Ford India creates a cleaner, healthier workspace with Smart Air

Sector/Industry: Automotive Manufacturing
Region: India

Reduced PM2.5 levels by over 80% in a 4,000 m² office and showroom

Smart Air partnered with Ford India to tackle poor indoor air quality, achieving a significant reduction in harmful pollutants and creating a healthier environment for employees and customers.

The challenge: Tackling pollution in a new office space

When Ford India moved into their new 4,000 m² office and showroom in the Chimes building in Gurgaon, they were excited about the fresh start but quickly encountered a serious issue. The space, although newly renovated, was plagued by:

Outdoor particulate pollution (PM2.5): India’s urban air pollution levels frequently spiked, seeping into the office and showroom.
Off-gassing VOCs: New furniture, carpets, and fresh paint released volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor air, which led to noticeable odours and potential health risks.

Realising that these air quality challenges could jeopardise both their employees' well-being and customer experience, Ford India reached out to Smart Air India for a solution.

What did Smart Air do?

Smart Air presented Ford India with two potential solutions to combat the air quality issues:

Ford could install purifiers into the central air system: This option involved installing custom air purifiers directly into the central air system’s air handling units (AHUs). While this approach could seamlessly integrate purifiers into the infrastructure, it came with drawbacks:
- Longer manufacturing and installation time.
- Higher costs due to custom design.
- Infrastructure changes to the new office, which Ford wanted to avoid.

Ford could install plug-and-play purifiers across the office: The second option proposed using Smart Air’s Blast and Blast mini air purifiers, a ready-to-use, portable solution. These purifiers would avoid delays and costs associated with central air installation. They could also be moved easily and scaled up as needed. Ford India chose this approach for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and immediate results.

Implementation of Blast air purifiers for immediate impact

Smart Air installed 14 Blast and Blast mini air purifiers throughout the office and showroom. These purifiers were equipped with:

H13 HEPA filters to remove fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Activated carbon filters to tackle VOCs and odours effectively.

The purifiers’ plug-and-play design allowed quick installation without disrupting Ford India’s daily operations. Their portability also provided flexibility to reconfigure or add units as needed, which wouldn’t have been possible with a centralised HVAC system.

Was the result achieved?

Smart Air didn’t just promise results – they measured them. After installation, air quality tests confirmed significant improvements:

PM2.5 levels reduced by 95%: Harmful particulate matter levels dropped across the office, providing cleaner and healthier air.
VOCs reduced by 68%: The activated carbon filters effectively neutralised chemical pollutants, improving the overall air quality.
Ongoing monitoring: Smart Air’s team continues to track and optimise air quality in Ford’s Gurgaon office, ensuring the space remains safe for employees and customers.

The data demonstrated that Ford India’s investment in clean air paid off, contributing to a noticeable improvement in employee comfort and productivity while creating a better experience for visitors.

Why choose Smart Air?

Large companies and fast-growing startups like Zomato, BBC, and Auchan have chosen Smart Air over traditional brands because Smart Air is disrupting the market for clean air.

As a social enterprise and certified B Corp, Smart Air was founded on the belief that clean air should not be a luxury good. Traditional air purifier companies often inflate prices by claiming to have patented technology and hiding the simple science behind air purifiers.

Smart Air does things differently.

We publish open-source, open-method scientific tests that reveal the true cost of clean air. By sticking to the basic science, Smart Air designs purifiers that deliver more clean air than major European brands — at just a fraction of the price.