• Is this safe (meaning can my employees be in the same room where the purification system is installed)?
     AirOwatch systems are used in thousands of facilities around the world, including many locations where people work in the same location in which the air purification system is located. The units are completely safe and use the best scientific air cleaning technology.  AirOwatch creates an improved work environment. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), which clean the air in an AirOwatch system, do their cleaning mainly inside the AirOwatch machines. The small amount of ROS, including small amounts of O3, allowed to enter the room air are well below OSHA limits and are similar to amounts produced by the sun on a bright day and by items like flourescent lights and copiers in a workplace.  
  • Why is the system monitored and not purchased?
    AirOwatch's monitoring program is the key component to a successful AirOwatch program. AirOwatch monitors the air, thus ensuring for a stable, clean, and healthy environment. The system is monitors the need to replace filters, replace reaction chambers, replace measuring and monitoring heads, measures air flow, and on/off operation of the unit. Datawatch's monitoring location takes a proactive approach seeing that normal maintenance is being performed on the system. Also, Datawatch's remote monitoring specialists supervise the air parameters and can make proactive adjustments when necessary. AirOwatch's system is monitored at its UL facility 24 hours, 7 days a week, ensuring optimumal functionality for our customers.
  • Is this an ozone machine?
    No, it is not. Traditional ozone "generators" use only ozone as a sanitizer and produce large quantities of O3. They have been around for decades and have not been widely adopted for many reasons. Ozone machines use dried compressed air that is pushed into the room from outside through pipes. Conversely, AirOwatch machines are located inside the room, use regular air, and clean the air using reactive oxygen species mostly inside the machine, while only a small amount of specialized treatments are released in the room to treat surfaces and products.

  • Is this like Ionizers, painted antimicrobial surfaces, UV lights, or HEPA filtration?
    No.There are several "categories" of air cleaners, and we are not in any of these categories.     1. Ionizers C They statically charge the air, and dust particles are either attracted to statically charged plates or the heavier particles fall to the ground. There is no destruction of bacteria, mold, etc. 2.Titanium Dioxide painted surface and UV light C These systems create limited amounts of hydroxyl radicals (HO) which are oxidizing agents. This type of device is somewhat effective in a laboratory environment, but cannot generate sufficient amounts of HO to be effective in commercial applications. 3. UV light units -Often combined with ionizers, the units generate ozone in some quantities, but rely principally on the direct exposure of airborne contaminants to the UV light. This has limited benefits since the UV light produces limited sanitizing agents and cleans only by direct exposure to the light source. Bulb replacement is expensive, and the disposal of UV bulbs cretes hazardous waste because the there is Mercury in the bulbs. 4. HEPA filtration - HEPA filters have very small pores which filter out particles, but are not small enough to filter out bacteria or many molds, mildews or viruses. 5. Ozone Generators - Thse systems are effective in water purification, but have many limitations in air-based, applications, including the need to use compressed and dried air to generate large amounts of ozone. The units cannot be effectively used where huans are present. The technology has limited application, is hard to control in-air based applications, and has not been widely adopted despite its market presence for many years.  

  • Why does it have to be in the room or ventilation unit?
    It needs to be either in the room or ventilation unit to clean the air in that environment or the air being distributed throughout the facility. The only way to actually clean the air in a room is to place a unit in the room and allow it to sanitize the air by having it move through the unit (Stage I) and distributing the reactive oxygen species to the product and surfaces in the room (Stage II). In a HVAC system the air purification unit is attached to the main distribution point of the ventilation system and distributed throughout the facility emitting both Stage I and Stage II air treatment. The AirOwatch equipment does the majority of the cleaning inside the machine and does not require the introduction of outside air which could significantly alter temperature, humidity, and other factors.       

  • Is this a filtering system?
    While room air passes through the AirOwatch system, there is no filtering of the air except a long term (approximately 6 month) filter which filters out large dust particles that could damage the equipment. The system energizes the air and removes the micro-organisms throughout the air.       
  • What does it mean, "We break down the oxygen into something else"?
    Oxygen (O2) is approximately 20.9% of the atmosphere. The oxygen molecule is energized in the AirOwatch's equipment, and the molecular structure is temporarily modified to change the electron structure, or in some cases, actually split the O2 molecule. The AirOwatch system is the best technology to alter a portion of the oxygen in the air into these reactive oxygen species (ROS) including singlet oxygen (O2 with a flipped electron), hydroxyl radicals (HO- actually an H2O molecule with one of the hydrogen molecules detached), ozone (O3 - an O2 molecule with an extra oxygen atom temporarily attached) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide ), as well as other forms of reactive oxygen. These reactive oxygen molecules break the carbon bonds in bacteria, molds, mildew and other contaminants to remove them from the environment. This is a continuous process and the oxygen is returned to its original state.       

  • I am worried about VRE, Pseudo, MRSA, and Salmonella; is AirOwatch effective against these?
    Absolutely!  We have documented test results from the USDA and several physician advisors who have shown destruction of VRE, Pseudo, MRSA, and Salmonella as well as many other micro-organisms and we have substantial laboratory results, real life air sampling, and other tests in customer locations documenting major reductions in test cultures of mildew and mold. One recent study by Scientific Air Solutions shows that AirOwatch air treatment process results in a huge reduction in VRE, Pseudo, MRSA, and Salmonella (see Microbiology section). The AirOwatch program works to keep the Target Air Quality acceptable.