top of page
air ionization 2.jpg

BIPOLAR AIR IONIZATION TECHNOLOGY

Engage Bipolar Air Ionization (Air Cleaning) Technology through HBI to support and maintain your Building’s Safe and Healthy
Indoor Environment.

With the onset of the COVID – 19 pandemic, more focus has been placed on indoor air quality and specifically the ability of air cleaning technologies within the global market that can neutralize viruses such as SARS-2-CoV. One such technology that is currently being effectively utilized within all market sectors to support and maintain Safe and Healthy Indoor Air Quality is Bipolar Air Ionization.

 

"In the past, improving indoor air quality was oftentimes viewed as a luxury.

Now more than ever it needs to be viewed as essential."

WHAT IS AIR IONIZATION?

Bipolar Air Ionization is an air cleaning technology that is supported through a building’s HVAC system or through portable Bipolar Ionization air cleaners that generate positively and negatively charged Ion particles. The Ion particles produced work to gather and cluster airborne particles making them easier to drop out of the air or get captured within a building’s HVAC filtration system.

 

Through accredited laboratory testing results Bipolar Air Ionization Technology has also proven to cause chemical reactions to reduce VOCs, odors and neutralize certain viruses such as SARS-2-CoV.  Therefore, Bipolar Air Ionization Technology continues to emerge as a very effective air cleaning technology to support safe and healthy indoor environments.

 

"The ions produce a chemical reaction on the cell membrane surface that inactivates the virus," Philip Tierno, a clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU School of Medicine, told Business Insider. "It can reduce 99.9% of microbes in a matter of minutes."

ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY

ION BLOCK hbi.jpg

Air ionization, also refer to as “negative ionization”, “bipolar ionization”, and “needlepoint ionization” is not a new technology, in fact, it first arrived in the US in the 1970s as a tool to control pathogens in food manufacturing.

 

Bipolar Air ionization technology is installed in thousands of commercial, institutional, residential, and industrial buildings around the world such as:

​

  • Hospitals including Johns Hopkins, Children's Hospital Boston and the University of Maryland Medical Center

  • Terminals at LaGuardia, O'Hare, LAX, and San Francisco International Airport

  • TWA Hotel at JFK airport

  • Large workplaces such as Google's headquarters in Chicago and San Jose

  • Academic Facilities around the world that support K- 12, College and University Facilities

HOW IT WORKS

Ion Block generators are easily mounted within the central air conditioning system’s fan units of any building. As air passes over the Ion Block generators, millions of positively and negatively charged ions are formed – just like in nature. These bipolar ions are dispersed into the occupied spaces of a building through the building’s HVAC fan units and air duct systems, proactively attacking airborne contaminants where they can cause the most problems for occupants.

 

The negative ions generated contain an extra electron while the positive ions generated are missing an electron resulting in an unstable condition. In an effort to re-stabilize, these bipolar air ions seek out atoms and molecules in the air to trade electrons with, effectively neutralizing particulate matter, bacteria and virus cells, odorous gases and aerosols, and VOCs.

 

Bipolar Air ionization is safe, low maintenance, easy-to-install, energy efficient, and highly effective on pollutants such as particulate matter, bacteria, viruses, mold spores, odors, and VOCs.

air ionization 3.png

HBI has established an alliance with premier Nationwide manufacturer/distributor of Bipolar Air Ionization Technology devices to professionally deliver this air cleaning technology to our business partners within the Healthcare, Academic, Commercial, Transportation, Industrial, and Multitenant Residential market sectors in which HBI serves to support and maintain Safe, Healthy, Comfortable and Productive Indoor Environments.

​

HBI offers several types of ION Block generator devices to select from to best support your facility’s HVAC operations.  HBI also offers standalone Ion Block generators for facilities that do not have a central air system. 

Nu-Calgon.JPG
plasma air 7100.JPG
plasma air.JPG
stand alone.JPG

HBI offers an Ion Block Generator device direct purchase option and a Turnkey Ion Block Generator device installation option to deliver Bipolar Air Ionization Technology within buildings of all types.

INDEPENDENT LABORATORY TEST RESULTS

Effects of Bipolar Ionization

​

From USDA:

The petri dishes show sterilization effects of negative air ionization on a chamber aerosolized with Salmonella enteritidis. The left sample is untreated; the right, treated. Based on USDA testing. 

​

petri dish.JPG

From Clean Rooms & Static Control:

How to Reduce Particle Contamination via Ionization, Ionization systems, installed in manufacturing facilities gown up rooms and product transfer areas, have proven to be critical components in reducing particle counts in the associated clean room production and assembly areas. 

​

cleanrooms.JPG

From Accredited/Independent Laboratories to Include: EMSL, ALG & Innovative Bioanalysis Laboratories:

Independent testing conducted to show the effective kill/inactivation rate using Bipolar Ionization. 

​

EMSL.JPG

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are the Ion Blocks UL Listed?

The Ion Blocks HBI provides through our Manufacturer/Distributor partners are ETL certified, meeting all UL certification standards.  UL and ETL are both what are called Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). NRTLs are in place to provide independent safety and quality certifications on products. UL develops the testing standards and tests to them. ETL tests to UL standards and has the same recognition by OHSA since they are both Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. Inspectors, code officials, and Authorities having jurisdiction recognize and accept the ETL Mark as proof of product compliance throughout North America as well as other parts of the world. For more information, visit www.intertek.com/marks/etl/faq/.

​

Is there an ozone byproduct from these Ion Blocks?

No, the Ion Blocks offered through HBI do not emit ozone into your ventilation system.  The Ion field created by the Ion Block, when placed in the return airstream binds additional particle weight to the pathogen.  Along with a proper sequence of operations and paired with all HVAC systems, VAV, CV RTU, Dual Duct Mini Splits, & Unit ventilators the Ion Block is the lowest cost of entry towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19 inside of buildings.

​

What is the sequence of operations?

The Ion Blocks offered through HBI are a plug & play solution that only requires 24VAC to run.  There are no moving parts. The requirement for proper Ionization is One Ion Block per 2,000CFM of airflow or one unit per return duct in a room.  The Ion Block can be set up stand alone or it can be networked into all DDC systems with a go/no go CT.  

​

Do the blocks need to be installed by a licensed electrician?

Most states (consult your local Electrical Code) do not require a licensed electrician to power up 24VAC devices. No additional wiring is necessary, as the Ion Block comes with everything you need. If you do not have 24VAC , HBI’s distributor carries all of the transformers, magnetic mounting kits, and arrays necessary to get your system up and running quickly.  For Example, a large School System in Indiana installed 2,000 units of the Ion Block with their in-house technicians are averaging 5 minutes per install. 

​

What is the warranty on the Ion Blocks?

The Ion Blocks come with a 5-year warranty provided by its manufacturer; however, each Ion Block can last for over 10 years.

 

We have a Building Automation System; can these units be put into my system with graphics & visibility?

Yes, Ion Blocks offered through HBI can be wired to a digital output on any manufacturer’s controller. If an additional digital output is not available, any 24V power supply can be used to run the Ion Block on a switch or 24/7/365 operation.  By adding a simple Go/No Go current transducer (available through HBI) visibility can be generated to the front end by your preferred controls technician.  The Ion Block is completely brand agnostic when it comes to tying into ANY BMS system - Honeywell, Siemens, Johnson Controls, Distech, Automated Logic; even legacy systems and stand-alone programmable thermostats can provide the necessary power to run the Ion Block.

Interested in Air Ionization? Please fill out the form below.

Thanks for submitting!

HBI QR Code Logo- no date.png
bottom of page