Associates and visitors in Regions’ larger facilities can breathe a little easier.
That’s because in late 2020, Regions began installing new, innovative technology to reduce allergens, pathogens and pollutants in the air in some of our buildings that house large concentrations of associates.
The system, known as Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization, connects to building air handlers and introduces positively and negatively charged ions into the air flow and throughout the building. As these ions travel within the air stream, they attach to particles, pathogens and gas molecules – filtering out allergens and significantly reducing harmful pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To give you an idea of how these ions affect air quality, consider this: in a typical building there are about 100 ions per cubic meter; a mountain forest has about 15,000 ions per cubic meter; the Needlepoint system generates between 10,000 to 12,000 ions per cubic meter.
It’s one more way – including following public health guidelines surrounding masking, hand washing, and social distancing – that Regions is helping thwart the spread of COVID-19. This tried and tested technology from Global Plasma Solutions (GPS), has already been installed at our large, bank-owned corporate buildings.
It’s all part of our continuing efforts to provide a safe and clean work environment.
Joe Holcombe, Corporate Real Estate senior facilities project manager
“With the Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization system, we add a safe, proven technology that will clean the air in our facilities – significantly reducing allergens, viruses, odors and more,” said Joe Holcombe, Corporate Real Estate senior facilities project manager. “It’s all part of our continuing efforts to provide a safe and clean work environment so our associates can feel confident working – and eventually coming back to work – in these facilities.”
The Needlepoint system was designed and has proven to be effective for use at large facilities with heavy traffic, such as airports and universities. At this time, Regions is testing its use and effectiveness in select branch locations and will evaluate its use and applicability in that setting.
And while the COVID-19 pandemic was the impetus for implementing the new system, the technology is here to stay. “The Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization System was especially important now, during the Coronavirus pandemic, but also for the long term,” Holcombe said. “We recognize that the safety and health of our associates and our visitors in our buildings is going to be important for years to come.”