As the United States enters late fall and the weather grows colder, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread as Americans congregate in larger numbers indoors. And since scientists believe that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is spread through aerosolized particles and that those particles can hang in the air for an extended period, HVAC professionals continue to look for technological methods of controlling the disease's spread inside buildings.
One such technology is bipolar ionization (BPI), also called needlepoint bipolar ionization. This indoor air quality method involves air cleaners installed in HVAC systems to create reactive ions or reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the air, which react with airborne contaminants such as viruses.
An electric charge creates a plasma field filled with positive and negative ions. The ions fuse along the surface of a virus and capture a hydrogen bond. Since a virus cannot survive without a hydrogen bond, bipolar ionization is said to neutralize the pathogen and remove it from the air via an electrostatic force.
The biggest caveat to using such systems is the potential for the equipment to create ozone as a byproduct of the process. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that BPI has matured and many of its “earlier potential safety concerns are now resolved.” Yet, BPI is still considered an “emerging” technology as it has a “less-documented track record in regards to cleaning/disinfecting large and fast volumes of moving air within heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.”
To ensure that HVAC professionals offer the right BPI solution for clients’ applications, the CDC recommends researching the technology. The equipment must meet UL Standard 2998, Environmental Claim Validation Procedure for Zero Ozone Emissions from Air Cleaners, which is intended to validate that no harmful ozone levels are produced.
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