The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the restaurant and hospitality industry particularly hard. Although the science is not yet settled on exactly how the virus spreads; close, indoor contact is a known risk for transmission, and government and health mandates across the globe have called for an overhaul of operational protocols in restaurants and bars in order to minimize contact between staff and guests. But humans are fallible, and protocols are only as strong as their enforcement. The core concern, that the virus is transmitted through the air, calls for a more technological solution, and to that end London’s sketch restaurant has partnered with HVAC specialists Klima-Therm to come up with what they deem a ‘ground breaking’ engineering solution when it comes to air circulation within dining rooms.
Sketch, in the heart of trendy Mayfair, has long been known as an industry pioneer. Its innovative interior design, socially conscious ethos and creative menus have earned it a 3 Michelin star rating. Owner Mourad Mazouz is the first UK operator to install the new purification system, which he sees as a matter of social responsibility. “Restauranteurs have a duty to look at all possible solutions to fight against the spread of Coronavirus in order to protect their customers and employees,” says Mazouz.
The space’s existing HVAC system has been retrofitted with a technologically advanced unit which uses an ionisation process to purify the air by targeting airborne and suspended particles such as bacteria, viruses and mold spores. This maximises the freshness of the air flow throughout the venue, safeguarding both customers and employees against the virus.
Klima-Therm, who specialize in ultra high efficiency HVAC equipment, custom fitted the new air purification unit to the existing duct network and programmed it to release positive and negative oxygen ions throughout the ventilation system. The effectiveness of the technology was tested by a number of independent labs prior to installation. In addition to virus protection, the ionisation process can also protect against other potentially harmful particulates such as odorous gases, aerosols, and pollens.
The solution also carries the additional advantages of being energy efficient, easy to install, customizable to existing HVAC infrastructures, low maintenance and therefore cost effective over the long term. In addition to high profile clients like Sketch, it has also been fitted in a number of hotels and has a broad applicability beyond the hospitality sector to encompass utilization in healthcare, education, office, entertainment and leisure, and industrial sectors.
