Category: Home Air Purification

Meet Aire Guardian Shavon Barnard

Meet the Aire Guardian: Shavon Barnard - Lead Segment Specialist for Duct Cleaning, Restoration and IAQ

When Shavon Barnard joined the Abatement Technologies team over seven years ago, she was looking for a role where she could make an impact on people’s lives. Through her extensive sales experience, Shavon has become a core member of our team of Aire Guardians and leverages this background to ensure clients get the air quality products they need to keep people safe.

Being an Aire Guardian is not something Shavon takes lightly. She has witnessed firsthand how poor air quality can negatively impact immunocompromised patients, and how Abatement Technologies’ products really make a difference.

“My daughter has severe allergies and asthma. When I first started with Abatement Technologies, she was prescribed nine medications a day. But after we began using an air scrubber, her medication was cut down to just two. Knowing how much our products have helped me personally just drives me to want to help provide this relief to others."

An advocate and teacher 

With a passion for helping others, Shavon is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and expertise with colleagues and clients. Shavon teaches clients about Abatement’s various tools and equipment, such as our new SHIELD WALL™. Shavon particularly enjoys speaking to prospective clients about our duct cleaning services and becoming their own boss with a DUCT PRO® package.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping and teaching people. And at Abatement Technologies, I get to do both. Education is what drives our sales, and being able to be a part of the story and convey our knowledge to others is really what it's all about.”

Continued success

From introducing our SHIELD WALL™ solution, to opening our new Canadian headquarters, Abatement Technologies has experienced a year of growth in 2023. And moving forward in 2024 and beyond, Shavon is excited to support the company’s mission at every step of the way.

“As we continue to grow for years to come, my goal is and always will be to continue educating and providing quality air filtration equipment. Health is critically important, and at Abatement, we take protecting health seriously. Our team of Aire Guardians is capable and knowledgeable when it comes to helping clients find the right solutions to protect air quality.” 

Does a career at Abatement Technologies sound right to you? Find opportunities here.

ICRA 2.0 – Controlling the Spread of HAIs During Construction in Critical Healthcare Environments

Each year, thousands of patients fall victim to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by dust and other airborne contaminants released during construction activities. To support patient safety, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created requirements for healthcare facilities to perform an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) before any renovation, construction, or maintenance project begins. 

The ICRA 2.0 matrix includes the steps for assessing the impact of construction activities in the surrounding areas. It takes into account dust, ventilation, pressurization, noise, vibrations, and other potentially harmful factors. The matrix lays out the inspection and management of the environmental conditions categorizing activities by project type – from Class I for low risk groups to Class V for maintenance and construction activities in high risk groups. Because Class V is the highest risk group for procedural, invasive, sterile support, and highly compromised patient care areas, it has more strict requirements when it comes to infection control.

 

ICRA Class V: Critical Environments

When performing Class V projects, a containment barrier is always needed to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 241 requirements. Containment barriers are designed to separate construction areas from patient occupied spaces. These barriers also enable contractors to put the site under negative pressure, which is another ICRA requirement. Once the contained area is under negative pressure, there should be a visual pressure indicator and the air must be HEPA filtered or discharged directly outside.

In addition, it’s important for contractors to use an anteroom that is large enough for equipment staging, cart cleaning, and workers to clean and change before entering occupied spaces.

 

Selecting an ICRA-Compliant Solutions Provider 

Because of the sensitive nature of critical care environments, it's crucial to find a reputable solutions provider with a team of experts that are knowledgeable on ICRA 2.0 requirements. At Abatement Technologies, our selection of HEPA filtration equipment, portable containment solutions, temporary barrier walls, and pressure monitoring equipment make us the perfect one-stop-shop for all construction needs. And, with our knowledgeable team of Aire Guardians working around the clock, we’re equipped to find a solution that’s right for each project and budget.

Let us help you with your containment needs!  Contact us today to learn more about our products and expertise.

Key Tools for Mold Remediation and Air Quality

While molds are an important part of the environment, its growth indoors can cause serious health problems. Unexpected events, like leaks from pipes and flooding from storms, can create standing water, which allows mold to grow in just 24 to 48 hours. Because of its fast spread, mold can be nearly impossible to prevent. That’s why it's important to focus on controlling its path—in the safest possible way.

