A few weeks ago Biozone released their next generation air purifiers, the Biozone AirCare series. We were pretty excited to hear this since it has been some time since we saw anything new out of Biozone. We have been able to test one of the models (the PR10) for 10 days. In this review, I will talk about the technology in general, walk you through the new features, and discuss our test results.
Biozone Air Purifier Technology
A Biozone air purifier uses an ultraviolet light system where air is drawn past a germicidal UV bulb. This destroys viruses, bacteria, and fungi and also greatly reduces odors. Unlike a HEPA filter or a unit with filtration media, Biozone decontaminates the air rather than remove particles. The UV bulb produces photoplasma, which disinfects surfaces that are outside the air purifier with highly reactive energized oxygen. Negative Ions decrease the concentration of harmful contaminates and particles in the air. Lastly, ozone destroys viruses and bacteria. Since the air leaving the unit is highly energized, it purifies air outside the unit (air does not have to pass through the unit to become purified).
Third party testing by SARL AFR at a private the Val d’Or Surgery Hospital in Saint Cloud and at the EHPAD Du Bourg Joly Mathurin sur Loire Residential Care Home was recently conducted to test the effectiveness of these units. Air quality samples were analyzed by Clean Concepts Measurements, an independent laboratory.
Results indicated a 100% improvement in air quality and odor. The “feeling of purity†improved by more than 79% and the “Feeling of Freshness†improved by more than 93%. Since there is no filtration media, what I found surprising was the dramatic reduction in airborne particles and bacteria. Airborne bacteria was reduced by more than 70% and yeast & mold by 68%.
Our Test Results
Our more informal testing found excellent performance from the AirCare PR10. The unit was placed in home with multiple cats near the litter box. The smell in the area and the adjoining rooms was so bad that it was difficult for people to spend much time in them. The areas was also in the basement of an older home that had a “wet basementâ€/mold smell. The PR10 is rated for 1000 square feet, and we were using it in a 600 square foot room with over 800 square feet in the adjoining rooms. All rooms were open to each other.
The unit was run on the highest setting for the first 24 hours, and then turned down the mid setting. After 7 days it was turned to its lowest setting.
Improvement happened literally over-night. Setting up the unit at 4:00 PM, slight improvement was noticed five hours later. The next morning, dramatic improvement was noted. After 24 hours, virtually all smell was eliminated. We actually were able to turn it down after a week to its lowest setting. Smell improved in the immediate area and also in the other rooms.
Noise from the unit is very low. Even on the highest setting, noise is not very loud and definitely not disturbing. The lowest level is virtually silent.
New Features
The technology is very similar to the older series Biozone air purifiers (500/1000/2000), with several new features for convenience. The AirCare models come with a remote, with is useful if you have the unit in a living area or in a spot that is not easy to reach. The remote is fairly basic with three buttons to control the machine. Unlike the older series, the AirCare is programmable with a timer. Also, the units now monitor the lamp life.
The best improvement with the new series is the elimination of the fuse. Prior models would typically blow the fuse when the lamp burned out. This caused a fair amount of dissatisfaction with owners of the older series when they would put in a new lamp and the machine would not turn on.
Conclusions
Overall, I really like the unit based on our testing. It used proven technology that has been used for years in homes as well as environments such as hospitals that require bacteria and virus control. The new features are a plus, and the elimination of the fuse is a welcome change.
If you are in a heavy dust area, I would recommend a filtration unit with a carbon filter media such as those from IQAir and Austin Air (to see a huge cross section of air purifiers: click here). Also, if you suffer from asthma, I would recommend a filtration unit. In rare cases asthma can be aggravated by a unit that uses UV light due to the small amount of ozone produced.
A Biozone air purifier will perform well for you in applications where you need to eliminate odors, bacteria and viruses. They are quality air purifiers that will run for years and quickly address an air quality issue.
For the full line of Biozone AirCare air purifiers, click here.
Model Details:
AirCare PR05: click here.
Air Care PR10: click here.
Air Care PR 20: click here.
