Improving indoor air quality: a window of opportunity

With COVID-19 amplifying interest in air quality devices, we look at technical and regulatory matters that product developers need to consider.

The market opportunity for air treatment products has expanded as the world learns to live with COVID-19. Demand for solutions that improve indoor air quality is high across multiple sectors. It’s an area that’s ripe for innovation, and manufacturers are exploring new approaches for domestic, commercial and medical applications. One category gaining attention is air treatment devices. Here, we look at enabling technologies and the associated technical innovation challenges. We also consider the complexity of getting these products to market, spotlighting the regulatory landscape in the United States. Our goal is to help innovators and manufacturers accelerate progress with the creation of compelling products that satisfy customer needs and stringent regulatory requirements.

Air treatment in the age of COVID-19

The importance of managing indoor air quality has been understood for some time, and the COVID-19 pandemic brings new significance to this. As people increasingly think in terms of ‘life with COVID’ rather than ‘life after COVID’, demand for technology to improve indoor air quality is set to grow.

Products which target airborne contaminants and microorganisms are of particular interest to consumers and commercial buyers alike (see Figure 1). They are also attracting the attention of authorities which regulate such products’ properties and claims. The window of opportunity for air treatment product innovation is wide open. However, the complexity of technical and regulatory matters presents risks that could hinder progress. This whitepaper offers insights to help navigate challenges and accelerate the journey. We focus on ‘air treatment’ as opposed to ‘air purification’ since purification has a distinct regulatory definition which we’ll refer to later.