Ahead of New York City’s approval of restaurants reopening for indoor dining on Sept. 30, many restaurant owners sought out the most effective practices available to mitigate the risk of viral transmission indoors. These days, the value of going beyond CDC guidelines to offer increased health and safety measures cannot be underestimated when your business is your lifeline. One of the best solutions is clean indoor air, which was a critical focus for a few of New York City’s finest and most acclaimed dining establishments, including Le Bernardin, Philippe by Philippe Chow, Avra Estiatorio and Avra Madison Estiatorio. But first, a little background.
Viral Particles Can Remain Suspended in Air
In March 2020, the World Health Organization released a scientific brief demonstrating that viral particles can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. COVID-19 was found in air samples within aerosols (microscopic respiratory droplets) for up to three hours in one study and 16 hours in another. As many health authorities exhibited concern about the threat of transmission posed by aerosols, the team at Scientific Fire Prevention was inspired to help other passionate business owners. In fact, we’ve installed Needlepoint BiPolar Ionization (NPBI) technology, as it was tested for effectiveness against COVID-19 specifically. Previous studies proved the technology’s effective elimination of airborne viruses, such as H1N1/Swine Flu, H5N1/Avian Flu, Polio Virus, and Coxsackie Virus.
Ionization systems that combat viruses through the process of BiPolar Ionization have been operating since the late 1800s – countless years before COVID-19 even existed. With NPBI, the production of unwanted by-products, including ozone, normally associated with ionization technology is eliminated. NPBI technology as it is today, has been used for particle reduction, odor control, pathogen control, energy savings and static electricity control for more than a decade. The technology is currently installed in more than 150,000 HVAC units at hospitals, airports, offices, schools, and residential buildings throughout the world and in a number of hospitality venues.
Unlike any other technology on the market, the Needlepoint BiPolar Ionization provided by Scientific Fire Prevention team is currently the only one proven to combat SARS COV-2 particles that cause the COVID-19 Virus in a treated area within 30 minutes (without harmful effects to the environment or ozone). Testing was conducted independently by Innovative Bioanalysis, a certified safety reference laboratory.
Le Bernardin, Philippe by Philippe Chow, Avra Estiatorio and Avra Madison Estiatorio all had the Scientific Fire Prevention team install Scientific’s NPBI by GPS technology into their HVAC units. With the goal of serving the N.Y.C. community once again, these restaurants took extensive precautions to safeguard indoor dining with the air throughout the venues being purified while the HVAC system is running (heating and cooling). With the same intentions, our latest installation allowed us to serve the west coast by installing Scientific’s NPBI by GPS at Avra Beverly Hills.
To learn more about Scientific Fire Prevention, which works with hospitality business owners, visit ScientificFire.com.
David Klein is co-CEO of Scientific Fire Prevention and Allied Fire Control Services. He brings an extensive background in international business, law and protective technology to his leadership role. After practicing commercial litigation in New York City, he pursued his passion for business and then purchased Scientific Fire Prevention and Allied Fire Control Services in 2003 to provide hood and duct cleaning, kitchen exhaust fabrication and kitchen fire suppression maintenance and installation, and environmental services to all types of commercial cooking facilities. For more than 17 years, he’s been serving a wide customer base ranging from restaurants and corporate cafeterias, to educational institutions, sports arenas, government institutions, and everything in between.
Jeffrey Kaufman is co-CEO of Scientific Fire Prevention and Allied Fire Control Services – two of the northeast’s oldest and largest life safety companies. In his role, he oversees operations, finance and risk control. Since joining Scientific Fire Prevention in 2016 as a Principal, he propelled the company to success with over 30 years of experience in the construction and property restoration industries. Continuously seeking to provide customers with the highest level of quality and protection, Scientific Fire Prevention most recently began offering Scientific’s NPBI by GPS, an air-purification technology which has been proven to combat SARS COV-2 particles, which cause COVID-19, in a treated area within 30 minutes without the production of ozone.