Q: How does Proguard technology work?
We use two different sanitization processes.
1) Our proprietary Photo catalytic (PCO) process converts oxygen and humidity which is hydrogen, into a dry vaporized form of H2O2. The H2O2 oxidizers are very effective at killing mold, mildew, bacteria and viruses throughout the room. After killing the pathogens, they revert to water vapor.
2) Our second technology uses a proprietary Bi-polar ionization (BPI) that creates positive and negative ions. All pathogens in the room have some form of magnetic charge and the ions are drawn to the pathogens like a magnet and deliver the H2O2 vapor directly to the pathogens killing them on contact in the air and on surfaces throughout the room.
Q: How is the technology different than UV, HEPA & other PCO technologies?
UV, HEPA filters & other PCO products are “passive” and can only remove or eliminate pathogens that are “delivered” to the machine or filter. Most of the pathogens in a large room will never make it to those devices and this means they stay active in the rooms and can continue to cross-contaminate and allow contamination issues.
Also, those technologies cannot sanitize and clean surfaces in the room like the ProGuard technology does.
UV – Very limited because it requires the following to kill pathogens:
1) It cannot be used in occupied spaces with humans so it is usually placed in the HVAC filter banks or on the HVAC coil up in the air ducts.
2) It can only kill pathogens that are directly in front of it “line of sight” which means it cannot kill pathogens inside your rooms which leaves your plants unprotected and susceptible to mold and mildew contamina/on.
HEPA – cannot kill anything. It can only capture pathogens that are delivered to the filter.
3) Once HEPA filter captures the mold, mildew or bacteria, the pathogens just sit in the filter and become almost like a Petri dish filling up with pathogens for months which could eventually be released back into the room.
Other PCO Technologies – Are usually “passive” and require that pathogens are delivered to the machine, and they only kill pathogens delivered inside the PCO chamber.
4) They cannot kill pathogens throughout the room or on surfaces. This leaves your plants unprotected and susceptible to mold and mildew contamination.
Q: Do you have testing?
Yes. We have University studies on the ProGuard technology that show its effectiveness in killing numerous pathogens.
We also have side by side studies performed by Research scientists and many Cannabis & Commercial field studies from customers. See Dr. Hudson tests, KSU tests and other Field studies.
Q: Does ProGuard help with Powdery Mildew?
Yes. There are many variables that can cause Powdery Mildew and air quality is an important factor. ProGuard sanitization technology uses an “Active” Kill process that sends the sanitization technology throughout the entire room to create “Pristine Air” quality that reduces mold and mildew pressure to help prevent outbreaks. It is still critical to have good environmental control of your humidity, temp, cleaning SOP’s and good gene/cs to prevent Powdery Mildew but
ProGuard can make a big difference in reducing contamination issues.
Q: If I have already have PM on plants, will it eliminate the exisEng PM in the room?
The ProGuard technology is NOT a remediation process to get rid of existing PM. It should be used as part of your IPM processes to help “prevent” mold and mildew issues. If your plants already have PM, ProGuard will help reduce the spores and slow down the contamination from spreading but it will not eliminate the existing PM.
Q: Will this eliminate ALL mold and mildew?
We cannot make that guarantee that 100% will be eliminated. ProGuard technology is very effective at destroying mold and mildew, but it is NOT an “end all” solution and the customer still needs to have good environmental control of their humidity, temp, air flow, operating and cleaning SOP’s. Also, some genetics and plant strains are more susceptible to pathogen issues.
ProGuard can significantly reduce pathogen issues and help prevent outbreaks, but it cannot always overcome bad environmental conditions or bad genetics that are systemically weak and prone to disease.
NOTE: ProGuard can greatly reduce pathogens and help prevent problems but there is no such thing as a “magic pill” that fixes bad environments or weak genetics.
Q: Does the technology work well in high humidity?
Yes. The ProGuard photo catalytic process utilizes oxygen and water vapor (humidity) to create the advanced oxidation sanitization, and the technology was designed specifically for high humidity, and high density grow room environments. The higher the humidity, the greater the volume of oxidation will be created making the technology even more effective. See Humidity & Technology Chart
Q: What humidity should I run in my rooms to get the best results?
