SINGAPORE, 5 MAY 2009 -- CNA Group, an enabler of intelligent buildings and facilities, has announced that some of its air purification products can be used to combat the fast-spreading H1N1 flu that is becoming a global threat.
Leveraging on ultraviolet (UV) technology, CNA’s hospital-grade germicidal UVC emitters (Steril-Aire UVC devices) can help contain the spread of the H1N1 flu virus through the air-conditioning system in buildings.
According to Michael Ong, president and CEO of CNA, UV technology has the potential to emerge as a ‘Star Wars’ weapon in the global fight against the H1N1 flu.
“For many years, scientists have known that one of the most effective air sterilisers is natural sunlight’s UV rays,” he said. “The sun’s UVC rays act as a natural outdoor air sterilisation system, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of dust mites, bacteria, viruses, fungi and moulds.”
Effective against SARS
However, this natural process does not occur indoors, hence the need for such devices which has proved effective against SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003.
At the height of the SARS pandemic, UVC emitters were installed in Singapore at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s air-conditioning system to destroy the SARS virus and to prevent the air-conditioning system from re-circulating live SARS viruses within the hospital.
Now, CNA will also be installing the devices at the new Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore which is under construction.
According to Lui Wing Sin, GETC Asia’s general manager, “UVC emitters set up a lethal security barrier of magnetic waveforms that vapourise infectious pathogens such as common influenza, H1N1 flu and SARS viruses in the same manner as a military-type ‘Star Wars’ laser defence system.”
GETC is a 51 per cent owned subsidiary of CNA and distributes these UVC products.
