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iwave needlepoint bipolar ionization
Apr 13 2021
iWave Indoor Air Quality Solution Review:

Is iWave the best air purifier solution for your commercial or residental HVAC? Air purifier solutions are exploding due to Sars Covid-19 spread concerns and needlepoint bipolar ionization air purifiers are serious contenders. We all benefit from better indoor air quality whether to reduce odors from pets and cooking, to reduce allergens, or to kill mold, bacteria and viruses. My HVAC dealer shared some iWave literature with me when we were discussing indoor air quality problems and solutions.

iWave Product overview:

IWave products by Nu-Calgon, St Louis, MO, are installed in your existing HVAC system. There’s a model for every type of A/C system from ductless mini-split to commercial systems. Nu-Calgon, formerly part of Calgon Corporation and Calgon Vestal Laboratories, has been a leader in the HVAC aftermarket for the past 70 years. The iWave uses Global Plasma Solutions (GPS), of Charlotte, NC, patented technology which targets airborne particles, pathogens and odors to clean indoor air scientifically.

Global Plasma Solutions Certifications: UL and cUL approved. GPS’s NPBI technology has been certified in accordance with UL 867 and UL 2998 as ozone-free. iWave-R example UL certification is here. https://productiq.ulprospector.com/en/profile/2138463/qqch2.e346998?term=iwave&page=1.

How iWave works:

Needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology.

When the fan is on, the iWave creates equal amounts of positive and negative ions which disburse through the HVAC system into the air. They seek out and bond with particles, making them bigger so more can get stuck in your air filter and less ends up on coils and in ducts. When the fan is off, the system is inactive. NPBI technology generates ions without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts just like ions created from natural waterfalls.

iWave effectiveness vs claims:

“When the ions come in contact with viruses, bacteria or mold, they remove the hydrogen molecules – without them, the pathogens have no source of energy and will die. The ions also attach to allergens like pollen and other particles, causing them to band together until they are large enough to be caught by your ventilation system’s air filter. This process is proven by independent laboratory testing to be both safe and effective.“

REVIEWER: See FDA generic statement and other comments below.

“iWave air purifiers will kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.  Through independent lab tests, iWave has been proven to kill 99.4% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 30 minutes.”

REVIEWER: The tests prove it can inactivate SARS-CoV2 on a surface in a lab, not the air. Also, confusing is the difference between pathogen test results wording on iWave.com, vs the studies highlighted on GPS web site. The 99.4% does match a June 2020 press release. Both results are referring to reduction rate on a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) surface strain, not inactivation in the air. It might inactivate in the air, but it’s not proven by these particular tests.

iwave sars cov-2 test resultsgps sars-cov-2 test results

“Kills mold, bacteria and viruses; Reduces allergens, odors, smoke, static electricity and other airborne particles. Keeps coil cleaner.”

REVIEWER: We did not try the product. Reviews are mostly positive 4 and 5 stars on Amazon. It’s good enough that reputable HVAC dealers are using for their clients and GPS has lots of big clients using.

“iWave has proven to be the best air purifier on the market.” I’m going to cry FOUL on this claim after identifying multiple companies using the GPS technology and marketing air purifiers under different brand names, therefore the products would be equal, plus there is insufficient data and explanation to support what about the iWave is the better than others. It’s possible GPS patented technology is the best professional HVAC solution to improve indoor air quality.

What others say:

  • Consumer Reports did not include the brand in their air purifiers reviews, probably because they are not standalone units, but instead require professional installation.
  • FDA on Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19: In order for an air cleaner to be effective in removing viruses from the air, it must be able to remove small airborne particles (in the size range of 0.1-1 um). Provided manufacturers have data to demonstrate efficacy, manufacturers of these types of devices may market this technology to help remove viruses, including SARS-2-CoV, the virus that causes COVID-19, from the air, or to facilitate surface disinfection of surfaces within a treated area. This is an emerging technology, and little research is available that evaluates it outside of lab conditions. As typical of newer technologies, the evidence for safety and effectiveness is less documented than for more established ones, such as filtration. Bipolar ionization has the potential to generate ozone and other potentially harmful by-products indoors, unless specific precautions are taken in the product design and maintenance. If you decide to use a device that incorporates bipolar ionization technology, EPA recommends using a device that meets UL 2998 standard certification (Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Zero Ozone Emissions from Air Cleaners). https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/air-cleaners-hvac-filters-and-coronavirus-covid-19

Cost: Amazon and other online prices in the $260-700 range depending on the model. Since the warranty required professional installation, best to buy from the HVAC company as they may not install yours.

Safety: There no known safety concerns when professionally installed.

Maintenance: None. Stated life expectancy is about 10-15 years.

Warranty: For a valid warranty claim within three years, proof of purchase and proof of installation by a licensed HVAC or electrical contractor must be provided. 

iWave Reviewer Summary:

A widely respected HVAC contractor introduced me to the product line as something they have in their toolbox of solutions. That being said, he also says the industry is still looking for solutions or technology certified by recognized authorities such as EPA or ASHRAE, not third party labs hired by the manufacturer. It seems like a good product. Unlike EPA List-N products that are approved for fogging and misting to kill airborne pathogens like Sars-CoV2, in typically 1-10 minutes, air purifiers do not have the same type of certification. I can see both solutions being used in the same buildings. For example, when someone tests positive in a classroom or office and then exits, fogging the room is the most proven reliable way for quick re-entry.

Resources:

DISCLAIMER:

ESG Safe staff searched the internet to learn more about the referenced products. The images shown contain content from cited manufacture and distributor web sites. Note, disinfectants are regulated by the EPA under the category pesticides as there is no specific category for disinfectants.

Products distributed by ESG Safe always meet government requirements and are verifiable on various agency web sites.

Christine 1 Comments
BIOPROTECT STOP SALE
Apr 9 2021
EPA orders Philadelphia company to stop making inaccurate health claims about pesticide

03/31/2021 Contact Information:  EPA Region 3 Press Office

PHILADELPHIA (March 31, 2021) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered ViaClean Technologies, operating in Philadelphia, to stop marketing the pesticide BioProtect RTU with claims that it is effective against surfaces from public health related pathogens such as the coronavirus.

Although the product is registered to inhibit the growth of “non-public health” microorganisms, it is not registered to address “public health” pathogens. EPA is concerned that customers may have used this product as protection from a virus – such as the coronavirus — in lieu of other EPA-approved disinfection methods.

“Improperly marketed pesticides, especially during a pandemic, may cause injury to consumers,” said Acting EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Administrator Diana Esher. “EPA remains vigilant and will continue to protect the health and safety of Americans from products that have false or misleading public health claims.”

ViaClean provided two BioProtect RTU fact sheets containing public health claims to at least one customer, including the statement that the pesticide can be used to kill “germs.”

Some online distributors, cleaning services, and end-recipients of BioProtect RTU were also making unsubstantiated claims that this product is effective against pathogens, germs, disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and/or the novel coronavirus for up to 90 days.

EPA issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order to prevent BioProtectRTU from continuing to sell this product with public health claims that have not been substantiated through the pesticide registration process.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), products that claim to kill or repel bacteria or germs, including disinfectants, are considered pesticides and must be registered with the EPA. Public health claims can only be made regarding products that have been properly tested and are registered with the EPA.

EPA has released an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. List-N contains over 460 additional products—including products that went through the expedited review process for emerging viral pathogens.

To view the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products, visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

For more information on EPA resources on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus

For more information on pesticides, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides   

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DISCLAIMER:

ESG Safe staff searched the internet to learn more about the referenced products. Since the specific literature in question is unknown, it’s hard to discern whether any literature on the web now is related to the stop order. The image shown contains content that was publicly obtained from an internet reseller. It has the word germs but there’s now way to know if it contributed to the violation. Note, disinfectants are regulated by the EPA under the category pesticides as there is no specific category for disinfectants.

Products distributed by ESG Safe always meet government requirements and are verifiable on various agency web sites.

Christine 0 Comments
Apr 9 2021
Can air purification technologies kill Covid? C&EN magazine reports.

Great article in C&EN magazine about the growth of air purification systems, the science behind it and why we should address air quality, not just masks and surface cleaning. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are the most common approach used to capture airborne SARS-CoV-2, but it’s technology dates back to WW II. Ion solutions are a huge market with varied claims and effectiveness.

Some air purification systems use bipolar ionization, in which high-voltage electrodes create a blizzard of positive and negative ions from molecules in air, such as oxygen and water. Some manufacturers claim that these ions attach to viral particles in the air and weigh them down until they fall to a surface; others claim that the ions react with the virus’s surface proteins, preventing it from infecting cells.

Can needlepoint bipolar Ionization (NBPI) improve indoor air quality?

