| As many as 8 out of 10 allergy sufferers have | | | | and traditionally used only in hospital and |
| allergy symptoms year-round due to indoor | | | | pharmaceutical settings and among computer chip |
| allergens. Perennial allergy symptoms can be | | | | manufacturers. Then businesses began to take |
| controlled by improving indoor air quality with air | | | | notice of indoor air quality concerns among |
| cleaners. These days, there are so many options | | | | residential consumers. |
| for air cleaning: furnace filters, HEPA air purifiers, | | | | In response to the growing demand for cleaner |
| ionic air cleaners, humidifiers that wash the air, | | | | air, Incen AG, the Hammes brothers' newly |
| ozone generators, and whole house air purification | | | | formed company moved to Switzerland and |
| systems . . . which may leave the allergy | | | | began developing and manufacturing residential air |
| consumer wondering: How did we get this far | | | | purifiers in 1971. After many years of international |
| with air cleaning technology? | | | | success for Incen AG, Frank Hammes, son of |
| You may think that air purification is a new craze, | | | | Klaus Hammes, began to distribute cabin air filters |
| but in actuality, it dates much farther back than | | | | as add-on accessories for Mercedes-Benz |
| most people realize. Although antiquated, various | | | | automobiles in 1990. In 1991, Frank Hammes |
| types of air purification have been around for | | | | formed IQAir North America, which has promoted |
| more than 200 years. Since the early 1800s, | | | | the continual growth and success of the air |
| scientists have been working on ways to make | | | | purification industry. In 2002, IQAir air purifiers |
| our air cleaner. At the start of the industrial | | | | became the first air cleaners to incorporate H13 |
| revolution in the United States, John and Charles | | | | class certified HEPA filters, which capture up to |
| Dean developed a mask for firefighters in 1823, | | | | 100 times more particles than conventional HEPA |
| allowing firefighters to enter burning buildings | | | | filters. H13 class certified HEPA filters, up to that |
| without being overcome by dangerous smoke | | | | point, had only been used in hospital clean rooms. |
| fumes. | | | | In 1991, through the amazing technology of True |
| As the Industrial Revolution really took hold in | | | | Medical HEPA and Activated Carbon, Richard |
| America, coal burning became a basic way of life | | | | Taylor created a filter that addressed the issues |
| throughout growing cities. Utilizing coal allowed | | | | of environmental particulate contamination, |
| engineers to produce electricity and fuel to power | | | | chemical toxicity, and odors. It was then that he |
| trains and heat homes. However, as coal became | | | | and his wife Joyce founded Austin Air Systems |
| a central resource for growing city life, the air | | | | Limited. Based out of Buffalo, NY, Austin Air |
| became polluted with smoke and dark clouds of | | | | introduced a pre-filter that ensured a HEPA filter |
| smog. | | | | life unequaled to anything in the industry. Austin |
| It was not until 1854 that John Stenhouse | | | | Air's 360-degree intake system draws air into all |
| developed a mask worn by divers and coal | | | | sides of the air cleaner, maximizing efficiency and |
| miners to protect against polluted air. Stenhouse's | | | | delivering more clean air faster. With the largest |
| mask was based on a charcoal-based filter design, | | | | air cleaner manufacturing facility in the world, |
| similar to some of the carbon filters used in air | | | | Austin Air continues to produce all the parts for |
| purifiers today. These masks filtered many air | | | | their fantastic air purifiers. |
| impurities and made tremendous advancements in | | | | Established in 1992, AllerAir quickly became a |
| the field of air purification. Using charcoal in his air | | | | trusted name in air purification. After a family |
| filters enabled Stenhouse to filter out more | | | | member of AllerAir founder Sam Teitelbaum |
| harmful, noxious gases from the air than previous | | | | developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) , |
| filtration masks. In 1871, John Tyndall upgraded | | | | Teitelbaum and partner Wayne Martin decided to |
| the original firefighter masks created by the | | | | develop their own air cleaner. Using the |
| Deans, introducing a respirator to aid in the | | | | combination of true HEPA filters and a MAC-B |
| breathing for firefighters. The combination of the | | | | (mass activated carbon bed) filters, which contain |
| respirator device and filtration system became | | | | pounds of carbon, AllerAir created an air purifier |
| early precursors to today's respirator masks. | | | | that safely and effectively removes chemicals, |
| HEPA Air Filters | | | | gases, and odors from the air. With offices in the |
| Shhh! You may not know it, but HEPA filters were | | | | United States, Italy, and Canada, AllerAir air |
