platforms allows you to select the filtration system that fits your specific needs. Whether you want to install the systems as part of your HVAC unit or use it as a stand-alone filtration device PAS units will meet your requirements.

For more information on the complete line of HEPA and Carbon based air filtration systems please to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com. Or call us at: 800-869-8025.

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