From Lab to Living Room
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Good Health Starts With clean air
Air Quality & Health
There are many health effects that can result from inhaling common contaminants on a regular basis. We chose to design Barnakl filters to purify the air from VOCs, particulates, and mold in order to help people everywhere feel an overall boost in their wellbeing and find relief from symptoms like:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lethargy, fatigue and brain fog
- Allergic reactions
- Inflammation
- Respiratory systems
And many more...
Explore the summaries of some of our test results below:
Mold Spore Capture Performance of the Barnakl Fan Filters
ARE LABS PROJECT #: 10981.20 SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
JAMIE BALARASHTI, WESTON SCHAPER, M.S.
AEROSOL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LABORATORIES INC. OLATHE KS
Background: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of the Barnakl filters when attached to ceiling fans, focusing on how they can improve indoor air quality by reducing the presence of mold spores through particle capture. Mold spores, particularly from black mold (Aspergillus niger), are one of the most common types of indoor contaminants that can affect people’s health. Poor indoor air quality is known to contribute to various health issues, especially for individuals with allergies or respiratory problems. The ability to reduce mold spores in indoor environments is critical to creating a healthier living space.
The approach tested in this study was relatively simple. By attaching these small black carbon filters to the blades of a ceiling fan, the fan’s natural airflow would help move air through the filters, capturing and reducing mold spores in the process.
Methods: To test the effectiveness of these filters, the study was conducted in a specially designed test chamber that was 30 cubic meters in size. The room was equipped with a standard three-blade ceiling fan. Three different trials were performed to measure how well the filters worked in reducing mold spores over time. In the first trial, three filters were used—one on each fan blade. In the second trial, six filters were used—two on each blade. Finally, a control test was conducted, where no filters were attached to the fan, but the fan was still running to see how much mold naturally settled out of the air.
During each of these trials, mold spores (specifically Aspergillus niger) were aerosolized into the room. Air samples were taken at multiple time points throughout the trials to measure how the concentration of mold spores changed over time. The purpose was to see how much of the reduction in mold spores could be attributed to the filters, compared to the control test where only the natural settling of mold spores occurred.
Results: The findings showed that after 3 hours, using three filters on the fan captured & reduced mold spores by 99.4%. Using six filters on the fan captured & reduced mold spores by 99.9%. This means the filters significantly lowered the number of mold spores in the air, helping to improve indoor air quality.
Particle Capture Performance of the Barnakl Fan Filters
ARE LABS PROJECT #: 10981.20 SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
JAMIE BALARASHTI, WESTON SCHAPER, M.S.
AEROSOL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LABORATORIES INC. OLATHE KS
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate how well the Barnakl filters, when attached to ceiling fans, can improve indoor air quality by capturing dust in the air. These filters are designed to work with the airflow generated by ceiling fans, using the constant circulation to help remove harmful particles. By adding the filters to fans, they could potentially clean the air in a room more effectively.
Methods: To test this, researchers created a controlled environment to measure the filters’ performance. The filters were attached to ceiling fan blades using adhesive-backed velcro strips, with additional angled supports to increase their exposure to the air. The test aerosol used was "Arizona Road Dust," which simulated common household dust.
A device called the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer was used to measure how many particles were in the air before and after testing. Researchers conducted three separate tests to compare results:
- The “fan” control, where the ceiling fan was on, but no filters were attached.
- The “no fan” control, where the fan was completely turned off to see how much the particles naturally settled.
- A trial where the fan was on, and the Barnakl filters were attached to the fan blades.
Results: After 16 hours of testing, the results showed that the filters were very effective at capturing airborne particles. With the fan running and the filters attached, there was a 2.16 log reduction, which means more than 99% of the particles were removed from the air. In comparison, the fan without filters achieved a 0.76 log reduction (about 83%), and the “no fan” control resulted in only a 0.45 log reduction (about 65%).
VOC Reduction Performance of the Barnakl Fan Filters
ARE LABS PROJECT #: 10981.20 SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
JAMIE BALARASHTI, WESTON SCHAPER, M.S.
AEROSOL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LABORATORIES INC. OLATHE KS
Purpose: This study evaluated how well Barnakl filters attached to ceiling fans could reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the air, improving indoor air quality. VOCs, which include chemicals like toluene & acetone are often found in household products and can affect health when present in high concentrations. The goal of this research was to see if ceiling fan filters could help lower these harmful substances in a room.
Methods: To test the filters, the researchers used a controlled environment—a 30-cubic-meter chamber equipped with a ceiling fan. The filters were attached to the fan blades using Velcro strips, with angled support to increase airflow through the filters. Two different VOCs were tested: toluene & acetone. Each trial ran for 2 hours, with the fan either turned on with filters or with no filters as a control, and VOC levels were measured every 10 seconds using a portable gas monitor. Trials with either 6 or 15 total Barnakl filters attached to the ceiling fan were performed.
Results: The results showed that the fan filters made a noticeable difference in VOC concentration. The control tests, where no filters were used, showed minimal changes in VOC levels over 2 hours. The trial results demonstrated that the fan filters were effective in reducing VOC concentrations in the air. The study also compared trials with different numbers of filters. When more filters were used (15 filters), VOC reduction was greater compared to trials with fewer filters (6 filters). For example, in the toluene trial, 15 filters reduced the remaining VOCs from 87.54% to 59.88% after 2 hours, while 6 filters saw a smaller reduction, from 95.02% to 83.00%.
Overall, the results suggest that ceiling fans equipped with the Barnakl filters can improve indoor air quality by reducing VOCs.
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