The Berner PureAir Package™

What if:

• You had an air curtain that both saves energy and cleans air?
• You had an air curtain that improved your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) while continuing to operate as an air curtain?

Introducing the Berner PureAir Package™ for air curtains

Disinfect indoor air, starting at the entrance.

The Berner PureAir Package™ for Berner’s high performance air curtains sends ions out into the space around the entrance at a very high density, for continuous disinfection of the indoor air.

The Berner PureAir Package™ consists of:

• Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) technology
• MERV 8 filtration

Together, the two approach MERV 13 performance.

Third Party testing results of NPBI show a reduction of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A, as well as significant reductions in airborne MVOCs (Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds) and mold spores.

How our air curtains with air purification work:

1. Berner uses MERV 8 filters on the air intake and ion generators in the air stream
2. The ion generator creates millions of ions per minute
3. The air curtain’s air stream quickly and continuously carries the ions across the entry and into the space around the entrance at a high density for maximum effectiveness
4. The ions immediately attach to contaminate particles, causing the particles to attract each other and form a larger mass of particles. This creates bigger and heavier particles, making them easier to filter
5. The air curtain pulls room air through the MERV 8 filter(s), which captures the larger particles within the filter media, and the smaller particles electrostatically.  The particles that are initially not small enough to be trapped electrostatically, through particle agglomeration, quickly become too large to fit through the filter
6. The air curtain continues to operate effectively as an air curtain while also cleaning the air.

The Berner PureAir Package quickly and continuously cleans the air, not just what passes through the air curtain, but the space around the entrance, as well.

Being conservative, the Berner PureAir Package^TM distributes a minimum ion density of 326,000 ions / inch³ (20,000 ions/cm³) within a minute. The purification range is:

• 1 motor system: 625 ft² (25’ X 25’)
• 2 motor system: 1,250 ft² (35’ x 35’)
• 3 motor system: 1,875 ft² (43’ x 43’)

Assumes 10’ ceilings, an empty room and a closed door

Benefits of an Air Purification System

• Improves Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by reducing:
  • Certain airborne viruses and bacteria
  • Mold
  • MVOCs
  • Odors
  • Wildfire smoke
  • and other particulates
• Supports integrated Indoor Air Quality management, see ASHRAE Standard 241-2023, Control of Infectious Aerosols
• Supports creating a safe environment

Currently available on:

• Architectural Icon 10
• Commercial High Performance 10

NBPI technology is a UL Certified ozone-free technology that ionizes air molecules.

NPBI is certified by UL 867 and UL 2998 as an ozone and byproducts free technology.

Research Backed Performance

Through 3rd-party pathogen testing and research, NPBI has proven to reduce airborne pathogens:

Berner’s Advanced Control Technology

The PureAir Package for the Architectural Icon 10 (#AI10) air curtain series comes standard with the Berner Intelliswitch and is upgraded to include EC motors. The Intelliswitch is programmed with the “PURE” mode.  This mode powers the EC motor(s) down to the super low speed of 700 RPM when the door is closed, allowing the unit to quietly operate as an air purifier.  When the door opens, the motor returns to “air curtain” speed to operate as an air curtain, protecting the opening from outside temperatures while treating the air stream with ionized air molecules. On PURE Night mode, to provide optimum ion density, the air curtain runs a powerful high speed, de-stratifying the air in the room and purifying it while unoccupied.

The EC motors operate quietly and efficiently on a wide range of speeds, which allows for low power consumption, especially important when the system is operating 24/7. For those who want the ability to operate and monitor the air curtain from their phone, the option at add the Berner AIR is available.

Learn more about Berner’s Advanced Control Technology.

What is an Air Purifier?

An air purifier is a device that removes contaminants from the air in order to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Berner’s PureAir Package™ air purification system utilizes needlepoint bipolar ionization plus filtration to purify the air, approaching MERV 13 / HEPA performance.

The Berner PureAir Package for Air Curtains uses a different technology from UVC air curtains. Berner uses MERV 8 filters and ionization technology instead of concentrated UV light in the air curtains.  The speed with which the air flows past UV lights in an air curtain is too fast for ultraviolet light to properly kill germs.  The same is true of HEPA filters.  They, too, require a low velocity in order to properly work.

UV / UVC Light: requires a long exposure time, at least 30 seconds, to effectively kill any airborne pathogens (germs).  In other words, the air needs to move very very slowly through the light in order for the light to kill viruses.  But, for an air curtain to work properly, the air needs to move at a fairly high velocity.  Other concerns and challenges are

• Concentrated UV light is required to be shielded, as it is harmful to human eyes and skin
• UV light creates ozone
• UV light requires regular maintenance and replacement
• Has a high energy consumption

For more information on exposure time and UV effectiveness, click here and scroll down to “Air Disinfection.”

Another source for UV light and disinfection questions can be found on the Food and Drug Association (FDA) website.

HEPA Filters: require a low face velocity, in order to properly work. 

• Said differently, the air needs to move slowly through the filter in order for the filter to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns.  The slower the air passes through, the more effective the HEPA filter is at capturing particles
• If the air is moving too quickly, it will pull particles through the filter as opposed to removing them
• HEPA filters create a lot of static pressure, resulting in minimal performance of an air curtain

Combining either or both of these air purification strategies with an air curtain renders them ineffectual.

NPBI: Berner chose needlepoint bipolar ionization technology and Merv 8 filtration for several reasons:

• Safe
  • Low voltage prevents formation of ozone
  • UL 867 and UL 2998 validated as an ozone and byproducts free technology
• Works best with high velocity air streams
• Minimal, if any, maintenance; NPBI device is self-cleaning
• Low energy consumption: 5W, less than $0.50 cents / month
• The Merv 8 filter captures larger particulates from the air stream
• Quickly and continuously cleans the air, not just what passes through the air curtain, but the space around the entrance, as well
• Third Party testing results show a reduction of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A, as well as significant reductions in airborne MVOCs and mold spores.