Introducing the next step in safeguarding your premises

Rentokil Initial is proud to announce an agreement to distribute the VIRUSKILLER™ Air Purifier range. VIRUSKILLER™ is the only air purifier proven to kill 99.9999% of viruses with a single air pass, including Coronavirus*. Find out more about VIRUSKILLER™, and why you should consider this range of air purification systems to tackle Covid-19 in the workplace.

Why is Air Purification for Covid-19 so important?

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recently updated information on their websites to recognise that the Coronavirus can be transmitted from person to person via aerosols in the air under certain conditions.

According to the CDC, the circumstances under which airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 appears to have occurred include:

• Enclosed spaces within which an infectious person exposed other people – at the same time or shortly after they left the space,
• Prolonged exposure to respiratory particles – often generated with exertion such as shouting, singing, and exercising – that increased the concentration of suspended respiratory droplets in the air space,
• Inadequate ventilation which caused a build-up of suspended small respiratory droplets and particles.

Public awareness of the risk of airborne transmission of Coronavirus:

Despite WHO and CDC recognition that the Coronavirus can be transmitted (air to person) via aerosols, research commissioned by Rentokil Initial** revealed a lack of awareness of this risk amongst the general public. Just over one in five (22%) of Brits revealed they are concerned about catching Coronavirus from contaminated air.

Interestingly, the research did find that 64% were more concerned about the air quality in indoor environments now than they were prior to the pandemic. (You can read more about the importance of indoor air quality on our sister blog, Insights, in this post).

As a result of these concerns, 59% of consumers believe air purification systems should be mandatory in public buildings and educational facilities. Additionally, 41% believe that facemasks do not do enough to protect them against catching Coronavirus from contaminated air.

How does VIRUSKILLER™ help against Coronavirus?

Unlike traditional air purifiers that can ‘trap’ airborne particles and microbes, the VIRUSKILLER™ also decontaminates the air. It does this by not only trapping but also killing airborne viruses, bacteria*** and fungi. When placed correctly the unit takes control of the airflow in a room, drawing contaminated air in from the ‘breathing zone’ and then releasing fresh, clean air back into the breathing zone.

Triple filtration and patented UV-C:

Alongside a triple filtration system, VIRUSKILLER™ uses patented ultraviolet-C (UV-C) lamps, surrounded by a mesh of chromed nano titanium dioxide tube filters that are polished with activated carbon. The emitted UV light reacts with the mesh, and in a process called ‘photocatalytic oxidation’ produces hydroxyl radicals, which acts as a disinfectant and breaks down the organic molecules. This all in one solution effectively filters dirty air, neutralises toxic air and decontaminates sick air.

Deactivating Coronavirus:

Dr Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager UK, Ireland and the Baltics, Rentokil Initial says: ‘Unlike traditional air purification systems, the UV-C technology provides a photochemical deconstruction of the RNA and DNA of microorganisms, deactivating their reproductive processes so that the Coronavirus, and other viruses, can no longer spread, before the air is released back into the room.

‘Its ability to kill 99.9999% of viruses with a single air pass, including Coronavirus, is what really sets this technology apart. Take the following scenario, for example, if you had one million viruses passing through a VIRUSKILLER™, just a single virus would be recirculated. This is compared to the 500 viruses that would pass through when using a traditional filtration device (99.95%).’

The new normal for offices, workplaces, schools and hospitals?

Rentokil Initial believe that VIRUSKILLER™ could play an important role as people look to resume their normal lives, providing confidence and peace of mind that airborne transmission is far less likely in indoor environments where the technology is installed. It could also help eliminate scenarios that we see in so many schools across the country, where students have to sit in cold classrooms because the windows must be kept open to maintain airflow.

Interested in increasing your hygiene efforts in a school or educational facility? Find out more about how our sister brand, Initial Hygiene can assist.

VIRUSKILLER™ will play a crucial role in helping to break the ‘chain of infection’, by taking control of the airflow in a room and drawing contaminated air out of the breathing zone and releasing fresh, clean air back into the environment. Once installed, businesses should still ensure that proper hand hygiene is encouraged among workers and visitors and that social distancing measures are practised.

Rentokil can help:

Rentokil, a division of Rentokil Initial, is proud to be able to bring cleaner, safer air to our customers. We believe that as colleagues slowly return to offices, they are going to be looking for reassurance that their workplaces are pest free, hygienic, and that the air they breathe is safe. As VIRUSKILLER™ is the only air purifier proven to kill 99.9999% of viruses, consider this air purification system the next step in the fight against Covid-19 in the workplace.

* When independently tested against Coronavirus DF2 (a surrogate for Coronavirus), Adenovirus, Influenza and Polio, the unit was found to kill 99.9999% of viruses on a single air pass.
**Research conducted by Opinium LLP for Rentokil Initial. Conducted 20-22 November 2020 sampling 2,000 adults in the UK
***When independently tested against reference bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. Aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli), the unit was found to kill 99.9999% of bacteria on a single air pass.