MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- Efforts to eradicate infectious agents and fungi in indoor environments just got a powerful boost from Honeywell's (NYSE:HON) Triad Fiber Technology.

The Chelsea Group Ltd., headquartered near Chicago in Itasca, Ill., is working with Honeywell to develop broader indoor air quality-related commercial applications for the Triad Fiber technology. The company (www.chelsea-grp.com) specializes in strategic, technical, and marketing consulting to major corporations for enhanced positioning of products and services relating to the indoor environment.

Triad, a patented, innovative shaped fiber technology from Honeywell (www.honeywell.com), is manufactured with cross sections consisting of channels that can hold biocidal agents within air filtration media, enhancing the filter's ability to capture and kill infectious agents and fungi. These fungi include "toxic mold," which have been the focus of recent media coverage and numerous lawsuits.

"Previously, this technology was only used in aerospace and automotive applications," said Ron Rohrbach, lead scientist with Honeywell. "Now, with the help of Chelsea Group, we are expanding its applications to meet a variety of indoor air quality needs."

"Triad's unique shape not only enhances filtration, but also results in very low pressure drops, which means the heating, ventilating, and air- conditioning systems will operate more efficiently," said George Benda, Chelsea Group chairman and CEO. "The benefits include lower operating costs and lower first costs as smaller-sized equipment will be able to operate as effectively as larger capacity systems,"

In addition, this technology also has broad applications to boost the durability of carpets and other textiles, Benda said. The Triad shaped fiber has a sheath core and multifilament assemblages that strengthen the fiber and permits it to be manipulated to meet specific performance demands, he added.