Background

Hotels and hospitality facilities face significant indoor air quality challenges due to high guest turnover, shared spaces, and extensive staff and vendor interactions. Common air purification methods like increased air exchanges, ionizers, and chemical sprays have shown limited results and often come with high costs, maintenance requirements, or negative side effects such as ozone generation or mold spore introduction.

The Study

This independent study, conducted by Scientific Air Solutions and published in EC Microbiology (2023), evaluated the effectiveness of nonthermal plasma technology (formerly AIRPHX, now Maple Air) in a large, full-service hotel managed by a leading global hospitality brand.

The hotel tested:

• 450+ rooms

• An eight-story atrium

• Large ballrooms, conference centers, restaurants, and fitness facilities

The system was installed in high-traffic common areas, guest room hallways, and conference spaces. Testing included over 20,000 air and surface samples across a two-year period.

Key Findings

1. Significant Reductions in Airborne Pathogens

• Pre-treatment airborne contamination levels averaged 430–507 CFU/m³ (unacceptable by air quality standards).

• After installation, levels dropped by 84–86%, consistently remaining within "clean and acceptable" air quality levels even at full occupancy.

2. Surface Contamination Reduced by up to 96%

• Surface swab testing revealed an initial 92–93% reduction in contamination on high-touch areas like elevator buttons and lobby counters.

• Continued reductions of 95–96% were documented more than 18 months after installation.

3. Effective Across Direct and "Halo" Treatment Areas

• Pathogen reductions were observed not only in treated zones but also in adjacent spaces (e.g., conference rooms, restaurants, guest rooms), confirming broad coverage of the technology.

4. Proven vs. Other Solutions

• The technology was compared to previously installed ionizers and found to be dramatically more effective.

• Unlike solutions requiring chemical application or constant filter replacement, nonthermal plasma provided continuous, automated purification without disrupting operations.

Why It Works

Maple Air’s nonthermal plasma technology creates a proprietary blend of oxidizing molecules that neutralize viruses, bacteria, mold spores, VOCs, and other contaminants in the air and on surfaces.

• Safe: Byproducts like gas-phase hydrogen peroxide are maintained at 1/100th of OSHA safety limits.

• Scalable: Units can be deployed across millions of cubic feet without loss of efficacy.

• Low-Maintenance: Operates quietly and continuously, reducing total cost of ownership compared to other methods.

The Bottom Line

This peer-reviewed study confirms that Maple Air (formerly AIRPHX) delivers real-world, independently verified reductions in harmful pathogens in busy, complex hotel environments. With reductions of up to 96%, the technology offers a powerful solution for:

• Hospitality

• Education

• Healthcare

• Commercial properties

• Residential applications

Cleaner air. Healthier environments. Real results backed by data.

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