K 2022 benefits from new HEPA filters in the exhibition halls

(Photo: HEPA Filters, Messe Düsseldorf/CTillmann)

Messe Düsseldorf is coming up with a new technical highlight: HEPA filters. These high-efficiency particulate air filters introduce clinically clean air into the halls while at the same time reducing heating and cooling energy consumption. By the end of June 2022, the complete Düsseldorf Exhibition and Congress Centre will be equipped with HEPA filters.

It is the most effective air cleaning technology currently available: HEPA filters remove 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and other particulates from the air and release the cleaned air into the room again. These high-efficiency filters make for highest air quality in ORs, at Intensive Care Units and now also at Messe Düsseldorf and Düsseldorf Congress. Halls 1, 9 to 17 as well as Congress Center Düsseldorf CCD have already been refitted. 80% of the EUR 1.4 million invested were paid by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection as part of a funding programme.

Infection risk reduced to a minimum

Stressing the advantages for the re-start, Wolfram N. Diener, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, says: “Our new HEPA filters help to ensure that we can offer all guests the greatest possible protection during our trade fairs. In combination with our high-performance ventilation system, our voluntary hygiene measures, our spacious premises and halls, we reduce the infection risk to a minimum. After two pandemic years and a period of intense digital communication participants can feel safe when networking, initiating business deals and experiencing innovations in person again.”

Contribution to sustainability

HEPA filters complement and relieve the already powerful ventilation systems at Messe Düsseldorf. The fully automatic system with 60,000 measuring points safeguards optimal air quality and supplies the halls with ten million cubic metres of fresh outside air via ten kilometres of ventilation pipes every hour. Bernhard J. Stempfle, Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure, emphasises the efficiency: “HEPA filters reduce the heating and cooling energy consumption of our ventilation systems and enable their energetically sensible operation. When outside temperatures are low we can mix the outside air supplied with warm hall air, thereby reducing the heating requirements and still achieve clinically clean incoming air. This means that the HEPA filters also make an important contribution to sustainable trade fairs.”

Additional infection protection is not only provided by the HEPA filters and ventilation systems but also by Messe Düsseldorf’s voluntary hygiene measures. The trade fair company continues recommending attendees to wear medical face masks and keep a 1.5 m distance from other persons on the fairgrounds. Furthermore, Messe Düsseldorf makes sanitizing dispensers available and has frequently used contact surfaces cleaned several times daily. Distance markings in waiting areas help to prevent crowds from forming in front of information counters and ticket offices. Doors, unless they are fire doors, are left open so that they can be passed through contactless. Transparent droplet guards at service and information counters will also remain in place.