For the past 14 years, air purification has been his passion and his livelihood. Thierry Ricci, CEO of NatéoSanté, is proud to present his latest creation, the “Aircoach.” This educational device, which measures air quality, was developed in Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons.
In late February, you launched your "Aircoach" on the market. What are the dimensions of this device?
This is a monitoring device that detects, for example, the presence of air pollutants; high CO2 levels can promote the spread of viruses. It helps users improve their indoor air quality (IAQ). Since the coronavirus outbreak, this issue has become a concern for everyone.
Aren't you the first ones to take action?
No, of course not, but in the 14 years we’ve been working on indoor air filtration, we’ve expanded to 60 countries. Our Coach is a natural next step… And when you look at other devices on the market, the issue of nanoparticles still seems hard to understand. Our idea wasn’t to display a bunch of measurements and numbers and tell people, “Figure it out for yourselves.” But rather to let them know whether their indoor air was polluted or not—and what needed to be done to fix it. We’ve been working on this project in our R&D department for two years now.
How does it work?
Depending on the model, its sensors analyze CO2 levels, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), fine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), and formaldehyde. You’ll know exactly what’s in your air in real time. Its predictive intelligence will then provide recommendations—such as opening the window slightly at the right moment, for example. There’s no need to leave a classroom window open for three hours when it’s -3°C just to ventilate the room! Our system will assess the situation and prompt you to close the window at the optimal time. Alerts are indicated by light signals, and recommendations are displayed in writing on the screen.
What are formaldehydes?
Formaldehyde is found in certain paints and adhesives. It is one of the most carcinogenic substances targeted in the latest regulation. The initiative is aimed primarily at local governments and healthcare facilities. If our Aircoach detects a sudden spike in chemical compounds, it will indicate the presence of harmful household products—a situation that sometimes occurs in daycare centers. “ It” will then prompt users to change their practices. It is this educational aspect that, in our view, makes it a revolutionary tool. We developed it by compiling scientific literature from the past two years, in line with the latest IAQ regulations: the national decree on Public Access Buildings, which took effect on January 1, 2023*, and those of the WHO.
Doesn't it detect COVID-19?
To date, no device has made this claim. Rather than detecting the presence of viruses, our device will measure the risk of transmission on a scale of 1 to 100. If there is a high concentration of CO2 and nanoparticles, it will indicate your level of risk. It is said to make the invisible visible.
How much does it cost, and where can I buy it?
Between €468 and €684, available on the NatéoSanté website NatéoSanté through our distributors.