Camfil highlights the value of the World IEQ Forum 2022

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 27 June 2022: One way to protect people from air pollution is to provide clean and healthy air inside of buildings, Camfil said through a Press release, dated June 27. This was the main conclusion at the 6th edition of the World IEQ Forum, held on March 16, in the Sweden Pavilion at the World Expo in Dubai, Camfil added.

The Expo may have concluded, but the topic of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) still remains a mainstream concern that is discussed globally, Camfil said, adding that there were two reasons for the 2022 World IEQ Forum having had an extra focus on IAQ:

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus between people is higher in poorly ventilated indoor settings.
• In September 2021, WHO published the first new version of their global Air Quality Guidelines since 2005.

“New scientific studies place the threshold of air pollution exposure considered harmful to human health 50% lower today compared to 17 years ago, when the previous WHO Air Quality Guidelines were published”, said Tobias Zimmer, Camfil’s Vice President of Global Product Management & International Standards. Tobias was a speaker and panellist at the World IEQ Forum.

Further, a recent WHO study states that 99% of the world’s population lives in areas with too much air pollution, Camfil pointed out. Air pollution that is causing serious human suffering in the form of diseases and millions of premature global deaths yearly and, on top of that, substantial economic costs, Camfil added.

“In the North African and Middle Eastern regions, air pollution is responsible for 270,000 deaths every year at a cost of 141 billion US Dollars, according to the World Bank”, Zimmer said. He went on to point out that most people today spend 90% of their time indoors and that the simplest and best way to achieve protection against harmful airborne particles is to invest in efficient air filtration solutions across all buildings.

“The need for quality air filtration is reflected via the much lower PM2.5 and PM10 threshold levels stated in WHO’s new Air Quality Guidelines,” Zimmer said. “These thresholds also align with Eurovent Guideline 4/23 for the selection of EN ISO 16890-rated air filter classes for general ventilation applications.”

At the same time, Zimmer was careful to emphasise that it is not possible to have a same-solution-fits-all approach to cleaning the indoor air. “Consensus at the World IEQ Forum was that every solution has to be tailored to where the building is located,” he said. “The outside air quality must determine the solution you have inside.” For example, he added, what works in a temperate zone might not be right in regions with high humidity. “The needs can also vary within a region,” he said. “Cities are more afflicted when it comes to air pollution than the countryside. Some cities are more polluted than others.”

According to Camfil, the World IEQ Forum is an opportunity for experts on IAQ, like Zimmer and his colleagues, to engage with, for example, representatives from the Ministry of Health and other influential representatives from various countries. “It is imperative that we continue to raise awareness around the urgent need to protect people from air pollution,” Zimmer said. “When you look at the human and financial costs on a global level, it is evident that we can’t afford not to protect ourselves.”

Zimmer said participants at the World IEQ Forum did not just talk about the importance of healthy IAQ. “We also demonstrated proof of concept by measuring the outside and inside air at the location during the EXPO,” Zimmer said. “Dubai’s outdoor air was 10 times more polluted than the WHO recommendations. The air inside the air-filtrated Sweden Pavilion was well below WHO limits for particle concentration.”

Zimmer said the effect of the clean indoor air in the Sweden Pavilion was visible to the naked eye. “After several hours of listening to me and other speakers, the audience was still fresh and alert,” he said. “So, you could say that we certainly ‘walked the talk’ when it comes to proving the benefits of clean, healthy and productive indoor air.”

India Pavilion at Expo 2020 launches AC helmet

DUBAI, UAE, 10 November 2021: The India Pavilion, at the World Expo in Dubai, launched what it said is the world’s first AC safety helmet. Designed and manufactured by Telangana, India-based tech and safety start-up, Jarsh Safety, the helmet is reportedly suitable for outdoor workforce and field executives.

According to Jarsh Safety, NIA Limited, in Dubai, will distribute the product in the UAE market. NIA, it added, is also the exclusive regional distributor for a wide range of consumer electronics and home appliances.

The product launch is part of the India Innovation Hub initiative by the Indian Pavilion at the World Expo 2020, wherein the pavilion is showcasing the top 500 most-reputed startups from India. The project is working under the guidance of the Consul General of India in Dubai, Dr Aman Puri, and with the support of the Indian diaspora and prominent investor institutions.

The Jarsh-NIA AC Helmet works on patented solid-state cooling technology to provide cooling up to 24 degrees C. Jarsh Safety said. The premium model for senior executives has a battery life of two hours, whereas the heavy-duty model for the skilled workforce has a 10-hour battery backup, the company said. Four vents across the helmet provide a uniform cooling experience, keeping the user sweat-free, comfortable and productive on the job, the company added.

Kausthub Kaundinya, CEO, Jarsh Safety, said, “The Jarsh-NIA AC Safety Helmet is a game-changer for the construction and outdoor workforce, especially in a region that is characterised by extreme working conditions during the summer months.

“We started our journey from a garage office and, over the years, brought smiles to thousands of workers across India. Jarsh Safety is now going global, and we strongly believe that the joint NIA-Jarsh mission can help alleviate the working conditions of the workforce across the world.”

Kaundinya also thanked the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) for providing the platform to launch the product in the UAE.

Kamran Birjees Khan, CEO, NIA Limited, said the helmet is in line with the UAE Government’s endeavours to advance workforce welfare standards.