Remediation specialists need the tools to not only keep themselves safe, but also the people in surrounding areas. With the proper protective equipment and the necessary tools, contractors are able to meet standards and safety regulations to effectively protect against infections and mold induced reactions.

Here are key tools remediation specialists will need to get the job done safely:

Personal Protective Equipment

Contractors rely on personal protective equipment (PPE), like respirators, gloves, and fitted goggles combined with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters, cleaners, wet vacuums, and disinfectants to effectively and safely remediate mold.

Beyond PPE, contractors also need to take additional steps to contain harmful particulates and protect air quality. Taught by various organizations, like the IICRC, industry training and best practices often involve the following products: reusable containment barriers and negative air machines.

Reusable containment barriers

To protect others in and around the affected area, it’s important to isolate the contaminated area by closing off HVAC grills, sealing off cracks and crevices, and setting up containment barriers.

Traditional containment has been done by using poly sheeting and drywall with insulation. But, these materials are not reusable and are often disposed of at the end of the project. With the rising cost of construction-related materials and the huge labor shortages, companies are turning to reusable containment barriers, like our SHIELD WALL™ solution. It’s quick and easy to install and can be used over and over again.

By combining the containment walls with air filtration devices and a differential pressure monitor, remediation experts can create a negative pressure environment within the contained area for a complete containment solution.

Portable HEPA Filtration System

Portable air scrubbers—or negative air machines—are used in conjunction with containment to remove contaminated air from a sealed containment area through ductwork. The filtered air is exhausted outside of the contained area, creating negative air pressure inside.


There are several varieties of air filtration devices available on the market today, but it’s important to know which device is the most effective option. The best choices are units equipped with true HEPA filters. A true HEPA filter can capture 99.97% of 0.3-micron particulates, including mold spores, dust, and other allergens, and an even higher percentage of larger particles.


At Abatement Technologies, our PRED750 can be used alone or in conjunction with central air filtration to effectively remove harmful particles from the air. The portable air scrubber is equipped with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and is the most mobile HEPA filtration device in its class. 

Want to learn more about Mold & Indoor Air Quality?

In our recent white paper “Mold & Indoor Air Quality: An Abatement Technologies White Paper,” we discuss:
1. How mold grows
2. The effects it can have on our health
3. Steps and standards for mold remediation
4. And the tools needed for the job

Download the white paper here.

IAQ Is Creating Big Opportunities for Service Contractors

Indoor air quality is creating big opportunities for service contractors

Residential and commercial air duct cleaning is one of the most lucrative business opportunities in the booming indoor air quality field, with excellent annual growth rates. Industry analysts expect this growth rate to continue through increased customer concern about IAQ in their homes and businesses.

Whether you’re already offering contracted services or you’re interested in getting into the indoor air quality market for the first time - we have a list of considerations to help you in the decision making process.

Cashing in on indoor air quality

Air duct cleaning services allow contractors to increase profits in an ever-growing market. A number of factors make air duct cleaning an attractive business opportunity, such as the following:

- Great return on investment

- Diverse business opportunities

- DUCT-PRO® equipment leasing programs

- Be in control of your earnings and profit

- Provide significant add-on revenues with existing customers

- Generate new customers for other products and services

As the industry leader since 1990, Abatement Technologies® has helped thousands of companies develop and grow successful air duct cleaning businesses. High-performance DUCT-PRO®  and HEPA-AIRE® equipment has helped professionals clean HVAC systems in millions of homes and commercial buildings. 

What is source removal and capture duct cleaning?

Studies have shown that even a small amount of dirt buildup on HVAC system components can significantly reduce HVAC efficiency and increase energy consumption. Complete removal of dirt, debris, and other contaminants from the air duct system is the most effective and acceptable cleaning and decontamination method for ductwork in both homes and commercial buildings.

Abatement Technologies' duct cleaning method goes a step further by combining effective source removal with source capture. Here's how we do it:

- A specially designed compressor equipped with special agitation tools is used to loosen or dislodge dirt, debris and other contaminants from inner ductwork surfaces.

- A HEPA-AIRE® portable vacuum system is taken right into the home or building and plugged into a standard 115 V wall outlet. It combines the power needed to place the ductwork under negative pressure and pull out the contaminants, with a stage 3 filtration system, that has the efficiency and capacity needed to capture them.

