Ozone Generators for California Customers (CARB Rules Explained)

California Orders Are Taken by Phone Only

California customers order by phone at 501-654-4330 (call or text, 9 AM to 5 PM Central, Monday through Friday). Before an order is placed, we first need to understand:

  1. What you want to remediate.
  2. Your options, which we explain.
  3. If we decide the machine is a good fit, expert guidance on doing the job safely and correctly.

For mold or smoke remediation, we may recommend consulting a remediation professional or an attorney instead. Our machines are for ozone shock treatment of unoccupied spaces only.

Coming 10-27: The Forever Ozone App

Forever Ozone will soon offer a phone app for our customers. Use it to help identify mold species with an AI photo scan and a mold test kit, log your mold remediation journey, learn the basics of your renter’s rights, and find remediation professionals and attorneys in your area who can help.

The app provides general information only. It does not give a definitive mold identification and is not legal advice.

Looking for an ozone generator in California? California has the strictest ozone rules in the country, and many sellers won’t sell there. Forever Ozone has been selling commercial ozone shock treatment machines for over a decade. This page explains the California (CARB) rules, which of our machines are built for ozone shock treatments, and how California orders work.

Quick Answers: Ozone Generators in California

Can I buy an ozone generator in California? Not easily. As you’ve probably figured out.

Forever Ozone machines are sold for ozone shock treatment of unoccupied spaces, a professional odor-remediation use. They are not indoor air cleaners and must never run while people or pets are present. Every buyer, anywhere, is entitled to a 30-minute consultation included with purchase (call before your unit arrives if you like) to educate you on how to do the job professionally.

How many machines do I need? Each Large Room quartz tube machine covers up to 1,000 sq ft with 8 ft ceilings. Use two for homes under 2,500 sq ft and three for homes over 2,500 sq ft. See the sizing guide.

Ozone Generators for California Customers

Forever Ozone only sells commercial ozone generators that are specifically designed for Ozone Shock Treatments. They are utilized by remediation contractors to remediate smoke damage, water damage, mold damage, crime scene cleanup, and for green pest control. Our units feature instructions on how to comply with California law, mainly by posting a “Warning: Ozone Shock Treatment in Progress” on the front door to alert any Real Estate agents, family, friends, even burglars not to enter the premises. Units for California customers also have a sticker with the following warning: For industrial use only. Use only in unoccupied spaces. Health hazard: emits ozone.

What California Law (CARB) Says About Ozone Generators

California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) regulates indoor air cleaning devices under the Air Cleaner Regulation (AB 2276, California Code of Regulations, title 17, sections 94800–94810). In short:

  • Air cleaners sold in California for use in occupied spaces must be certified by CARB and emit no more than 0.050 ppm of ozone. That’s why ozone-emitting “air purifiers” can’t be sold there.
  • Devices that are manufactured, marketed, labeled, and used solely for industrial use are exempt (section 94803). CARB’s definition of industrial use includes mold, odor, fire and smoke damage remediation services, carried out by trained personnel, provided no people are physically present, plus odor and smoke control in hotels and vehicle detailing when no people are present.
  • Exempt machines must carry the advisory “For industrial use only. Use only in unoccupied spaces. Health hazard: emits ozone.” with a graphic showing no people present, and manuals must recommend ventilating the space for at least one hour before re-occupying it.

Sources: CARB Air Cleaner Regulation and CARB compliance FAQ. CARB updated this regulation in 2020, so older quotes you may find online use outdated section numbers and label wording.

For industrial use only. Use only in unoccupied spaces. Health hazard: emits ozone.

Why Our Ozone Shock Treatment Machines Fit California Rules

Our machines are not air purifiers and are not marketed as air purifiers. They are commercial ozone shock treatment ozone generators for remediating empty spaces, used for exactly the kinds of jobs CARB’s industrial-use definition covers: mold, odor, fire and smoke damage remediation with nobody inside. They are marked with the required warnings. And every buyer is entitled to a 30-minute safety consultation, included with purchase.

Ozone isn’t for breathing; it’s a sanitizer. Like anything, there is a right and wrong way to use ozone. Used correctly, ozone is a Godsend! It’s the only thing that gets rid of the stench of rotting flesh from a rodent in a crawl space or whatever. We give professional advice on how to flush the air out after the ozone shock treatment (which creates tiny particulates) and bring in fresh air by putting a fan in the window, blowing out, opening all of the windows, and creating negative pressure to bring in new, fresh air.

Our Ozone Generators for California Ozone Shock Treatments

Commercial Shock Treatment Machines, Not Air Purifiers

In a nutshell, the reason why we can and do sell ozone generators to California is that our commercial ozone generators are not air purifiers, nor are they marketed as such! They are commercial shock treatment ozone generators used by contractors and are labeled as such. We sell them from our website only; we do not sell our commercial ozone generators on online marketplaces.

Ozone shock treatments are used in California in various industries to sanitize, clean, and remediate odors and smoke damage, treat musty mold smells, and remove the stench of decaying organic material. The smell of rotting flesh creates a funk that sticks to all surfaces, and the way to remove it is with an ozone shock treatment. We only sell industrial-strength ozone generators that emit ultra-high levels of ozone and cannot be used as air purifiers! Vendors who sell and market ozone generators as air purifiers make them look exactly like air cleaners. Ours look like a science experiment, not an air filter.

