Air quality
systems integrate with the theatre ceiling and continuously clean air within the room. They are more permanent than portable units and are often installed in wards and consulting rooms. While they may require some infrastructural modifications, they provide continuous air purification without occupying floor space which is critical in maintaining theatre workflows. Air Handling units (AHU) upgraded filtration:
Portable HEPA air filters in AHU rooms ensures that filtered air is delivered to theatres via existing ductwork. This method offers a more centralised and scalable solution. Flexibility is key. Filtration does not need to
delay theatre schedules or trigger estates-wide upheaval.
Sustainability and cost-efficiency Many Trusts have an immense pressure to improve clinical standards while reducing environmental impact. Smart filtration systems are increasingly helping address both these issues. Traditional HVAC overalls can be expensive, time-consuming and highly disruptive. In contrast, adding or upgrading filtration systems – especially the portable air purifiers or ceiling-mounted units – provide a faster, less costly way to improve air quality without ripping out existing infrastructure.
Case study: Dublin hospital
In 2024, Akara Robotics deployed Blast and Blast Mini units at one of Ireland’s oldest hospitals. The hospital, focused on long-term rehabilitative care, needed a scalable clean air solution that could be deployed with minimal disruption. The Blast units were placed in larger wards while the Blast Mini were placed in single infection isolation rooms. Highlights included: l Air changes per hour (ACH) adjusted dynamically via Akara smart scheduling
l Automatic increase in fan speed during high- activity periods
l Real-time tracking of airflow, filter health and pressure through onboard diagnostics
l Confirmation of correct filter installation and obstruction monitoring
From an environmental perspective,
deploying the Blast and the Blast Mini, with the additional smart module at hospitals can significantly help reduce power consumption while delivering clean air at full capacity. The smart module helps the units to operate at full capacity when needed, while helping reduce electricity use compared to older, always-
on HVAC systems. This helps hospitals move towards net-zero goals while still prioritising clinical safety. The technology is compliant with HTM-03 recommendations (UKCA, EN 1822-1:2019, EN ISO 294633:2018). Moreover, by reducing the risks of SSIs, smart filtration indirectly cuts down on hospital stays, antibiotic use and repeated procedures. This represents
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