ProGuard will work great in all humidity levels, and we recommend that growers operate at the humidity that best suits their growing style or needs. ProGuard will work effectively in whatever humidity that they operate at, and we do not recommend a specific humidity to use ProGuard.
Q: Can you use it in Dry Rooms
Yes. We recommend using in the Dry rooms because many contamination issues occur during the dry process. You can have the best yielding harvest and lose it all to grey mold and botrytis contamination during the dry process and ProGuard will greatly reduce contamination issues.
Q: Does the technology damage the cannabis product, terpenes, or Cannabinoids?
NO. We have conducted extensive scientific and field testing, which validates that this
technology does not damage cannabis products in any way. It does not affect the taste, fragrance, THC, Terpenes, or Cannabinoids. See Dr Hudson tests
Q : Do you need to know the Cu Q? Is ceiling height important? Why not?
We usually do not need to worry about the height of a room and just need to know the (Length & Width) to determine the square meters of the room. The reason why we do not focus on the height is because we are placing the units above the top of the canopy and the sanitization that comes out is heavier than the air and will get pushed through the room by the fans and settle down and into the canopy.
Q: How do you place the units? In large areas with multiple units?
The DXB 100 units blow air out of the bottom of the units so place the units so that the bottom of the unit is about 60cm to 1m above the top canopy height. In large rooms we spread them out to get good even sanitization coverage coming from various locations.
The Mini unit blows air out the top of the unit, so place the units so that the top of the unit is at about the top canopy height.
Q: Where do you place the units in vertical rooms?
We use the same process in spreading the units out, but we will place most of the units above the canopy of the top rack level of plants and some of the units above the top of the canopy on the first rack level of plants.
Q: Does it work in Greenhouses? How much space can the units cover in a Greenhouse?
Yes. ProGuard works great in greenhouses, and we work with many of the largest Greenhouses in the cannabis industry with great success. The DXB 100 coverage area is 46 m2 and we provide the same coverage area in the Greenhouse as it will for an Indoor facility. But since greenhouses have such a high volume of air and there are many air exchanges, we sometimes recommend adding a few extra units.
Example: The DXB 100 covers 46 m2, if a Greenhouse is 200 m2 in size that would require 4.3 units. Since the rooms needs a more than 4 units, we would recommend adding a 5th unit to ensure we get enough sanitization in the room. If it was an Indoor grow room, you might be able to get away with just using 4 units.
Q: Should you run the units all the time or do you need to turn them off periodically?
When placed in properly sized areas, we recommend that you keep the product operating 24/7 to get continual protection for your environment. When the units are turned “off” the technology is not working and will not provide any sanitization benefit so keeping it running is the best way to maximize the efficacy of the technology.
Q: When used in small rooms, what timer settings do you recommend for the Mini?
For areas that are smaller than the size that the units are rated you can use a timer to reduce the operation time using the chart below as a recommendation.
Size Room ON interval OFF interval
a) 19 m2 or larger 24/7 -----------
b) 14 – 18 m2 – On 2 hrs; Off 2 hrs
c) 9 – 14 m2 – On 1 hr; Off 2 hrs
d) Less than 9 m2 – On 30 min ; Off 2 hrs
Q: What is the difference between the DXB 100 & Defender?
They both cover 46 m2 of space but the DXB 100 unit creates a “small & safe amount of ozone” and the Defender unit does NOT create ozone. We use a UV bulb inside of our PCO cells to help create the sanitization process and a by-product in many UV products is that it creates low level of ozone.
In cultivation areas and drying, we use DXB units (DXB 100 and DXB Mini). The production levels of ozone are safe for humans and plants when used in a properly sized room with good airflow. The sanitization will smell fresh and clean.
In areas like a Trim, Packaging, Vault, and Hallways we recommend the Defender (Defender and Defender mini). In these areas, there is usually limited airflow, and the small amount of ozone can build up and you could get a “chlorine” type smell which could be irritating for employees. In the Defender units we use a “No Ozone” UV bulb so the difference is the DXB 100 uses a UV bulb that creates a low amount of ozone a the Defender uses a “No Ozone” UV bulb so that they can be used in non-cultivation areas.
