Oxford-based hand dryer manufacturer Airdri is bringing a new product to market that’s set to revolutionise bathroom hygiene and infection control.
The firm’s new first of its kind PureDri unit is unlike anything else currently available. It has been designed and developed in the UK, by Airdri’s onsite engineers as a response to the pandemic. It combines a fast-drying hand dryer with a state-of-the-art air sanitiser technology.
PureDri also has a unique patented feature, which Airdri believes makes it the most hygienic hand dryer available.
As well as continuously sanitising air and surfaces, reducing bacteria and airborne pathogens by up to 99.8%, it sanitises the hands by delivering a concentrated stream of disinfecting plasma at the end of the drying cycle. In independent tests this was found to reduce bacteria on the surface of the hands by a further 11%.
All of this is combined within a hand drying unit with exceptionally low running costs and environmental efficiency.
Utilising best-in-class sanitising technology, the PureDri station provides a triple action defence against the spread of odours, bacteria and viruses in washrooms. PureDri will substantially reduce contamination risk whilst creating cleaner, fresher smelling, and more sustainable washroom environments.
It works to continuously maintain a washroom environment that’s hostile to pathogens by creating and distributing a sanitising plasma into the air and onto surfaces, as well as providing individual user protection by focusing plasma both around the user and onto hands at the end of the hand drying cycle.
This highly efficacious sanitising plasma is formed of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide ions and low levels of ozone, and is proven to eliminate 99.8% of airborne and 99.8% of surface microorganisms within minutes, and substantially reduce unpleasant orders. You can find out more about the sanitising technology in PureDriHERE.
Steve Whittall, Operations Director at Airdri, explained: “What we set out to do when we began to design PureDri was to reduce risk at every stage of the washroom experience, and we’re proud to say we believe we have achieved that.
“Before individuals enter, the unit has been working to continuously sanitise the air and surfaces, reducing airborne and surface microorganisms by up to 99.8%. This includes not only bacteria and viruses but other harmful pathogens such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mould, fungi, and odour.
“If a person carrying an infection such as influenza enters the room, the unit will work to disable infectious particles, with as much as 74.1% of airborne pathogens being eliminated in less than five minutes.
“Around the unit, a concentrated plasma shield protects the user as they dry hands. The unit is also purposely set to a lower drying velocity to reduce the Vortex effect and any minute water droplets that do escape will be sanitised.
“The final step is a six second emission of focused plasma directed onto the user’s hands, designed to further reduce risk in instances where the user has not washed their hands properly. The user leaves the washroom with a layer of plasma on their hands which will transfer to surfaces such as a wash basin or the door as they exit the washroom, protecting others too.”
Airdri commissioned Campden BRI, ALS Group, and Profectus laboratories to independently test the efficacy of the PureDri station. Using surrogate virus and bacteria solutions the efficacy of PureDri technology was tested in the air and on surfaces. The unit was tested in a chamber the size of a realistic bathroom where it was found to reduce air and surface microorganisms by 99.8%.
To test the focused hand plasma, ALS devised a procedure using petri dishes to most accurately replicate the process of human hands infected with E. Coli washing hands then using the PureDri.
PureDri isn’t only extremely effective at reducing bacteria but is also energy efficient, with low running costs and comes with a five-year warranty. Annual running costs are between £45-55, depending on usage. When compared to paper towels, this demonstrates a huge reduction in annual bills, as well as the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
Steve concluded: “Developed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PureDri is unique and unlike anything else on the market. In these times, with influenza alone thought to cost the UK economy around £3bn in sick days and where businesses are feeling a double hit of pandemic restrictions and increased absenteeism, a unit that not only can reduce cross-infection but also has exceptionally low running costs is surely something that most would want to explore.”
