Controlled testing of air purifiers
Since the COVID pandemic, indoor air quality has become increasingly important. Meanwhile, there is also new federal legislation in Belgium around indoor air quality in public buildings. A certification and labelling system is still being developed to ensure transparency on indoor air quality from 2025.
The controlled and adequate testing of air purification systems is therefore very topical. VITO's state-of-the-art test chamber makes this possible and is unique in Belgium. It is an inert chamber of thirty cubic metres with a dynamic air exchange system whose air composition of the incoming air can be adjusted.
Target audience
This test chamber allows for controlled and standardised measurement of air purifier efficiency, emission reductions and virus spread. Given the recent legislation on indoor air quality, this is very useful for, among others, manufacturers and distributors of air purifiers, but also governments or other research organisations.
Who can benefit from this lab?
- Manufacturers of air purification devices
- Distributors of air cleaners
- Research organisations
- Manufacturers of air fresheners
- Authorities (European Commission, FPS Public Health, OVAM, Environment Department, Care Department...)
What can be investigated in the test chamber:
- Efficiency determination of air purification devices
- Study of the operation of abatement techniques
- Odour reduction determination
- Emission determination of materials
- Virus dispersion determination
Reference lab in Belgium
VITO's test chamber is completely dust-free, and the materials from which it is constructed also do not produce any volatile organic compounds (so-called VOCs). Moreover, the room has a high air density and is surrounded by a thermally insulating ‘cage’ that allows the parameters inside to be closely controlled, such as temperature and humidity.
Real-life scenarios can be simulated, such as a living room or an office space, with or without people. Fresh air is fed into the test chamber via stainless steel pipes, deliberately ‘contaminated’ with chemicals or (virus) particles, through a grid with small openings. Thus, the supplied air is nicely distributed homogeneously in the room. An air purifier, for example, can then do its work, and based on a measurement of the outgoing air, the efficiency of the device can then be examined.
In this way, VITO can examine the impact of various specific scenarios on indoor air quality, and what influence air purifiers or other systems have on this.
Want to know more?
Manufacturers, governments and research institutes alike can use this unique test chamber. Contact Jeroen today.
