IQAir Improves Air Quality For Olympic Athletes

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. July 29, 2008 - IQAir announced today they are providing the U. S. Olympic Committee (USOC) with ultra-high efficiency air cleaning for USA athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to help create the optimum performance environment utilizing the IQAir Perfect 16 (as shown in picture below) and the IQAir HealthPro Series room air purifier.

"We are very proud to be able to support the performance efforts of the USOC in Beijing," says Frank Hammes, President of IQAir. "The USOC is always looking for new and innovative ways to assist their athletes. This project will be the first time ultra-high efficiency air cleaning is used on a large scale to provide performance enhancement at an athletic event."

In November of 2007, a team of IQAir experts and the USOC traveled to Beijing to examine indoor spaces that would be used by USA athletes.

"Our goal is to ensure that we do everything possible to provide the very best training and performance advantages we can for our athletes," says Margaret Hunt, medical director for the USOC. "We feel that while all athletes will appreciate our efforts with IQAir, athletes with asthma will especially benefit." The project, dubbed "Operation Clean Air," will utilize IQAir's HealthPro Series room air purifiers in athletes' bedrooms. For large training areas, IQAir has designed special facility-sized portable and installed air cleaning systems. IQAir will also be adding ultra high efficiency filtration to the heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems in buildings. The air cleaning systems are tested and certified to filter ultra-fine particles down to 0.003 microns, smaller than the smallest virus. They are based on technology IQAir uses in hospitals around the world to filter particles as small as the SARS virus, MRSA, and tuberculosis.

In addition to eliminating ultra-fine particles, IQAir's systems will also provide comprehensive gas and chemical filtration.

"All large cities suffer from a wide range of gaseous pollutants. These are byproducts of traffic, manufacturing, industry, and other sources," says Hammes. "Gases and chemicals require a different type of filtration than particulates. And while most consumer products do not address this important aspect of air cleaning, IQAir systems contain the most advanced gas-phase filtration available."

IQAir's air cleaning systems are currently being stored in Beijing for installation and placement for the USOC later this month.

IQAir Chosen by USA Cycling to Provide Ultra-High Efficiency Air Cleaning in Beijing

BEIJING, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- IQAir announced today that they were chosen by USA Cycling to provide all team members with ultra-high efficiency air cleaners. IQAir has been named USA Cycling's official air purifier supplier to support their competition efforts in Beijing, China.

"We've worked with USA Cycling to create the ultimate performance environment for their athletes," says IQAir President, Frank Hammes. "These systems represent the most advanced air cleaning technology in the world. They operate at as much as 100 times the efficiency of the products people commonly see sold in department stores as air purifiers."

Each member of USA cycling has been issued an IQAir HealthPro Plus. The HealthPro Plus is a portable room air purifier used by hospitals around the world to absorb particles as small as the SARS virus, MRSA, and tuberculosis. IQAir also designed special facility sized air cleaning systems for the popular USA Cycling Lounge in Beijing, the cycling team's logistics center where athletes relax and recuperate between races.

All systems used by USA Cycling are tested and certified to filter down to 0.003 microns, more than 1,000 times smaller than most particles included in the PM 10 standard for air pollution. These systems also feature special air purification technology to remove gaseous pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and ozone.

Pat McDonough, Team Leader for USA Cycling, says that the team is already benefiting from their work with IQAir.

"Airborne particles and gases can cause lung inflammation and allergic reactions. This is what causes allergies and asthma in every day life, but it also inhibits absorption of oxygen," says McDonough. "These races are often decided by thousandths of a second. By giving our athletes the healthiest indoor air possible, IQAir is helping them to do their very best. It's all about creating the ultimate performance environment." Also see: IQAir announced that they achieved 99% pure air in an apartment in Beijing

About USA Cycling

Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo- cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women's National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA Cycling further supports grass roots and locally- based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit http://www.usacycling.org . For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.

IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group which has over 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems. IQAir offers clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, from commercial air cleaning systems for hospitals and other critical environments to products for homes, offices, and hotels. IQAir is the American Lung Association's exclusive educational partner from the air purifier industry. IQAir products have earned the Best Buy recommendations of Consumers Digest, Consumers Guide, Reviewboard Magazine, Consumer Search, as well as the top recommendation of the prestigious German government product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest.