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Hygienic and independently proven safe1

Touch-free. HEPA-filtered.
No paper waste.

Proven to aerosolise no more than paper towels.2
Proven to have no significant impact on the surrounding air.2

Dyson Airblade hand dryers being tested for aerosolisation

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
Diagram of Dyson Airblade hand dryers in Airmid testing lab

What the independent tests showed

  • 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 of 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 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.

Image representing hair and other smaller particles

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.

  • Sensor technology on Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer

    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.

  • Sensor technology on Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer

    Dyson Airblade 9kJ features infra-red time-of-flight sensors to trigger HEPA-purified air and are designed for an optimal user experience.

  • Sensor technology on Dyson Airblade V hand dryer

    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

NSF International

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 hand dryers have NSF certification. NSF logo

HACCP International

HACCP International is a leading food safety organisation, specialising in certification of food safe services, products and equipment used within the food industry.
Products that are certified by HACCP International have been independently assessed and are food-safe. Meeting the high standards of their retail customers, hotels, hospitals and caterers.
Dyson Airblade dB and Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryers are certified for use in food preparation environments in accordance with the requirements of HACCP International's Food Safety Certification Systems.HACCP International logo

University of Bradford

A study by the University of Bradford, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology5 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.University of Bradford logo

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.

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 20207

Washing hands with soap

53% 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 20207

Drying hands with Dyson Airblade™ 9kJ hand dryer

56% of respondents would feel more comfortable using a hand dryer if they knew it was supplied by Dyson.

Dyson Global washroom attitudes survey 20207

Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers product range: Airblade 9kJ, Airblade V and Airblade Wash+Dry

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 20207

Drying hands at the Dyson Airblade™ Wash+Dry hand dryer

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 20207

HEPA filtration Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer

Discover the Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer range

  • Washing hands under Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer

    Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer motif

    Antibacterial surface

    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.

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  • Washing hands underneath the Dyson Airblade™ Wash+Dry hand dryer

    Dyson Airblade™ Wash+Dry hand dryer motif

    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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  • Drying hands underneath Dyson Airblade™ 9kJ hand dryer

    Dyson Airblade™ 9kJ hand dryer motif

    Curved Blade™ design

    Two 0.45 mm curved apertures create 624 km/h sheets of air that follow the contours of your hands, removing water, in less time.

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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 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 independently proven safe.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 towel,10 but without the environmental damage or high usage costs.11

Explore the Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer range

Learn more
Hands being dried under Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry tap

Why choose Dyson for business

1. Suen et al. 2019 SR and based on bacteria in air and aerosols (0.3 to >5 microns) measured during hand drying in 28m³ 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. Tested by an independent laboratory, under prescribed test conditions, using the bacteria Brevundimonas diminuta and the virus MS-2 coliphage.
5. Snelling et al. (2010) JAM.
6. Dry time determined using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.
7. 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 8758 respondents in total, aged 18 years-old or above. Individual percentages vary per country.
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. Patrick et al. (1997) EI.
10. Mutters & Warnes (2019) JHI
11. For calculations visit www.dyson.co.nz/calcs