Q: Do you have “No ozone” units for the DXB Mini?
Yes. The “No Ozone” version is called Defender Mini. This version of the Mini comes with the “No Ozone” UV bulb inside and can be used for the non-cultivation areas like Hallways, Labs, Trim, Packaging & Vault rooms.
Q: Is your biggest unit the DXB 100 or do you have a bigger unit for large rooms?
For indoor rooms we usually use our DXB 100 which covers up to 500 sf or 46 m2. Lots of testing has shown that we get the best and most consistent sanitization coverage at 46 m2 and for larger areas we spread out multiple units in to get good even sanitization coverage for large rooms. This allows the sanitization to get evenly distributed throughout all areas without having gaps of unprotected spaces.
For large Greenhouses we can use the OverWatch unit which covers 225 m2. These units are a good fit for greenhouses that are 700 m2 or larger.
Q: Are there parts to maintain or replace?
Yes. Proper maintenance is critical to ensure the units work effectively
1) The Filters should be replaced about every 3 months or as needed depending on the indoor environment.
2) The PCO cell should be replaced every 12 – 15 months depending on the type of commercial/industrial settings. The PCO cell is the catalyst that creates the advanced oxidation that attacks pathogens and reduces airborne VOC’s. The maintenance is quick and easy and can be performed in minutes.
Q: Is the internal fan strong enough to send the sanitization for large grow space areas?
NO. We must use a low CFM fan in order to create the sanitization technology and blow it into the room and it is essential that the grow rooms have good air flow to distribute the sanitization throughout the room.
Q: Is the unit waterproof?
NO. It can handle high humidity and moisture but we do not want direct spray from water or other liquids as it can negatively impact the internal electronics.
Q: Does heat affect the unit?
Excessive heat can damage the unit. Do not exceed 180°F even for a short period of time, doing so can shorten the life of the capacitors in the ballast assembly.
Q: Is it safe for plant & humans?
Yes, ProGuard uses an “organic” process that is completely safe for occupied environments when used in properly sized rooms. Lab tests showed that the technology does not create undesirable or harmful chemicals and meets EPA & OSHA safety requirements. It is completely safe for humans, animals and plants.
Q: Does the unit kill all types of pathogens?
Yes. ProGuard technology has been scientifically tested and verified to kill up to 99.9% of many of the most dangerous pathogens including Covid, Staph, MRSA, E-Coli, Listeria, Strep, Candida Albicans, Black Mold & others.
Q: Do you need a licensed contractor to install?
The DXB 100 & DXB Mini wall mount units are very easy to install on your own and can be setup in minutes without a licensed contractor. They mount easily on a wall with a few screws and a bracket and plug into a 120V outlet for plug and play opera/on.
The HVAC units are installed inside of the supply air ducts and you should use a licensed electrician or contractor to setup those units
Q: Will the glow from the UV light impact my plants during the dark period?
No. the glow from the UV has been scientifically tested and it is not in the light intensity to cause herming and impact plants during the dark cycle. We also have our technology protecting more than 15 million sq feet of cannabis cultivation and have had no issues.
Q: Will the technology have a negative impact on my Living soil?
No. The sanitization technology does not penetrate water or soil and will not impact beneficial microbes in the soil.
Q: Will the technology have an impact on the beneficial sprays I use?
The ProGuard technology can impact your beneficial sprays. If you are spraying beneficials as part of your IPM we suggest turning off the ProGuard units at least an hour before you spray to allow the ProGuard technology /me to become inactive in the room before you start spraying.
Then you can turn on the ProGuard units after the beneficial sprays have had enough time to do their job.
Q: Does the technology harm beneficial insects?
No, it will not have any impact on insects.
Q: Does the technology help with mites or other predators?
No, it will not have any impact on mites or other predator insects.
Q: Does the sanitization leave a residue or any substance on the plant?
No, the ProGuard sanitization process is not a chemical and uses an organic process to create H2O2 sanitization vapor and it will not leave any residue on the plants.