| originally classified as top-secret, developed by the | | | | purifiers are used by the Mayo Clinic, IBM, Gucci, |
| US Atomic Energy Commission to protect soldiers | | | | Prada, and the U.S. Army. With more than 100 |
| from radioactive particles on the battlefield. During | | | | model to choose from, AllerAir air cleaners are |
| World War II, scientists involved in the Manhattan | | | | efficient, practical, and cost effective. |
| Project used HEPA masks to guard against | | | | With headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and |
| contaminants from the atomic bomb. | | | | Chicago, the Blueair air purifier company is |
| Although these early HEPA masks couldn't | | | | committed to creating a healthier environment |
| possibly protect people from atomic radiation, the | | | | both indoors and out. Founded in Sweden in 1996, |
| research spawned the HEPA filter, which provided | | | | Blueair quickly earned a reputation for high |
| protection against chlorine gas, mustard gas, and | | | | performance, technological innovation, and quality |
| flame throwers. It was not until the 1960s that | | | | design. A revolutionary combination of mechanical |
| specifications were standardized and the term | | | | and electrostatic filtration allows Blueair purifiers to |
| HEPA or "High Efficiency Particulate Air" was | | | | capture 99.97% of irritating particles, gases, and |
| officially coined by the Department of Energy | | | | odors. With more than five different models, |
| (DOE). | | | | these powerful yet near-silent air cleaners provide |
| As defined by the DOE, HEPA filters remove at | | | | a visually-pleasing form and highly effective |
| least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and | | | | function. |
| any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns at | | | | Now a global leader in the production of specialty |
| 85 litres per minute. From the beginning, HEPA | | | | products and chemicals and a subsidiary brand of |
| filters were employed to filter out highly | | | | Kaz, Honeywell started as a hot water heater |
| hazardous aerosols, toxic carcinogens, radioactive | | | | company in 1906 and has a longstanding tradition |
| particules, and biohazardous contaminates. | | | | of supplying safe, reliable, and high-quality |
| Meanwhile, across the world in Germany, brothers | | | | products. Acquired by Kaz in July of 2002, |
| Klaus and Manfred Hammes purchased a patent | | | | Honeywell's indoor air quality products continually |
| for a simple air filtration system. Using a fiberglass | | | | meet and exceed the American Lung |
| pad attached with small magnets to the air outlet | | | | Association's Health House guidelines with |
| of a residential oil oven, the Hammes brothers | | | | meaningful innovations based on consumer |
| were able to filter soot from the air. In 1963, the | | | | research and insights. With the use of permanent, |
| Hammes brothers' simple but effective filter | | | | lifetime HEPA filters, Honeywell air cleaners |
| became the first air cleaner to be utilized in | | | | remove 99.97% of all common, household |
| homes across Germany. | | | | particles such as dust, pollen, tobacco, smoke, and |
| Coincidentally, in the same year, US Congress | | | | cat dander. The Honeywell glass-fiber HEPA |
| passed the Clean Air Act of 1963 to set | | | | material helps remove airborne particles without |
| standards for the reduction of air pollution through | | | | the use of expensive ultraviolet bulbs, chemicals, |
| fuel emissions standards. Although it was not | | | | or other treatments. With a diversity of products |
| Congress's first attempt at reducing air pollution, | | | | to fit your needs, Honeywell offers a series of |
| the Clean Air Act of 1963 alerted scientists and | | | | Home Comfort and Indoor Air Quality Solutions. |
| consumers of the need to protect our lungs from | | | | Although no longer a top-secret government |
| pollutants such as perfumes, building materials, | | | | project, air purifiers still hold the secrets to cleaner |
| chemicals, pesticides, and allergens. | | | | air and healthier environments for many asthma |
| The Air Purifier Craze | | | | and allergy sufferers. Today HEPA air purifiers and |
| No longer classified as top-secret, HEPA air filters | | | | filters are used in a variety of critical filtration |
| became popular in the 1970s and 1980s as more | | | | applications in nuclear, electronic, aerospace, |
| consumers became concerned about air pollution. | | | | pharmaceutical and medical fields, as well as in |
| With the introduction of dozens of products | | | | homes around the world. Compare air purifiers |
| featuring HEPA filters, new and exciting ways to | | | | and learn how to choose the best air purifier for |
| control allergies and asthma finally became widely | | | | your needs. An air purifier could be the secret to |
| available for residential use. Originally, the first | | | | better breathing for you and your family. |
| HEPA air purifiers were bulky, difficult to operate, | | | | |