FAQ

1. WHAT IS THE DEVICE? WHAT IS IT FOR?

This device is Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier. With the help of passive and active filters, It removes many pollutants harmful to our health. It mainly eliminates particulate matter from PM₁ to PM₁₀, as well as plant pollen, dust, mites, fungi and even some bacteria and viruses.

2. HOW DOES THIS CLEANER WORK?

The Urban Air Filter Oxygen with its fans pumps the polluted air through a set of active and passive filters. The filters are able to remove more than 80% of the pollutants.

3. WHO IS THE MANUFACTURER?

The manufacturer & owner of Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers is Oxygen City Sp. z o.o. based in Warsaw.

• 4. WHO IS THE OWNER OF THIS DEVICE?

The owner of Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers is Oxygen City Sp. z o.o. located in Warsaw.

5. WHERE IS IT PRODUCED?

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers are manufactured in Poland. However, some elements used in their construction come from EU and non-EU countries.

6. IS IT ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY? WILL THIS DEVICE LAST LONG?

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier was designed to work for many years. Both the filters and fans used are characterized by a long lifetime – in some cases similar components and elements are able to maintain their efficiency even over 20 years!

The construction of the device uses typical materials and technological processes that are safe for the environment.

7. WHERE ELSE DO THESE UNITS STAND?

Currently there is only one Urban Air Filter Oxygen installed in Warsaw, at 3 Klimczaka Street in Wilanów

1. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? WHO DOES PAY FOR IT?

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers are owned by the Oxygen City sp. z o.o. company and it is this company that is responsible for their maintenance and supervision. Companies and institutions that take care and responsibility for the air quality and health of city residents can purchase the quanity of purified air, proportional to the pollutants they emit.

2. HOW MUCH DOES THE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE DEVICE COST?

At the moment we do not assume selling advertising space on LED screens of Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers. We want the device not to interfere with the aesthetics of the environment, therefore we want to emit on the screens mainly information about the device itself, as well as elements of educational and social campaigns concerning environmental protection and ecology.

3. WHAT IS THE CARBON FOOTPRINT?

Based on the average energy consumption of the device and based on the assumptions of the national energy mix, the estimated CO2 emission by the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is slightly over 35 kg per day. In case of devices equipped with photovoltaic panels we want to reduce this emission to less than 10 kg per day. 

• 1. DOES IT MAKE SENSE? WHAT IS THE PERFORMANCE OF IT?

Every action that leads to an improvement in air quality, and thus the health of people breathing it, makes sense!

One Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is able to clean 1 million cubic meters of air per day. It will remove more than 80% of the pollutants in the air. The filter’s performance is as efficient and sensible as that of domestic air purifiers, which are increasingly common in our homes. Only the scale of operation is greater.

2. HOW MANY SUCH DEVICES ARE NEEDED TO ELIMINATE SMOG IN A CITY?

It is not possible to calculate in a clear and simple way the amount of Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers, which are necessary to completely remove smog in a city. The concentration of pollutants depends on a very large number of factors. However, any device removes some of the pollutants and thus improves the air quality in the area and has a positive impact on human health. In addition, the effectiveness of the filters is greater the worse is air quality in their surroundings.

• 3. IS IT EFFECTIVE? HAS SOMEONE ALREADY CHECKED IT?

Yes, the effectiveness of the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers has been checked by specialized air quality sensors. The measurements showed effectiveness exceeding 80% of the removed particles, even with concentrations of pollutants significantly exceeding the highest values encountered in real conditions. In laboratory conditions, the filters used in the equipment are able to achieve efficiency even of 99%.

4. ISN’T IT BETTER TO PLANT A TREE?

Contrary to appearances, trees are less effective than the Urban Oxygen Air Filter. One device is able to replace at least 20 large trees with the best filtering properties (e.g. pine). In fact, trees are even less effective in windless weather or in the autumn-winter period when they have no leaves. And it is then that statistically the problem of poor air quality occurs most often.

What’s more, a tree needs even several dozen years from planting to reach the right size and must grow in the right environment and conditions. Large and beautiful trees during strong winds can lose their boughs and branches, posing a threat to the surroundings. In addition, in the autumn they shed their leaves, littering the area with them, and in the spring they emit pollen, which is particularly burdensome for people susceptible to allergies.

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is as effective as several dozen trees and does not cause typical nuisance and danger.

5. IS IT EFFECTIVE ALSO DURING SPRING AND SUMMER?

Yes, the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is effective all year round. It not only removes suspended dust, but also pollen, fungal and mould spores, mites, dust and even some bacteria and viruses. The effect of the filter in spring will be particularly appreciated by allergy sufferers. Also in summer, the air may contain a lot of suspended dust or, for example dust emitted by traffic (exhaust fumes, brake pad dust, tire and surface abrasion).

6. DO WE NEED SUCH A PURIFIER?

We need all actions to improve air quality in the city. Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is one of the available solutions and has the advantage that it works immediately after installation, unlike trees, which need even several decades to reach the right size. It is even more effective the worse the air quality in its surroundings. Thanks to the LED screens installed, it enables emission of educational campaigns.

7. HOW LARGE IS THE CLEANED AREA AROUND THE FILTER?

It is impossible to precisely indicate the size of the area purified by the Municipal Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier, because the air is constantly moving and mixing. The filter is capable of purifying 1 million m³ of air per day. In case of windless weather it will be the air in the immediate vicinity of the unit, while gusts of wind will disperse the clean air in the area.

However, there is no doubt that every action taken to improve air quality has a positive impact on human health.

• 8. DOES IT STOP CORONAVIRUS??

The filters used in the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier belong to the group of fine filters. In their case, testsconfirm filtration efficiency for 0.11 μm particles from 96 to 99% depending on the speed of the air stream. The diameter of the COViD-19 coronavirus is about 0.1 μm, so it is within the above range.

• 9. WHAT IS THE RANGE OF EFFECT?

It is not possible to precisely indicate the size of the area treated by Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier, because the air is constantly moving and mixing. Additional factors include wind speed and direction or weather conditions (e.g. air temperature, humidity). The filter is capable of purifying almost 1 million m3 of air per day. In case of windless weather it will be the air in the immediate vicinity of the device, while gusts of wind will disperse clean air in the area.

• 10. WHY FILTERING DEVICES? INSTEAD OF TREES?

Air purifiers are not meant to replace trees, but only to help them improve air quality. With the current emission of particulate matter, mainly from car traffic, trees growing in urban space are not able to effectively balance the whole emission. 

• 11. WHAT IS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEVICE IN COMPARISON WITH TREES?

When comparing the efficiency of trees and Oxygen, a number of factors should be taken into account, such as the concentration of pollutants in the air, number of rainy and windy days per year, size and type of tree, etc. All of them quite significantly affect the effectiveness of the filtering. Based on scientific research in this area, it can be estimated that one urban air filter can be as effective as several dozen large trees. However, it should be stressed that the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier is meant to support, not replace trees, which are extremely needed in urban space due to a number of other benefits they bring.

• 12. ISN’T IT BETTER TO REPLANT A TREE INSTEAD OF PLANTING A DEVICE?

Although trees in urban space have a number of advantages, their coexistence with the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers as network will contribute to greater efficiency in air purification. Not all places in the city have the possibility to plant trees because of an underground installation, for example. In addition, the urban environment is quite unfavorable for the trees – many of the newly planted trees may not survive. This also applies to adult trees, replanted from other locations. In this situation Oxygen is an effective alternative. And where there is such a possibility, you should plant trees and take care of the urban greenery accordingly.

1. DOES THE DEVICE HAVE ATTESTATIONS?

Yes, of course!! Oxygen – Urban Air Purifiers as the whole device and also the inbuilt filters. They have attestations by National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene.

2. DOES THE DEVICE EMIT HARMFUL WAVES? IS IT SAFE?

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier emits electromagnetic waves with characteristics typical for this type of electrical equipment. The waves are low intensity and they are not harmful to people and the environment by any way. This is also evidenced by the certificates issued by the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene.

3. WHAT DOES HAPPEN LATER WITH THE POLLUTANTS?

The pollutants accumulated in Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier’s filters are disposed of in a manner that is safe for the environment and people, in accordance with the rules of operation of this type of devices.

1. HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY DOES THE DEVICE CONSUME? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Currently, the device takes more or less 30-50 kWh electicity per day (it depends on a mode). It is 20% less than an average household. Thanks to the photovoltaic panels, we want to reduce the energy consumption to less than 15 kWh per day.

2. HOW LOUD IS THE DEVICE?

The device uses advanced fans with reduced level of noise. As a result, it is relatively quiet in terms of its size and mode of operation. It emits sound with an intensity not exceeding approx. 65 dB directly at the fans and 42 dB at a distance of 1 m from the purifier. This loudness is comparable to normal traffic or a loud office. It means, that if the device is located near a busy intersection, it will have a small impact on noise in the area. What’s more, in some demanding circumstances, there is a possibility to reduce the maximum power of Oxygen, what also limits the sounds of it.

3. WHY IS IT SO LOUD? WILL THE NOISE INCREASE IF IT STANDS AT A BUSY CROSSROAD?

The sound intensity associated with the operation of the Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier results mainly from the fans pushing the air flow (sough) and the characteristics of the electrostatic filters (occasional crackles). Placing such a device at a busy intersection will not significantly affect the noise level, which is mainly caused by the work of engines and the friction of tires on the road surface.

4. WHY IS THE DEVICE SO BIG?

The size of the device is a compromise between its performance and aesthetics. The decisive factor determining the size of it is the capacity – 40 000 m³ of air per hour. In order to ensure high filtering efficiency, an adequate air flow velocity must be maintained through the filtering section of the equipment. It requires an adequate filter surface area and therefore also bigger size of the purifier. Smaller devices would be less efficient and therefore also less cost-effective.

5. WHAT QUANITY OF AIR IS IT ABLE TO CLEAN?

Oxygen – Urban Air Purifier can filter 40 000 m³ per hour. In 24h it means nearly 1 milion m³ of air, which is more than in Palace of Culture and Science (Warsaw, Poland).