We are honored to have Dr. Iyad Al-Attar as our distinguised speaker in the opening session of Sustainable Filtration for A Healthier Indoor Environment at the upcoming World Filtration Institute 2024 Annual Virtual Conference (WFI 2024), December 3–4, 2024, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST.
Dr. Al-Attar, Strategic Director and Instructor at the World Filtration Institute, is a mechanical engineer, globally recognized air quality consultant, and Visiting Academic Fellow at Cranfield University, specializing in air quality and filtration performance for HVAC systems and land-based gas turbines. Appointed in 2020 as Eurovent Middle East’s first air filtration consultant, he also serves as EUROVENT’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) patron, advocating for air quality as a core component of sustainable urban development. Dr. Al-Attar holds engineering degrees (BSc, MSc, Ph.D.) from the University of Toronto, Kuwait University, and Loughborough University and is currently completing an MSc at Oxford University in sustainable urban air quality.
As a prolific author, Dr. Al-Attar contributes to key publications in the field, including International Filtration News (IFN) USA, EUROVENT Middle East Newsletter, Climate Control Middle East Magazine, Caloryfrio (Spain), and Filtration + Separation (UK). His work addresses critical topics such as indoor and urban air quality, filter design, and sustainable filtration practices. With articles translated into multiple languages, he has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences.
Title: The importance of filtration technologies in governing healthy IAQ: a post-pandemic perspective
Date: December 3, 2024
Time: 08:25 am - 08:40 am EST
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in public health, highlighting the crucial role of filtration technologies in maintaining healthy indoor environments. As the airborne transmission of pathogens became a primary concern, advanced filtration systems, particularly High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and chemical filters, gained prominence for their effectiveness in removing ultrafine particles, biological contaminants, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This post-pandemic perspective provides detailed information on the capabilities of these filtration systems and their broader implications for indoor health management.
Filtration innovations target pathogen removal and address long-term IAQ challenges, such as reducing allergens, chemical pollutants, and indoor particulate matter (Pm1, PM2.5, PM10). These systems increasingly have smart sensors and AI-driven monitoring to ensure real-time filtration efficiency and energy optimization, supporting sustainable building operations. Furthermore, the pandemic has influenced the evolution of IAQ standards, with governing bodies calling for enhanced filtration and ventilation protocols in schools, offices, hospitals, and public spaces. By emphasizing health-driven building design focusing on the well-being of human occupants, filtration technologies have become central to reducing indoor pollution and mitigating the risks of airborne diseases. This presentation addresses how the pandemic has widened the air quality lens beyond particle capture to encompass bioaerosol filtration and ventilation technologies to sustainably provide clean and fresh air. The presentation also addresses shaping future urban and architectural frameworks, highlighting the role of filtration technologies as a common denominator for air quality governance strategies and public health and well-being.
About WFI 2024:
The World Filtration Institute 2024 Annual Conference (WFI 2024) will be held online, December 3–4, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. The theme of this conference is "Sustainable Filtration Solutions for a Cleaner and Healthier World." It will be an internationally leading expert conference addressing the latest advances in filtration and separation technologies and their critical roles in healthy living, surrounding environments, and a clean, sustainable world for current and future generations. The virtual conference will feature the following sessions:
1. Sustainable Filtration for A Healthier Indoor Environment
2. Filtration Advances for Emerging Technologies
3. Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Filtration
4. Circular Economy and Sustainable Water Solutions
5. Regulatory Trends and Standards Updates
6. Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Filtration Solutions
