AUBURN, AL - Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is no longer an option. It is a necessity! Poor IAQ can result in lower employee productivity, lost time, poor customer impressions, higher costs, lower revenues and time missed at work. The printing industry by nature of the business, is generally associated with poor indoor air quality. Yet, today the industry faces increasing pressure to clean up its indoor air. Printing companies need to meet OSHA requirements for occupational safety and health, and they are showing increased concern for their employee's welfare and their customer's satisfaction.

Honeywell commercial air cleaning systems provide a simple and economical method of filtering the air, reducing both particles and odors. In other systems where more outside air is brought in to increase ventilation rates for air cleaning purposes, additional pollutants found in that air are now introduced to the occupants. Contributing factors can include construction zones, farming, heavy traffic areas, airports, large cities, industrial areas and high mold and pollen counts. With more outside air being introduced into buildings for the explicit purpose of air cleaning, there is a much larger energy demand on existing heating and cooling systems. And that costs extra dollars in the form of increased utility bills, upgrade costs to heating and cooling systems, or replacing those systems with larger capacity units. Even with all of these considerations, this solution may not necessarily solve the problem.

Honeywell stand-alone air cleaning systems operate independently of central heating and cooling systems and can be placed at the pollutant source, with filtration capabilities to significantly reduce airborne particles, odors and volatile organic compounds (VOC's). In addition to the beneficial effects on people, a cleaner indoor air environment may contribute to better process quality control and positively impact equipment maintenance costs.

Tests were recently conducted at an American Speedy Print Center, which is typical of most quick print operations. This particular location has a 480 sq. ft. customer area with an adjacent 400 sq. ft. copy area, a 770 sq. ft. printing area, and an 880 sq. ft. cutting, bindery and production area. The customer and copy areas are separated by a counter and are otherwise open to each other with six copiers throughout. A partition wall separates these areas from the printing and cutting areas, which are also open to each other. The ceilings are ten feet high throughout the whole business.

Tests were carried out over a two-day time period, tracking both total volatile organic compound (TVOC) levels and particulate levels, with and without Honeywell air cleaners operating. As might be expected, exact comparisons are difficult, as customer counts continually change, doors open and close, copy center usage fluctuates and press runs start and stop at random. What's more, a problem with the building's air conditioning emerged during the testing which affected airflow. In spite of these variables, some rather dramatic results were observed. Both particulate and TVOC levels were drastically reduced when the Honeywell air cleaners were in operation. Tests to measure the pollutant levels began at 8AM and ended at 5 PM with readings taken every fifteen minutes. Particle counts were recorded in "particles per cubic foot." Particle counts fluctuated according to equipment use in the copy, printing and production areas. The average total indoor particle count observed without air filtration was 1,800,000 per cubic foot. Operating Honeywell cleaners lowered the average to 360,000; i.e. yielded a reduction of 80%.

Results of the TVOC measurements were also significant. With Honeywell air cleaners running, average TVOC levels of 34 parts per million (PPM) were recorded. Without the air cleaners in operation, TVOC level were 188% higher.

Three Honeywell model F111 air cleaners were used for the tests. The F111's are recessed into the ceiling so they are up, and out of the way. They feature a multiple supply air flow pattern that quickly moves contaminants towards the unit where they are captured with three stages of media filtration. The first stage is a prefilter that captures large particles and extends the life of the second stage filter. A 95% DOP, hospital grade filter captures fine particles in the second stage, and CPZ™ sorbent media captures gases and VOC's in the third stage. The units are self-contained and operate independently of the HVAC system. They are quickly installed and easily accessed for minimal filter maintenance.