BAM Air 1.0
It seems that a critical component required to manage the COVID-19 spread is largely missing from our dialog, air quality and filtration. The BAM Air is our solution for classrooms, businesses and homes.
Air filtration is actually pretty simple. Push air through a filter to catch particles. However when you’re talking about virus protection it gets a little more complicated. The filters are more dense, which means pushing air through them takes more force, which means a bigger fan, which means more vibration and noise. And of course there’s the cost of higher grade filtration, as well as some consideration of how many air exchanges per hour are required to make a meaningful difference. As usual there are trade-offs regarding cost and performance.
When looking at the available products it seemed like a lot of hype and overpricing was at play. Given the new level of importance that indoor air quality represents, this seemed like a good thing to tackle. It’s our way of becoming part of the solution…
So here’s the criteria for BAM Air –
- HEPA 14 or higher filtration standard. This will capture particles small enough to pull the virus out of the air. While the particle size of a virus is often much smaller, particles smaller than .3 microns don’t behave and travel the same way (Brownian Motion/Diffusion) making it possible to still trap them in the filter. It is also important to realize that the real job is to clean the air of aerosolized particles emitted by humans that are containers of the virus. ( see Basketballs & Marbles )
- Cost. BAM Air will be 30%-50% less costly than any comparable solution. This is important as we want to get these into as many classrooms as possible in the shortest time. As there is almost certainly no existing budget for these purchases, the lower cost and a unique non-profit sales model will make it easier for local businesses and parent groups to fund this initiative.
- Performance. Most air filtration systems that are capable of this level of capture target an air exchange rate that is a few exchanges per hour. While this is fine for say allergy control, it is not at all adequate in the context of COVID-19. BAM Air will exchange the air every few minutes, many times the typical rate of exchange of air filtration products except those aimed at hospital operating rooms etc.
- Business model. BAM Team Services operates as a social enterprise. As such we are partnering with non-profit groups to source manufacturing space, and will utilize to the extent possible individuals with disabilities to produce the systems. This provides these folks with employment and work experience while keeping the costs down.
- Sales approach. As part of the partnership with the non-profit community we will offer businesses a plan to acquire a BAM Air unit for the business, and a BAM Air unit for donation to a classroom, with the resulting tax advantages. This unique approach will make it easier for our businesses to provide the financial support needed to support getting this into every classroom ASAP. Details of this program will be released shortly.
- Sound management. We are targeting 50db as the sound level for the BAM Air standard unit. In larger spaces the total sound level for multiple units should still be less than 60db. Ways to improve this particular metric is where we’re spending most of our time and research capital. If it’s too loud it simply won’t be used.
- Options. We will offer options for smaller units for home use, activated charcoal filters to remove VOCs and odor control, and larger units targeting gyms and other larger spaces.
We hope you’ll join us in our quest to make the world a little bit better for our students, safer for customers of businesses that rely on personal visits, and eventually your home as well.
Let the fun begin!!
Wayne Sheppard