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Trane System Removes Flu Virus From Filtered Home Air
 Trane CleanEffects, a whole-house air filtration system, removes more than 99% of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from the filtered air, according to a first-of-its-kind study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in collaboration with scientists at Environmental Health and Engineering Inc. (EH&E).
Because of the similarities among types of influenza viruses, the researchers also concluded that the system will remove more than 99% of other forms of the virus, including B, C and avian influenza from the filtered air.
The tests involved releasing the common flu virus into the air inside a test heating, ventilation and air conditioning duct. The removal efficiency was calculated from the amount of the virus measured in air samples collected before and after passing through the Trane CleanEffects System.
“By removing the vast majority of the common flu virus from a home’s re-circulated air, the average airborne concentration of the virus in the home is reduced, thereby lowering airborne exposure to the virus for household occupants,” said Dr. David Macintosh, an instructor at the Harvard Extension School and a principal scientist at EH&E.
Trane is the first manufacturer of whole-house cleaners to receive certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it is in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
“In a home with central forced air and a conventional 1-inch filter, the average virus particle would re-circulate through the home about seven times before depositing on a surface or being transported outdoors,” said MacIntosh. “That’s more than enough time to breathe in the virus, and cleaning the air in your home is an important step to improve the health of your home environment.”
Dr. Paula Busse, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, said that people with allergies and asthma “are potentially at a greater risk of catching the airborne flu virus. Additionally, patients with asthma may have a more severe course of the flu because of their underlying airway damage. For this reason, we recommend that anyone with asthma take all measures to prevent acquiring the flu. These test results are very important because they demonstrate that installing a whole-house air cleaner, such as Trane CleanEffects, can add another layer of protection against the flu for patients with allergies and asthma.”
The Trane CleanEffects patented air cleaning technology has the highest clean air delivery rate in the industry, according to the manufacturer, eliminating allergens and particles as small as .1 micron, which is 1/1,000th the diameter of a human hair.
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Trane is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Leading Suppliers of NAHB.
This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.
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