Zentek has announced that Innovative Solutions Canada ("ISC") has added ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters to its Pathway to Commercialization ("PTC") source list. This step establishes Zentek as an exclusive supplier within the PTC framework of this type of innovation to the Government of Canada, administered through ISC, for a three-year period, during which any federal department or agency may purchase ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters directly. The milestone is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between Zentek, ISC, and the National Research Council of Canada ("NRC").
Indoor air quality became a national priority during the pandemic, particularly in federal buildings, schools, and public spaces where improving filtration without consuming more energy or replacing existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ("HVAC") infrastructure presented a significant technical challenge. To help address this need, Zentek was awarded a contract under the ISC Testing Stream - a standing open call for innovative Canadian prototypes - to validate ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters with the NRC.
The NRC conducted rigorous validation testing in a purpose-built simulated classroom environment designed to replicate the most challenging real-world conditions. The results, as profiled by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ("ISED"), showed that ZenGUARD™ increased viral filtration efficiency of a standard MERV 8 filter by approximately fivefold in a single air exchange, via a physical mechanism, with no measurable impact to airflow or energy consumption.
Inclusion on the PTC source list does not guarantee a minimum number of orders or contracts, and procurement decisions remain at the discretion of individual federal departments and agencies.
ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters are also available to provincial and municipal governments, public and private healthcare systems, commercial real estate operators, educational institutions, and international institutional buyers seeking validated indoor air quality solutions.
Zentek commented: "ISC is the federal government's open invitation to Canadian innovators: bring your best technology, and the country's top labs will put it to the test. Zentek answered that call with ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters. The NRC set a high bar - reduce airborne viral load, work with existing HVAC systems, no airflow penalty, and no harmful particulates - and our technology met every objective. Our addition to the PTC source list is the culmination of a multi-year journey with our partners at ISC and the NRC, and I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment and hard work. ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters are now available to every federal department in Canada with the NRC's validation behind it, and we look forward to delivering safer indoor spaces, lower energy use, and less waste across the federal service and beyond."
