New application horizons
The air we breathe deserves more attention than ever, especially in light of the new UNI 12016:2026 standard.
Automatic night-time decontamination may become the next evolution of indoor air safety.
Originally developed for healthcare environments, PLASMAIR is now being evaluated for broader indoor air applications with high occupancy and limited air exchange.
Transparency note: Civil indoor-air applications represent a new development area for PLASMAIR. Current validation data derive from healthcare and industrial environments, while broader civil applications are being explored through selected pilot projects.
Context
Why civil air quality is an urgent issue
The pandemic has made clear what air‑quality experts had been saying for years: confined environments (offices, schools, gyms, museums, theatres) are places where we spend most of our time, often with no real control over the quality of the air we breathe.
Mechanical ventilation systems are primarily designed for airflow and particulate filtration, but not for continuous microbiological decontamination.
Airborne viruses, bacteria, allergens, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and ultrafine particles remain in circulation, invisible and underestimated.
The cold SDBD plasma technology we have developed and validated in operating theatres is, in essence, applicable to any enclosed space equipped with a ventilation system. T
The underlying physical principle remains the same; only environmental scale, occupancy and operating parameters change.
What we already know
In healthcare settings, PLASMAIR has demonstrated an 87.7% reduction in bacterial load and a 50% reduction in airborne particles ≥ 0.5 µm under real operating conditions (Ce.Me.Di. Turin, 2025–2026).
In a pharmaceutical environment, the reduction in microbial load was 94%, with a 50.3% reduction in particulate matter (La Vetro Bergantino, TRL7, 2019).
These results were achieved using the same physical system, SDBD plasma, that we intend to apply to civil environments. The technology is mature. Civil application contexts still need to be explored systematically.
Italy: the new UNI 12016:2026 standard for educational building
Indoor Air Quality Becomes a Design Requirement
The recently published UNI 12016:2026 introduces a new approach to indoor air quality management in educational facilities.
The focus is no longer limited to air change rates alone, but extends to the actual environmental conditions experienced by building occupants.
The standard promotes performance assessment through measurable parameters such as CO₂ concentration, airborne particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), encouraging the adoption of continuous monitoring systems and controlled ventilation strategies.
In this context, the control of airborne contamination and the management of indoor air quality are becoming increasingly important in the design and operation of modern educational buildings.
From Ventilation to Airborne Contamination Control.
What does UNI 12016:2026 introduce?
- Indoor air quality assessed through measurable parameters.
- Ventilation rates sized according to building occupancy.
- Greater focus on air filtration and airborne particulate control.
- Continuous monitoring of CO₂, particulate matter and TVOCs.
- Periodic verification of system performance.
- A performance-based approach rather than reliance on air change rates alone.
- Increasing attention to bioaerosols and the microbiological quality of indoor air.
Bioaerosols: An Often Overlooked Component of Indoor Air Quality
Purpose and Scope
In highly occupied indoor environments, air quality depends not only on CO₂ concentration, particulate matter, or volatile organic compounds. Bioaerosols, consisting of microorganisms, fungal spores, allergens, and airborne biological particles, also represent an important factor in the overall assessment of indoor environmental quality.
High occupancy levels, insufficient ventilation, and non-optimal indoor environmental conditions can contribute to the persistence and spread of biological contaminants in the air.
For this reason, modern indoor air quality management systems integrate ventilation, filtration, environmental monitoring, and complementary technologies for airborne contamination control, with the aim of supporting healthier and more controlled indoor environments.
Poloplasma develops technologies for the control of airborne contamination and bioaerosols, contributing to improved indoor air quality in highly occupied environments.
Possible application contexts
Where PLASMAIR could make a difference
These are not commercial claims, but application hypotheses based on validated physical principles and experimental results already obtained.
Schools and universities
Classrooms and educational spaces often operate with high occupancy, limited air exchange and inadequate ventilation rates. These environments are ideal for studying the reduction of airborne microbiological contamination in prolonged high-density conditions.
Hypothesised potential
Museums and cultural venues
Public indoor environments with high visitor occupancy, where particulate matter, VOCs and air quality stability are important for visitor comfort and environmental preservation. These contexts may represent interesting applications for monitored air-treatment strategies during non-occupancy periods.
Hypothesised potential
Open‑plan offices
Workspaces where air quality directly affects productivity, wellbeing and absenteeism. The combination of high people density and often outdated ventilation systems creates sub‑optimal conditions.
Hypothesised potential
Gyms and sports centres
The combination of intense physical activity, respiratory aerosol generation and enclosed spaces creates challenging air-quality conditions, especially during peak occupancy periods.
Hypothesised potential
Theatres, cinemas and performance venues
Large volumes, high concentrations of people for extended periods, often sub‑optimal air recirculation. Contexts where air quality is rarely monitored but airborne transmission can be significant.
Hypothesised potential
Hotels, nursing homes and hospitality facilities
Facilities hosting vulnerable occupants or high guest turnover often rely on ventilation systems without dedicated air-decontamination strategies. Guest-room air quality between occupancy cycles, as well as in common areas, is rarely managed with dedicated decontamination approaches.
Hypothesised potential
Technology foundations
Why cold plasma is suitable for civil environments too
SDBD technology is not specific to healthcare contexts. The physical and chemical principles that make it effective in operating theatres work in exactly the same way in any environment with mechanical ventilation.
Integrates with any existing VMC
PLASMAIR does not require dedicated systems. It connects to the mechanical ventilation already in place, whether in a hospital, a theatre or a school.
Energy savings in every context
Optimised recirculation (80% treated air, 20% outdoor air)
can reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 40%, depending on airflow configuration and recirculation strategy.
Acts on viruses, bacteria, allergens and VOCs
The reactive species generated by plasma (O₃, •OH, H₂O₂) interact with airborne contaminants, allergens, odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contributing to the reduction of airborne pollution and perceived indoor air-quality issues.
Safe even with people present
During the daytime cycle, ozone concentration is automatically regulated below 50 ppb, depending on airflow configuration and operating conditions, in accordance with current European reference thresholds (EU 2008/50/EC). Continuous monitoring and automatic control ensure safe operation during occupied conditions.
87,7% . REDUCTION OF AIRBORN BIOLOGICAL LOAD
These results, obtained in a real operating theatre with the TRL9 prototype, are the scientific basis for our confidence in the civil potential of PLASMAIR. We intend to replicate and adapt this methodological approach to new application contexts, in partnership with facilities willing to host the tests.
We are looking for partners
A pioneering collaboration opportunity
We are extending our healthcare and cleanroom experience into civil indoor environments through selected pilot partnerships. We are looking for facilities and organisations willing to host the first pilot installations as part of a transparent technical-validation collaboration focused on indoor air quality, environmental monitoring and operational feasibility.
1
Partners who join the pilot phase access the system on favourable financial terms, in exchange for their willingness to collect and share operating data.
2
For the entire test period, we install our sensor network (CO₂, O₃, particulate, T, RH) and provide a real‑time monitoring dashboard, at no additional cost.
3
At the end of the test period, we deliver a comprehensive report with data collected before and after activation, compared with standard environmental parameters. Documentation ready for external communication.
4
Pilot partners will be mentioned in our scientific publications, communication materials and, where agreed, in press releases relating to the test results.
5
Installation only requires access to the existing VMC ductwork. No building work, no construction site, no disruption to the facility’s ordinary activities.
What we expect from partners
Time availability
A period of continuous access to the VMC system and selected environments.
Data collaboration
Willingness to share collected data for research and scientific publication purposes, including in anonymised form.
Technical contact
An internal technical contact person who can facilitate access to facilities and communication with our team.