Without the proper equipment installed, it’s easy for mold, bacteria, viruses, and more to spread. As more Illinoisans make plans to return to the workplace or visit their favorite places of business, they want to be sure the air they’re breathing is healthy and free from these common dangers.
Through extensive industry research and testing, our trained professionals know that equipping HVAC systems with MERV 13 and higher-grade filters, installing UV-C and bipolar ionization technologies, utilizing more outdoor air, and controlling humidity are all solutions we can offer customers like you, for increased safety and peace of mind. These are the solutions available to help get building owners throughout the greater Chicago area back to business—safely.
Amber Mechanical has provided close to 600 long term healthy air quality solutions in local HVAC systems. Amber is one of the top healthy indoor air solution providers in the area providing customize solutions to each facility’s needs.
- Schools—Early Childhood, K-12, buildings and campuses
- District offices
- Colleges
- Medical offices
- Churches
- Libraries
- Facilities serving developmentally disabled individuals
- Manufacturing
- Municipalities, government buildings
- Park districts
- Police departments
The number of solutions installed and buildings served by the team at Amber is growing each day. Our top priority is the health, safety, and comfort of our customers and their occupants.
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This emerging technology has been shown to neutralize viruses, making them inactive and unable to spread. The resulting purified air helps keep building occupants healthier and able to go about their daily activities with peace of mind. This technology has been used across many industries, including hospitals, government buildings, airports, and schools, to name a few.
One leading manufacturer of bipolar ionization, Global Plasma Solutions, tested their technology against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a recent independent study. What they found was a 99.4 percent reduction in virus presence after only 30 minutes of use, proving the power of this type of technology in fighting one of today’s top viral threats.
Ultraviolet (UV) light has been well established in the industry as a powerful way to keep HVAC coils, drain pans and other surfaces clean, and may help prevent and reduce the spread of viruses and other airborne pollutants. UV light is germicidal, meaning it breaks down the DNA of harmful contaminants and keeps them from growing—just like UV rays from the sun.
Coil sanitizing lights are one option available. They’re installed to shine directly on the surface of the unit’s cooling coil and drain pan and are left on 24/7. Air-sanitizing lights are installed in the return air duct, cycle on with the air handler blower, and are designed to eliminate harmful contaminants “on the fly.”
High-efficiency filtration is necessary in today’s public buildings to help prevent the spread of infection, and our experts recommend installing the highest MERV rating your building can handle. ASHRAE currently recommends a filter with a MERV 13 rating or above for commercial HVAC systems because they become at least 85 percent efficient at filtering harmful contaminants like viruses, dust mites, mold, pollen, pet dander, and more.
However, not all HVAC systems are created equal, and not all can handle the most efficient filters. Those that weren’t originally designed to fit higher-efficiency filters may be reconfigured, but a Breathe Easy Illinois contractor will work with you to find the optimal fit for your building’s unique needs. Additionally, filters must be configured properly and replaced regularly to maintain optimal efficiency.
Because forced air affects your entire building, boosting the air change rate is also crucial to your clean air strategy. Higher-efficiency filtration will help, as well as increasing outdoor ventilation through methods like opening doors and windows.
Ultraviolet C (UVC) wavelengths are effective in air quality solutions. It is safe and effective, ideal for facilities and businesses with higher number of occupants where odors, microbials, and VOCs are of concern. “System use Germicidal UVC light, in combination with 4 reactive Catalytic processes to kill, control & oxidize airborne contaminants. This means that airborne microorganisms, pathogens, odors and gases are not able to escape the oxidative cleansing action of the OXY 4. It is particularly effective in high humidity environments where molds, mildew & microorganisms thrive."
This solution is found in Air Purifiers that use “Ultra Violet light & catalytic reactions to create ionically charged airborne oxidizers. These highly effective oxidative air cleansers freely circulate throughout indoor spaces to help reduce and eliminate molds, virus, bacteria, microbes, odors and chemical VOC’s (Volatile organic compounds).”
Third-party, independent testing confirms Respicaire Ultraviolet products achieved a 99 percent inactivation and neutralization of the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 in seconds. Testing was for single units and each model was tested independently.