Fresh-Aire UV’s APCO® Air Treatment System Earns Environmental Claim Validation from UL for Zero-Ozone Emissions
The Fresh-Aire UV APCO® is the HVAC industry’s first UV/PCO air purification system to be validated to UL 2998 UL’s zero ozone emissions environmental claim validation procedure
Jupiter, Fla.—The APCO® air treatment system, manufactured by Fresh-Aire UV®, Jupiter, Fla., has received an Environmental Claim Validation to UL 2998, an environmental claim validation procedure from UL Environment confirming the ultraviolet/photocatalytic oxidation (UV/PCO) indoor air purification product emits zero ozone.
The APCO system is the HVAC industry’s first UV/PCO indoor air quality (IAQ) product to achieve UL 2998, a new validation procedure designed to determine if equipment emits zero ozone during their intended use, and can help wholesalers, HVAC contractors and consumers identify products that meet their criteria. Ozone is a toxic gas that can cause respiratory tract irritation, asthma and even permanent lung damage.
The APCO® air treatment system is listed on UL SPOT (ul.com/spot ), UL’s sustainable products database, which is open to the public. APCO, an AHR Innovation Awards winner, was tested to UL 867 standards and reviewed under the UL 2998 validation procedure. Qualifying zero ozone emission products must demonstrate they emit less than the maximum ozone concentration limit of 0.005 ppm (5 ppb)– which is 10-fold less than permitted under UL867, which allows concentrations of 0.05 ppm (50 ppb).
Over the past 20 years, countless stand-alone and HVAC system-mounted air cleaning products have appeared on the market. Many of these systems have been found to emit ozone or ozone reaction products into occupied spaces. Consequently, various standards and health organizations, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), California Air Resource Board (CARB) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have raised concerns about the dangers associated with ozone-emitting air cleaners.
For example, the FDA was the first to set an ozone emissions limit of 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) for all medical devices. In 2008, CARB targeted ozone emissions with a state-wide regulation requiring certification of all electronic air cleaners under UL-867’s 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) limit.
Recently, ASHRAE took a similar stance with its 2015 publication of the “Position Document on Filtration and Air Cleaning.” The position document’s Section 2.6 states: “Ozone is harmful for health and exposure to ozone creates risk for a variety of symptoms and diseases associated with the respiratory tract; Ozone emission is thus undesirable." Section 3.2 of the document further states: "devices that use the reactivity of ozone for the purpose of cleaning the air should not be used in occupied spaces because of negative health effects that arise from exposure to ozone and its reaction products.”
“Consumer safety is our number one priority,” said Chris Willette, president, Fresh-Aire UV. “Our product’s validation to UL 2998 allows HVAC professionals to promote our APCO technology knowing that it’s safe, effective and now validated as having zero ozone emissions.”
About Fresh-Aire UV®: Fresh-Aire UV® is a division of Triatomic Environmental Inc., Jupiter, Fla., a leading manufacturer and developer of germicidal UV light systems designed for commercial/industrial and residential HVAC systems and ice machines. Among their products is the patented Blue-Tube UV®, the first 24 volt low-voltage germicidal UV light for HVAC, which has become the most popular product of its type in the world. Fresh-Aire UV's revolutionary APCO® (advanced photocatalytic oxidation) system, which combines UV-C light with activated carbon cells for comprehensive odor, VOC and microbial control, was an international Innovation Award winner at the 2011 AHR Expo. Fresh-Aire UV® systems are sold through wholesale HVAC/R distributors, specified by consulting engineers and installed/serviced by air conditioning contractors. Fresh-Aire UV® continually strives to engineer, develop and market products to meet the demand for a greener world and healthier environment. The UV products improve air quality, enhance the efficiency of HVAC/R systems and reduce maintenance costs. For more information please visit www.freshaireuv.com, call 1-(800) 741-1195 or email: sales@freshaireuv.com.
