International. Global commercial revenue from ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is expected to grow from $6.5 billion in 2022 to $13.6 billion in 2031 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%, according to a new report from Guidehouse Insights.
Disinfection technology has been under the spotlight since 2020 due to safety issues stemming from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. While pre-pandemic IAQ solutions focused on reducing indoor air pollutants caused by outdoor air pollution, over the past two years, public concern regarding virus risk has led to a significant focus on disinfection as a key to IAQ.
Disinfection technologies, such as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and ionization, among others, have caught the attention of the public. However, IAQ solutions should be considered holistically rather than focusing on standalone disinfection solutions. For example, UVGI is more effective for disinfecting surfaces than for killing viruses that travel quickly through the flow of ventilated air. UVGI will likely be much more effective combined with filters in air purifiers to disinfect filter surfaces. Ionization is also effective in mitigating the risk of viruses when the technology is connected to HVAC equipment or air purifiers. Other considerations for occupant comfort and safety include humidity control and contaminant detection.
"Although reducing air pollution remains at the core of indoor air quality management in certain regions or during specific periods, indoor air quality solutions should be seen as part of a holistic approach to addressing these issues, rather than focusing on stand-alone disinfection solutions, "- says Young Hoon. Kim, senior research analyst at Guidehouse Insights.
A market barrier is the decrease in public interest in complementary solutions (e.g. disinfection solutions) as the risk of COVID-19 and variants is expected to decrease over time. Other barriers include high prices, technical limitations and the difficulty of implementing a holistic system design approach, according to the report.