The experts say it’s critical to not use any solution that generates ozone as even a little bit can have an impact on mobridity. They conclude that air quality is probably improved with some systems, but will not support statements on their reducing risk of SARS Covid-19. For now, the ASHRAE, whose mission is to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields, says that “convincing scientifically-rigorous, peer-reviewed studies do not currently exist on this emerging technology”. Just like Covid treatment for people, we may never have convincing scientifically-rigorous, peer-reviewed studies in the near future. The evidence of cleaner air can be measured and can be visualized by air duct particulate levels with before and after testing.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers EPA approved HVAC solutions. ESG Safe businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

ESG Safe is working closely with HVAC industry experts and only offers products that meet their standards of safety and efficacy, in addition to government certifications. One of our lead products is potentially a game changer for maintenance and air quality for commercial, institutional and residential needs. Contact us for the latest products.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

Resources: https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/infectious-disease/air-purification-technologies-tackle-COVID/99/i9

Christine 0 Comments
yacht resale
Apr 6 2021
Increase yacht resale value by eliminating odors

When stepping inside a used yacht, one of the first senses we notice is smell. Is it good or bad? It’s often a major part of a decision to purchase and at what price. You’ll increase yacht resale prices by eliminating odors. Our biocide neutralizes odors, plus sanitizes air, surfaces and water, making it a strong value multi-purpose product that takes up little space on a yacht for storage.

Masking odors doesn’t work. People are smart enough to know that something is being covered up. Is there a musty or mold smell? Or does it smell like disinfectant and an air freshener trying to create a better odor? Our biocide can be used to kill mold, mildew, fungicide, slimicide and everything else, plus is carpet safe to kill pet odors. Eliminate the cause of the odor problem and neutralize odors in one product. Mop, fog, spray, or add to pools, water, and bilge.

Example uses from one product:

  1. Fog interior air and surfaces for turnover of staff and guests to protect against Covid-19 and other viruses.
  2. Spray exterior surfaces to disinfect and kill mold.
  3. Refresh, deodorize and sanitize HVAC ducts and systems.
  4. Mop floors and decks, sanitizing everything.
  5. Manual spray tight surface areas such as handles.
  6. Clean pots, pans, ventilation hoods to remove grime.
  7. Rinse vegetables to remove bacteria and extend shelf life.
  8. Eliminate chlorine and other undesirable chemicals in hot tub that can discolor chemically treated hair; clean pipes to extend life and reduce maintenance.
  9. Continually refresh air conditioning systems 24/7.
  10. Disinfect, clean, deodorize carpets, beds, chairs.
  11. Disinfect, clean, deodorize laundry room and washer, leaving inner and outer drum fresh.
  12. Kill odor causing bacteria in trash bags.
  13. Wastewater treatment and pipe cleaning.

TIP: All disinfectants require a ‘set time’ for sanitizing to work. For example, a product that has Covid kill time of 5 minutes must sit on the surface for 5 minutes before wiping.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

Christine 0 Comments
epa disinfectant FN NANO illegal
Apr 1 2021
U.S. EPA orders Nevada and California companies to stop selling illegal disinfectants

SAN FRANCISO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Macoma, LLC and FN Nano, Inc., located in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, as well as JT Construction Group, Inc. and BZ Nano, located in Glendale, California, to stop selling the unregistered disinfectant FN Nano Photocatalytic coatings, aka FN Coatings, FN NANO2 Photocatalytic Film. This product is an unregistered disinfectant pesticide being sold in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Such practices are particularly problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, and EPA will continue to take enforcement actions such as this ‘Stop Sale’ order to protect public health.

EPA has issued the ‘Stop Sale’ order to prevent the companies from continuing to distribute or offer for sale these unregistered disinfectants. The products have been available for sale on their websites and are marketed for use in medical facilities, schools, offices, and homes.

“Effective disinfectants are vital to our communities in a pandemic.,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement Director Amy Miller. “If disinfectants are not registered, not effective, or make false claims, EPA will take action.”

Public health claims for pesticide products, including disinfectants, can only be made following proper testing and registration with the EPA. The agency will not register a pesticide until it has been determined the product will not pose an unreasonable risk to human health when used according to the label directions. Unregistered products can be harmful to human health, cause adverse effects, and may not be effective against the spread of germs.

To view the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products, visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Press release source: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-epa-orders-nevada-and-california-companies-stop-selling-illegal-disinfectants

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ESG Safe staff searched the internet to see if the products are still being marketed and sold. The answer is yes. No information regarding a response or whether they are currently seeking to get their products registered for sale in the US was found as of April 9, 2021. Products distributed by ESG Safe always meet government requirements and are verifiable on various agency web sites.

Christine 0 Comments