The COVID-19 Omicron variant has dished up new challenges for Australia’s hospitality sector in 2022.

On top of January’s subdued trading conditions, hospitality managers also faced a second problem as Omicron peaked; the threat of workforce shortages and forced closure due to isolating staff. 

It’s clear that if cafes, restaurants and bars are to safely operate through future Omicron waves, they must ensure venues are well-equipped to minimise indoor virus transmission and deliver safe, clean air to staff and customers.

Innovative air purification technologies are central to the solution, and leading the way in hospitality is the Australian-designed Aether LED Troffer, a state-of-the-art air purifying luminaire that is easily installed in hospitality venues, with multiple ceiling mounting options.

As well as providing traditional lighting capabilities, Aether’s three-step ventilation system actively circulates air through a concealed chamber, scrubbing it of harmful pathogens via UV-C LED and HEPA filter technology with a proven inactivation rate of 99.995 per cent.

Aether has been developed by Pierlite, Australia’s leading provider of lighting and technology solutions to organisations across a range of industries for over 70 years.

Aether LED Troffer: a best-in-class solution

Pierlite’s Aether LED Troffer is a smart light fitting that utilises LED modules to illuminate indoor areas, much like any traditional luminaire. However, what makes this technology truly ground-breaking is its medical-grade air purification capabilities, which have been shown to inactivate and remove 99.995 per cent of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) from the air.

Aether contains an active air flow system with a separate inlet and outlet on either side of the fitting and an air chamber in the centre. Inside the fitting, a quiet, long-lasting motor actively draws in air from any room into its chamber, where it is exposed to ultra-violet (UV-C) radiation, damaging the DNA of airbourne bacteria instantly.

The air then passes through a medical grade H13 HEPA filter, which traps and removes harmful pathogens. Clean air then safely returns back to the room.

Aether’s efficacy has already received significant third-party validation. An independent 2021 study conducted in Germany verified that with a single pass through, Aether inactivated 99.995 per cent of harmful pathogens from the air, including that of SARS-CoV-2. In a second phase of testing using TGA recommended coronavirus HCoV-229HE, Aether reduced the viral load during a single passage with an inactivation rate of over 99.9 per cent.

Benefits of the Aether LED Troffer

  • Purpose-built for use by Australian cafes, restaurants and bars
  • Aesthetically pleasing design with multiple mounting options
  • Clinically proven to inactivate and remove 99.995 per cent of pathogens from the air
  • Easily installed in ceiling grids present in Australian hospitality venues
  • Dual UV-C and HEPA filter purification system
  • Designed to operate continuously and safely in occupied rooms
  • Easy maintenance with replaceable UV-C LED module and HEPA filter
  • Provides smart air quality and energy usage analytics in real-time

With Aether installed, hospitality managers can stress less about airborne virus transmission and focus on providing the dining and entertainment experiences Australians love.

Learn more about Aether at: https://www.pierlite.com.au/supporting-safer-environments.