Timeline of a unique breakthrough
Technology
Late 1960s
Military scientists identify how outdoor fresh air kills pathogenic viruses and bacteria.
The process utilises Hydroxyl Radicals. These are formed within the atmosphere by the interaction of Ultra Violet light, atmospheric Ozone and Volatile Hydrocarbons given off by plants. Hydroxyl radicals are continuously formed in outdoor air, constantly ridding the air of pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Once we step indoors, this natural process is held at bay by the windows and walls of our built environment, and this is why people are more easily infected indoors.
1991
Inventor and microbiologist Alan Mole creates an early and only partially effective version of a ‘fresh air’ machine. (This technology will, in time, be superseded by Alan’s further work at Tri-Air Developments). The next 10 years are spent exploring the necessary microbiology, atmospheric chemistry and physics to continuously progress the early prototypes.
2004
25 years since the ‘hydroxyl radical’ was identified, Tri-Air Developments’ Director and inventor Alan Mole, through an understanding of physics, microbiology and atmospheric chemistry, replicates this natural process to create the patented Tri-Air technology.
2006
Tri-Air Developments Ltd conducts efficacy tests at the UK Government's Health Protection Agency (HPA) Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response. These early airborne tests are conducted on a man made surrogate virus, MS2 Coliphage, which is tough to kill, and yet the Tri-Air prototype kills 99.999% in less than 5 minutes.
2007
Tri-Air continues the development of the technology, with additional tests at the UK Governments HPA, including surface based testing on MRSA. These tests include a 24hr and 48hr test on MRSA on stainless steel and glass. The Tri-Air Technology achieves a 6-log kill on glass in 24hrs and almost a 4-log kill on stainless steel in 48hrs. In addition the BBC World Service Science-in-action programme interviews the inventor Alan Mole.
2008
“It’s almost so good that nobody is going to believe it,” said Martin Wyatt, chief executive of the Building Research Establishment, a former Government agency that has been involved with the development over the past 18 months.
He said the system was one of the most important developments in air quality engineering over the past 50 years. “It has a very wide range of potential uses,” said Wyatt. “As fast as we thought of one big area, we came up with another one.”
MRSA kills more than 5,000 people in the UK every year (National Audit Office, 2006) and is estimated to cost the UK Government in excess of £1bn per annum, and in the USA the cost of hospital acquired infections including MRSA is estimated to be between $4bn - $5bn per year.
2009
Tri-Air Developments Ltd appoints expert product development partner PA Consulting to rapidly develop the technology into its first product applications. Tri-Air Developments agreed an exclusive licence with BA Holdings Ltd, a world leader in air systems, to market and sell products suitable for leisure establishments around the world including hotels, casinos, cruise liners and resorts. Tri-Air with PA Consulting continues to develop the technology for other market applications.
2010
The Tri-Air technology, the optimal solution to the threat of viruses and bacteria, is to be made available to other commercial partners around the world. In addition to current commercial discussions, Tri-Air will be hosting a series of invite-only events around the world to potential commercial partners. For further information. More…