Because the HEPA-filtered air exhausted back into the indoor environment from the vacuum is cleaner than many hospital operating rooms, there is no need to pull huge amounts of heated or cooled air out the building and exhaust it outside, as must be done with gasoline or diesel-powered equipment.

Click here to learn more about Abatements Technologies' duct cleaning process.

Give your company a competitive advantage with high-performance duct cleaning equipment

Abatement Technologies offers affordable startup packages of high-performance air duct cleaning equipment and tools designed to deliver superior results in both residential and commercial HVAC ductwork. Key components of Abatements turnkey equipment packages include:

- HEPA-AIRE® portable power vacuums 

- AIRE-SWEEP® portable air compressors and tools

- DUCT-PRO® video inspection system

- Specialty tools and accessories

Affordable start-up packages of air duct cleaning equipment, tools, and professional marketing materials to get your business up and running start around $6,000.00. Contractors often find that Abatement Technologies duct cleaning systems deliver one of the best investment returns of any capital purchase. Many contractors have been able to recoup their entire initial investment within the first few months of operation. For those who want to spread the cost over time, we offer special equipment leasing programs. 

Click here to learn more about starting a duct cleaning business with DUCT-PRO® equipment. Our knowledgeable sales consultants are ready to help you!

The Best Ways to Enhance Whole-Home Air Purification

Learn about the best ways to enhance whole-home air purification

Clean purified air is desired more than ever, especially in our homes. Harmful particles and pathogens can pose a risk on our short and long term health. There is advanced purification technology that exists and is created with the intention of trying to improve whole-home air quality. Allergists and other medical professionals widely promote allergen avoidance as a way to improve health of sensitive individuals with respiratory diseases.

 

The premise is simple, reduce exposure to pollutants. Central Air Purification (CAP®) units from Abatement Technologies incorporate one or more effective and targeted air purification technologies for this purpose.

 

Mechanical particle filtration

 

Filters are assigned a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating between 1-16, the higher the rating the better the filter is at removing small particulates. A standard low-efficiency throwaway furnace filter rated at MERV1 or MERV2 is only effective for large particles.

 

CAP®100, CAP®600 and CAP®1200 series HEPA Air Purification Systems are equipped with MERV 4 first stage pre filters designed primarily to capture large, visible dirt and dust particles that are too large and heavy to be respirable, but can become a housekeeping issue when they accumulate on surfaces. The second stage pleated particle filters in these CAP® models capture smaller, visible particles that can easily pass through most throwaway furnace filters. The high-capacity 5” deep CAP®100 series second stage filter, MERV 13 is especially effective. 

 

Activated carbon filtration

 

The VAPOR-LOCK® activated carbon filters utilized in CAP®600 Series and CAP®1200 Series models capture airborne gasses, volatile organic compounds off-gassed from carpets, composite wood furniture and other materials in the home, and odors caused by pets, cooking or smoking. VAPOR-LOCK® filters utilize a process known as adsorption, in which the gas-phase molecules of the contaminants are attracted to and chemically bond to the surface of the carbon. 

Combining UV Germicidal Irradiation and Photolysis Technologies

Over time our homes endure different issues like persistent molds and fungal odor problems usually found in areas with high moisture or humidity levels like the damp, dark and dirty recesses of an HVAC system where organisms can thrive and multiply.

CAP® systems are equipped with our advanced, dual frequency UV plus lamp. Frequency one creates germicidal UV energy to irradiate and break down molds and fungi. The second frequency creates a controlled amount of trivalent oxygen for enhanced odor-neutralizing capability

CAP®100, CAP®500, CAP®600 and CAP®1200 Series Whole-Home Central Air Purifiers are equipped with germicidal UV lamp technology. Microorganisms are irradiated to high levels of UVGI energy each time they pass by the lamp as the air cycles through the central HVAC system of your home. All CAP® germicidal UV lamps are ozone-free. 

HEPA Filtration

The beauty of a HEPA filter is that its efficiency starts at 99.97% and actually improves as the filter loads. Because of the exceptional small-particle capture performance of CAP®600 Series and CAP®1200 Series models, these units are the most widely recommended for homes with family members who are asthmatic or have the highest sensitivity to respiratory allergens. 

 

To learn more about whole-home air purification and best practices, contact our knowledgeable sales consultants here.

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