Brio is an advanced electrostatic air purifier or air cleaner (the terms are synonymous). It is categorized as a portable air purifier, since it can be moved from room to room, or to different places in a room. Brio cleans the air using a patented technology solution, developed at the University of Washington. Brio is different from HEPA air purifiers in three ways: Brio uses electrostatic filtration which draws particles out of the clean air flow and HEPA is a form of mechanical filtration which blocks particles. This technology difference results in a performance difference: Unlike HEPA air purifiers, Brio's particle removal technology is non-clogging, so there is no drop off in airflow between filter changes. And this in turn creates the third major difference between Brio room air purifiers and HEPA air purifiers: Because Brio doesn't clog, its high-capacity air filters last much longer than similarly size HEPA air purifier filters. Brio will save you on filter replacements over the years - a cost that many don't think about when buying an air purifier, but one that adds up all the same.

Brio’s APART technology draws particles out of the airflow, so there’s nothing to clog or slow the clean air delivery rate. And the APART Collection Cartridge is designed to hold a high volume of particles. Together these features add up to a long cartridge life. Your actual environmental conditions and use will determine how often it needs replacing. In less-polluted areas, the cartridge may last much longer than a year. In areas with higher, ongoing, or extreme pollution, the cartridge may need changing more often.

In general, we suggest changing the APART Collection Cartridge using Brio’s Check/Change Indicator as a guide or once every 12 months.

We think so! Brio is highly effective in removing ultrafine, airborne wildfire smoke particles. Wildfire smoke particles may be as small as 0.4-0.7 microns. Independent testing shows that Brio’s APART particle removal technology effectively traps particles in this size range (and smaller!) including wildfire smoke. And because Brio doesn't clog, you can be confident smoke particles are being removed effectively and rapidly.

Because mold is seems to spread on surfaces, it may come as a surprise that it can be transmitted through the air. More precisely, mold spreads through airborne mold spores too small to see without magnification. So using an effective air purifier, like Brio is an important step in reducing the spread of mold in your home or office. Looking for the best air purifier for mold?

For an air cleaner to reduce viruses in the air, it must be able to remove small airborne particles (in the size range of 0.1-0.5 microns).

In independent lab tests, Brio’s APART technology effectively removes particles including COVID-19 surrogate, in this size range, in 15 minutes. Brio also quickly removes airborne bacteria particles, reducing the opportunity for these to spread infections.

It is important to note, however, that reducing virus particles is just one part of protection plan, as explained by the EPA:
“When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space. However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19. When used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family.”

Fine particles too small to see—dust and dust mite waste, pollen, smoke, germs, and mold—can enter the upper respiratory tract and may worsen allergy symptoms. Ultrafine particles can penetrate further into the respiratory system, making their way into the lungs where they can cause inflammation.

While we can’t provide medical advice, we can tell you that effective air purification is frequently recommended by medical professionals for allergy sufferers.

Brio’s innovative APART (tm) technology is highly effective at removing fine and ultra-fine particles from indoor air. Because Brio doesn't clog, there's no drop off in air flow between filter changes and clean airflow is the key to better indoor air.

Every situation is different and the answer depends on how many air changes per hour (ACH) you need, which in turn depends on the air quality in your home. Keep in mind the higher the ACH, the faster the air will circulate through the air purifier, removing particle pollutants. This table should help you determine the best room size based on your conditions.

We recommend leaving Brio on 24 hours a day for consistently better indoor air quality. Brio is Energy Star rated, using less energy than a 75w lightbulb so there's no reason not to leave it on.

Particle pollution in your home is often from ongoing, regular sources (dust and pets, mold, pollen, cooking, wood-burning fireplaces) or it could be episodic (a nearby wildfire, for example). Or both. Poor environmental air quality affects you inside your home, too.

Particle pollution is also dynamic within a room over the course of daily life. Doors open and close. People move from room to room. So do pets. And so do airborne particles. Rooms aren’t airtight. Windows leak. Heating systems exchange indoor and outdoor air.

Because of multiple types and sources of invisible particle pollution, we recommend leaving your Brio air purifier on, all day and all night. Set the fan to medium for everyday conditions and turn it to high when you need deep cleaning. The fan speed setting will also depend on the room size and your specific needs.

As there is less air movement at night, air purifiers can often be turned to a lower setting at bedtime. This really depends on the level of particle pollution and the effectiveness of your air purifier at a low fan speed. If you wake up in the morning and your air quality has gone down, you may want to turn up the fan to a higher setting.

To gauge your air quality, we recommend using an independent air quality monitor for the most accurate information.

If we are talking about room air purifiers, there isn't any real difference. Most offices and many newer homes have in-wall, centralized HVAC systems that provide air filtration to the entire building along with heat and cooling. These systems typically do not provide the level of filtration needed to remove fine and ultrafine particles from pollen, mold, dust, smoke, and viruses. This is where a portable or room air purifier like Brio comes in. Brio closes the gap between HVAC systems and better indoor air quality in homes and offices. And Brio can be used as an air filter for home or office. It really depends on the size of the room. Brio is perfect for small- to medium-sized rooms at home and office spaces up to 500 square feet. Brio is also ideal for use in small classrooms, gyms and fitness centers, yoga studios, and small retail establishments.

Brio will remove the airborne irritants which can trigger an allergic reaction. Brio's powerful fan draws suspended dust and invisible fine and ultrafine particles into the APART Collection Cartridge without clogging a filter. In our lab testing, Brio removed two to four times more dust than the competitive HEPA air purifiers tested, and still retained 90% of it's original effectiveness, while the tested HEPA purifiers dropped to 50%! What that means for you is ongoing effectiveness between filter changes and a lot fewer filter changes. Keep in mind that heavier, visible dust may fall to the ground and won't be drawn into Brio's air purification chamber.

For heavier dust that has landed on surfaces, you'll still need a vacuum or a dust cloth (Brio works wonders, but it's not magic).

Need an Find out how a Brio air purifier can help with allergies