From now on, non-smokers will be able to have unrestricted communication with their smoking colleagues without being exposed to passive smoking or odour problems. So says the manufacturer of a special smoking station, Smoke Free Systems AB, which already has its first 1 000 units in use in Swedish work places. Up to six people are able to smoke at the same time without their fumes spreading or polluting the indoor environment. All it takes is an electrical socket, two square metres of floor space and normal general ventilation to eliminate tobacco smoke and its odours in the work environment.

"Smoking is a problem at work that many companies find difficult to solve. So far there has not been a good way to combine the smoking population's right to smoke with their colleagues' wish to avoid being exposed to irritating smoke and odours.
That's why we have developed the smoking station, which makes it possible to meet completely free of smoke and smell, even if someone is smoking," says Stina Treven, the company's Marketing Manager.
"With this design we also hope to be able to meet the wishes of many companies to invest in alternative office solutions, such as having open-plan working."

Advanced technology
Technically, the company's smoke stations are based on a two-stage principle. In the first stage tobacco smoke is immediately captured in an active extraction zone. The second stage removes particles and gases via several filters.
In spite of the station having an open front, it is claimed that no smoke odours emerge into the surroundings to cling to such materials as furniture, curtains, clothes or hair. The design can also be adapted to fit in to a specific work place as part of the fittings, so as to blend in with different surroundings, the manufacturer claims.

Well tested
The first generation of smoking stations was launched some years ago and has been well tested by several Swedish companies. The international launch is now under way, also including a new and larger model with room for more smokers and with a greater extraction performance.

Even handles elusive particles
The level of purification is said to be 99.9995% for the most penetrating particle size, MPPS. This applies to what is considered the most dangerous particle size for lungs, at about 0.2 µm. The purification level for gases in smoke is stated as being 99.5%.

Captions
Illustration 1: In a smoking station the smoke is captured in an active extraction zone and cleaned by a comprehensive filtering system. The installation only requires a normal electrical socket, about two square metres of floor space and standard ventilation. The simple design permits a wide variety of possible locations and makes it easy to move the station when necessary.

Illustration 2. The smoke station is open at the front and is manufactured in different materials and styles. People outside the station can communicate with the smokers without being exposed to passive smoking or irritating odours, maintains the Swedish manufacturer, Smoke Free Systems AB.

For further information please contact:
SmokeFree Systems AB
Stina Treven
Box 4217, SE-102 65 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel +46 8 55697900, fax + 46 8 55697939
E-mail: stina.treven@smokefreesystems.se
Home page: www.smokefreesystems.se