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Uniquely engineered, hygienic hand drying technology
In 2006 we launched the Dyson Airblade™, a sensor-operated touch-free hand dryer, with HEPA filtration allowing purification of the air used to dry hands. Powered by a Dyson digital motor, Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers are the fastest to dry hands hygienically with HEPA-filtered air.
Only a Dyson dries like a Dyson.
Explore: HEPA | Technology | Testing | Handwashing | Proven | Products | FAQs
Hygienic and independently proven safe¹
Touch-free. HEPA-filtered. No paper waste.
Proven to aerosolise no more than paper towels.² Without the waste.
How the independent tests worked
Our objective was to see how many aerosols were generated by Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers compared to drying with paper towels, or washing but not drying.
Independent testing was carried out by Airmid Healthgroup in a controlled environment using a sink, paper towels, and Dyson Airblade W+D, dB, V and 9kJ hand dryers. Each experiment was carried out three times with paper towels and hand dryers being used in seperate experiments.
Results proved that each Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer had no significant impact on the surrounding air. This supports previous studies that they're as hygienic as paper towels.
V Total viable counts (bacteria) samplers P Particles/aerosols samplers
Dyson further analysed the results of this work and wrote a paper, which has been peer-reviewed and published in Frontiers in Public Health. The study concluded that drying hands with jet hand dryers does not significantly increase aerosols or bacteria in air compared to walking and washing hands or drying hands with paper towels. Read the full article and study results here.
What the independent tests showed
Dyson further analysed the results of this work and wrote a paper, which has been peer-reviewed and published in Frontiers in Public Health. The study concluded that drying hands with jet hand dryers does not significantly increase aerosols or bacteria in air compared to walking and washing hands or drying hands with paper towels. Read the full article and study results here.
Proven to aerosolise no more than paper towels.² Without the waste.
Proven to have no significant impact on the surrounding air.²
What is aerosolisation?
Aerosolisation is the action of creating aerosols. Aerosols are tiny liquid or solid particles, or a mix both, suspended in a gas (e.g. air).
Their composition can vary depending on how they are formed and may include bacteria or viruses. Aerosols size can vary in size, for example they can be as small as 0.3 microns.
While larger, heavier particles tend to drop to the floor, these smaller particles are more likely to become suspended in the air – or ‘aerosolised’. Aerosols are all around us.
HEPA filters capture particles as small as 0.1 microns
All Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers use HEPA filtration to dry hands with purified air.
Tested and proven to capture 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.³ The filter can also capture bacteria and viruses.
Dry hands with HEPA-purified air, not dirty air.
Touch-free technology
Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers utilise sensor technology. Engineered for a touch-free, hygienic user experience.
These sensors are programmed to detect and automatically dry hands. So it allows users to maintain a distance between their hands and the machine.
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Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry features infra-red LED sensors to automatically detect the hands for both washing and drying. To switch between wash and dry modes.
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Dyson Airblade 9kJ features infra-red time-of-flight sensors to trigger HEPA-purified air and are designed for an optimal user experience.
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Dyson Airblade V features capacitive sensors to automatically turn the HEPA purified air on and off as hands enter the sensing zone.
Proven hygienic by independent testing
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Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to NSF International for the development of public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and environment.
The Dyson Airblade V and Dyson Airblade dB have NSF International certification.
Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to NSF International for the development of public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and environment.
The Dyson Airblade V and Dyson Airblade dB have NSF International certification.
HACCP International is a leading food safety organisation, specialising in certification of food safe services, products and equipment used within the food industry.
Dyson Airblade dB and Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry have HACCP industry certification for use in food preparation environments.
HACCP International is a leading food safety organisation, specialising in certification of food safe services, products and equipment used within the food industry.
Dyson Airblade dB and Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry have HACCP industry certification for use in food preparation environments.
A study by the University of Bradford, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology⁴ found that Airblade™ technology is as hygienic as paper towels.
However, there are practical difficulties in the supplying and disposal of paper towels that may result in the dispersal of bacteria.
A study by the University of Bradford, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology⁴ found that Airblade™ technology is as hygienic as paper towels.
However, there are practical difficulties in the supplying and disposal of paper towels that may result in the dispersal of bacteria.
Fast dry time
Thorough hand washing and drying are proven to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers have a dry time of 10-14 seconds,⁵ and help reduce bacteria on hands.
