introducing iwave
Creating a cleaner environment
iWave® brings a new, advanced air cleaning technology to the HVACR market. This patented technology, called needlepoint bipolar ionization, uses carbon fiber brushes to produce a refined electrical charge to proactively clean the air in residential and commercial buildings. The iWave approach produces equal amounts of positive and negative ions (combined charge neutral) that react and reduce certain viruses and bacteria. iWave also reduces particles, smoke, odors and VOCs in the air. iWave is OEM approved and can be installed in any air conditioning or heating system.
How bipolar ionization works
iWave Air Ionization Systems are bipolar, meaning they use two emitters to create equal amounts of positive and negative ions. When these ions are injected into the air stream, they reduce certain VOCs, pollutants and airborne gases. The emitted ions will also reduce certain viruses and bacteria. Contact with ions has microbicidal effects on certain viruses and bacteria, which ultimately disrupt their surface proteins and render them inactive. The ions also attach to dust and other airborne particles, causing them to band together until they are large enough to be caught by the HVAC system’s air filters.
iWave’s technology generates the same ions that nature creates with lightning, waterfalls, ocean waves, etc. Nature uses ion energy to break apart molecules, naturally cleaning the air. The only difference between iWave’s technology and nature is that iWave does it without generating unsafe levels of ozone per UL867 test standard.+
How is ionization different?
Unlike bipolar ionization, Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology uses UV light, commonly with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and often with other alloys, to create ionization. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has warned of cancerous risks involved with TiO2* – not something you want in a building’s air quality!
ASHRAE issued a position document in January 2015 on Filtration and Air Cleaning where they cautioned UV lamps used in many PCO devices can emit significant ozone – known to be harmful for human health. They also observed and reported on page 9 of the document “…potential of an incomplete oxidizing process, which produces by-products of reaction that can be more toxic or harmful than the original constituents (i.e. formaldehyde). The catalysts can be contaminated (poisoned) by airborne reagents and/or products of oxidation, which results in reduced or total efficiency failure of the process.” Lastly, the PCO approach requires the replacement of the UV cell every year or two. Bipolar ionization requires no replacement parts, and on the self-cleaning models, they are maintenance free for the life of the device.