Living Wall Biofilter Q & A for architects, landscape architects, developers and project managers

1. iplant Living Wall Biofilter®
Q & A for Developers, Architects, Landscape Architects,
Engineers & Project Managers
Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd T: 61 2 9654 1264 E: iplant@plantscleanair.com
Suite 2/79 Cecil Ave. Castle Hill NSW 2158 W: plantscleanair.com
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

2. What is an iplant Living Wall Biofilter®?
A vertical, hydroponic indoor garden with plants chosen for their capacity to
remove and reduce pollutants from indoor air. It is a natural, active biofilter,
complementing the conventional HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air
Conditioning) air filtration.
How is this different from a green wall?
There are two types of living walls: active and passive.
®
The iplant Living Wall Biofilter actively draws contaminated indoor air
through the planted wall hydroponic system, rendering the pollutants
harmless and delivering clean purified air.
®
The iplant Living Wall Biofilter is a green technology developed from NASA
research. It combines conventional biofiltration and phytoremediation, used to
clean polluted industrial air and water.
By contrast, green walls are primarily decorative and although green plants in
the indoors have limited capacity to reduce pollutants (if they are
photosynthesising), green walls are passive and hence not as effective or
®
efficient as the iplant Living Wall Biofilter .
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

3. Why is indoor air quality an issue of concern?
When it comes to the air we breathe indoors, we accept the air that is offered
assuming that it is of the highest quality. The source of indoor air is outdoor
air. We wouldn’t drink contaminated water yet we regularly breathe
contaminated air.
Outdoor air supply to building air intakes rather than being “fresh air” is
always polluted, mainly with motor vehicle emissions such as benzene,
toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene as well as airborne breathable dust and
other chemical contaminants.
More than 50% of the air we breathe comes from contact with the floor
around us.
Irrespective of building ventilation design, ventilation rates, 100% recycling or
dilution mixing of building air, inherently polluted outdoor air combines and
reacts with contaminants generated indoors, resulting in poorer air quality,
even creating indoor smog in the presence of ozone.
How do iplant Living Wall Biofilters® work?
Using proven technology developed from plant-based research and
established principles of biofiltration and phytoremediation, contaminated
indoor air is drawn through the planted wall where the photosynthesising
plants and their root microorganisms break down the contaminants to simple,
harmless carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, producing clean purified air.
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

4. IPLANT LIVING WALL BIOFILTER®
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

5. How is the air quality improved by the iplant Living Wall
Biofilter® compared to conventional building air filtration?
The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a high efficiency filter which complements
conventional filtration, but is located in the workplace. The air cleaning
technology used in most ventilation systems is mainly particle filtration with
varying degrees of effectiveness in reducing chemical contaminants and
requiring frequent and costly maintenance or replacement.
High efficiency filters correctly maintained can also reduce soot, dust and dirt,
bacteria, pollens and insects, but not airborne chemicals. Special purpose
filters such as absorption type activated carbon can reduce gases, but quickly
become saturated and can become a source of pollutants. Once saturated,
activated carbon is a hazardous waste.
The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a self-regenerating biological filtration
system which works like a rainforest, generating clean breathable air, by
effectively removing most of the chemical contaminants and dust from the air
we breathe indoors.
NASA’s (National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s) Advanced life
Support project has successfully demonstrated the use of plants for air
revitalisation for humans, and the robustness of the plant systems as part of a
human life support system in space. Additionally they have shown that plants
can be integrated into regenerative life support systems and can be controlled
to provide a specific desired performance.
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

6. What are the design implications for architects and
engineers?
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The iplant Living Wall Biofilter gives the option of minimum code-compliant
fresh air rates, while delivering high quality fresh air to building occupants at
low cost, either incorporated into the building’s air handling system or as a
free standing unit. The technology can have a substantial impact on the
energy balance and air quality of the space as well as reducing ventilation
rates, while requiring only a very small footprint.
Innovative Plant Technology has broad-based experience working with
architects, landscape architects, engineers and project managers in
developing environmentally appropriate interior landscapes.
How large should the living wall be for a typical installation?
There are many factors to be considered in the design process including
occupancy rate, floor space (NLA) and fresh air ventilation requirements.
We will work with you to ensure a successful installation, delivering fresh
clean breathable air to building occupants.
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

7. How much maintenance does an iplant Living Wall Biofilter®
require?
Correctly designed and installed, monthly maintenance is usually sufficient
after the initial settling-in period of about one month with weekly observations.
We will prepare a maintenance schedule to ensure low risk management for
the client and guidelines for the maintenance contractor.
What are the main benefits of iplant Living Wall Biofilter®?
• The major benefit is a continuous supply of fresh, clean “breathable
air” free of the usual harmful contaminants, present in the indoor air of
most buildings.
• An increase in the indoor oxygen (O2 ) levels for better quality air and a
reduction in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) exhaled by
building occupants.
• Relative humidities in the 40% to 50% range (which are the least
favourable to the survival of many viruses), while contributing to
thermal comfort of occupants.
• Reduced ventilation requirements, resulting in significant energy
savings.
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

8. What about the plant species and growing requirements?
We’re glad you asked this question. We supply our extensive horticultural expertise and research
for you to draw on, together with an in-depth knowledge of building air quality issues, to ensure a
healthy thriving biofilter living wall.
For example, plant lighting is crucial in the proper functioning of the living wall, and is a generally
poorly resolved issue in many commercial buildings.
We bring real world experience for correct horticultural lighting requirements, with a thorough
knowledge of plant lighting, measurement and analysis, day-lighting, skylights, glazing and
supplementary lighting systems.
VALUE GENERATED
The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a new approach to providing clean ‘breathable’ air in buildings,
addressing a longstanding issue for building occupants.
Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd is dedicated to assisting medium to large scale organizations
in improving indoor air quality for a healthy and productive workplace, with reduced energy costs.
When you engage Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd, you partner with a specialist to deliver an
effective iplant Living Wall Biofilter® system to achieve Green Star IEQ and contribute to environmental
sustainability for your client or in your business.
A successful iplant Living Wall Biofilter® installation will deliver an effective plant-based biofiltration
system to improve and maintain good ‘breathable’ indoor air, supplementing conventional air filters,
by removing gaseous air pollutants and airborne particulate matter.
NEXT STEP: Contact Innovative Plant Technology +612 9654 1264 or e-mail iplant@plantscleanair.com
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com

9. 3 storey Atrium - University of Guelph - Toronto
Innovative Plant Technology
Innovative Plant Technology
www.plantscleanair.com