Proven in washrooms worldwide
Since the original Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer was released in 2006, they’ve been used by millions of people in washrooms around the world.
Although each machine carries a guarantee of five years, with proper maintenance they’re engineered to continue drying hands for much longer. And unlike paper towels, a Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer won't run out.
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57% of respondents stated they're washing their hands with soap and water at least 8 times a day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
57% of respondents stated they're washing their hands with soap and water at least 8 times a day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
53% of respondents would feel more comfortable using a hand dryer if they knew it was supplied by Dyson.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
53% of respondents would feel more comfortable using a hand dryer if they knew it was supplied by Dyson.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
56% of respondents more concerned about using the public washroom, selected that they would feel less concerned if touchless hand dryers with air purifying filters were fitted.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
56% of respondents more concerned about using the public washroom, selected that they would feel less concerned if touchless hand dryers with air purifying filters were fitted.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
58% of respondents selected touchless activation as one of the features to put their mind at ease when using a hand dryer.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
58% of respondents selected touchless activation as one of the features to put their mind at ease when using a hand dryer.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
47% of respondents selected "filters which clean the air used to dry your hands" as one of the features to put their mind at ease when using a hand dryer.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
47% of respondents selected "filters which clean the air used to dry your hands" as one of the features to put their mind at ease when using a hand dryer.
Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 2020⁶
Discover the Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer range
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Wash and dry at the sink
With Airblade™ technology in a tap, there’s no need for users to move to a separate drying area, so less water is dripped on the floor.
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Fast, hygienic and energy-efficient
The fastest most energy efficient HEPA-filtered hand dryer.⁷ Uses 9.1kJ of energy per dry and costs just £19 a year to run in Eco mode.
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Hygienic and compact
The Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer in nickel, has an antibacterial and antiviral additive proven to reduce proliferation of bacteria and virus⁸ on its fascia/surface material.
Frequently asked questions
A number of studies are used by the paper towel industry to support bold and inaccurate claims. In general, these studies were not conducted under conditions or scenarios that simulate real life or an actual situation that a person would reasonably experience when using a Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer. Researchers that conducted these studies were only able to achieve such a result by grossly contaminating their gloved hands with bacteria and viruses, and drying them with a Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer without washing their hands first. Conversely, research studies by the University of Bradford (UK) and by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University showed that, when used correctly, Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers actually reduced the bacteria on hands.
Dyson's new independent research into aerosolisation shows that drying hands with a Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer aerosolises no more than drying with paper towels – and that Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers are hygienic and safe to use.¹
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. To be a genuine HEPA filter, like fitted in all Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers as standard, the filter must pass test standards EN1822-5 and IEST-RP-CC001.6. Any filter which does not state it is a HEPA filter may not be proven to work to such high levels of efficiency.
Hand washing is a crucial way of reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses. Drying hands properly is an important step in that process as damp hands can spread up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands.⁹ Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers have been proven to be as hygienic in drying hands as paper towels,¹⁰ but without the environmental damage or high usage costs.¹¹
- 1 Suen et al. 2019 SR and based on bacteria in air and aerosols (0.3 to >5 microns) measured during hand drying in 28.5 m³ test chamber, in a study conducted by independent third-party laboratory.
- 2 Based on aerosolisation measured during hand drying. Testing conducted by independent third-party laboratory Airmid Healthgroup Ltd.
- 3 HEPA filter tested to EN1822-5, by an independent testing laboratory, under prescribed test conditions.
- 4 Snelling et al. (2010) JAM.
- 5 Dry time determined using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 using a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.
- 6 Global survey conducted in July 2020 across 14 countries worldwide (UK, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, US, CA, MX, CN, JP, MY, SG, AU) with 8,758 respondents in total (UK n=544), aged 18 years-old or above. Individual percentages vary per country.
- 7 Dry time and energy consumption calculated for Max mode. Dry time was determined using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1 g residual moisture.
- 8 Tested in an external lab according to ISO 22196 against E. coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia and ISO 21702 against H3N2 (influenza) virus.
- 9 D. R. PATRICK, G. FINDON and T. E. MILLER: Residual moisture determines the level of touchcontact associated bacterial transfer following hand washing, Epidemiol. Infect. (1997): 119, 319-325.
- 10 Mutters & Warnes (2019) JHI.
- 11 For calculations visit www.dyson.co.uk/calcs