Every Forever Ozone machine comes with a sticker that states that 1) this is an industrial ozone shock treatment machine and 2) it is only to be used in unoccupied areas, as it emits high levels of ozone. Nowhere on our website or in our manual do we state that it is okay to breathe ozone or be in the area when an ozone shock treatment is being performed.

Professional Indoor Air Quality Experience

Before selling commercial shock treatment ozone generators, I was an IAQ-certified technician working for an environmental engineering firm that worked with insurance companies to deal with all kinds of indoor air quality issues, mostly mold and formaldehyde (sick home syndrome from new construction). If you can afford it, I highly recommend hiring an environmental engineering firm to test your air and a remediation company like ServPro to take care of the problem. We’ll also explain why ozone isn’t for breathing and give you a healthy respect for this strong oxidizer that, if used correctly, is a godsend.

We agree with California that ozone generators should not look like air purifiers or be marketed as air purifiers. The technology we use in our ozone generators goes back to Nikola Tesla (stainless steel mesh on the inside and outside of a quartz tube). It’s humidity-resistant and puts copious amounts of ozone into the air to remediate empty spaces of mold, odors, and smoke damage. We’re a small company that doesn’t advertise much and relies on word of mouth and happy customers to stay in business.

Safety Consultation Included With Every Purchase

Forever Ozone machines are sold for ozone shock treatment of unoccupied spaces, a professional odor-remediation use. They are not indoor air cleaners and must never run while people or pets are present. Every buyer is entitled to a 30-minute safety consultation, included with purchase.

No people, pets or plants may be inside during a treatment, and the space must be aired out thoroughly before anyone goes back in. (More on that subject during your 30-minute consult).

Why Secondhand Smoke Needs a Plan

Smoke, and secondhand smoke in particular, leaves tiny residue particles behind, and the odor settles into walls, carpet, fabric and air ducts. Running a machine alone rarely solves it. The protocol we walk through covers cleaning the surfaces first, sealing the space, running the right number of cycles and airing out completely between and after them.

What the Call Covers

  • Sizing the machine to the space
  • Prep and cleaning before treatment
  • Sealing the space
  • Posting the warning sign on the door
  • Using the timer
  • Run times for your job
  • Airing out the space
  • When it is safe to re-enter
  • Storing the machine between jobs

Who You Will Talk To

Your call is with Mike Franco, who has performed ozone shock treatments since 2010. You will also hear how our quartz tube technology holds up to ozone, how the warranty works, and how US-based support and replacement parts keep your machine running for years.

After you order, call or text 501-654-4330 (9 AM to 5 PM Central, Monday through Friday), or use the contact form and note “Safety call.” Every buyer, anywhere, can schedule a 30-minute consultation with Mike. It’s included with purchase, and it’s up to you whether to call.

How California Orders Work

  • Choose a commercial shock treatment unit from Forever Ozone sized for your space (call us if you’re not sure).
  • California orders are taken by phone only: call or text 501-654-4330, 9 AM to 5 PM Central, Monday through Friday.
  • Follow the included instructions: run ozone shock treatments only in unoccupied spaces, post a warning on the door, and air out the space for at least an hour before anyone goes back in.
  • Call us for professional advice on running your ozone shock treatment safely, included with purchase.

Ozone Generator California FAQ

How do California customers order an ozone generator?

California orders are taken by phone only, at 501-654-4330 (call or text, 9 AM to 5 PM Central, Monday through Friday), so we can first understand what you want to remediate and whether our machine is a good fit. Our machines are industrial shock treatment machines for remediating unoccupied spaces, not air purifiers.

Are ozone generators banned in California?

Ozone-emitting air purifiers for occupied spaces are effectively banned: CARB requires air cleaners sold in California to be certified and emit no more than 0.050 ppm of ozone. Machines made, marketed, labeled, and used solely for exempt industrial uses, such as mold, odor, fire and smoke damage remediation with no people present, are exempt.

What is the CARB industrial use exemption?

Section 94803 of CARB’s Air Cleaner Regulation exempts devices used solely for industrial applications. These include water treatment, food processing, and mold, odor, fire and smoke damage remediation carried out by trained personnel with no people present. Exempt devices must carry the advisory “For industrial use only. Use only in unoccupied spaces. Health hazard: emits ozone.”

Can I use an ozone generator as an air purifier in California?

No. Ozone shock treatment machines are never meant for occupied rooms. Use them only in empty spaces, then ventilate for at least one hour before re-entering.

How long does delivery take?

Standard ground delivery takes about 5–7 days, with faster options available for a fee. Ask about timing when you call.

Who can get the safety consultation?

Every buyer, from anywhere, not just California, is entitled to a 30-minute expert safety consultation with Mike, included with purchase. It’s up to you whether to call. It covers shock treatment of unoccupied spaces, such as secondhand smoke, fire and smoke odor, mold odor, vehicles, or rental turnovers. Call or text 501-654-4330, 9 AM to 5 PM Central, Monday through Friday.

Does the training mean I can run the machine with people inside?

No. Our machines are for unoccupied spaces only, with no people, pets or plants present, and the space must be aired out thoroughly before re-entry. The training covers how to do that safely; it does not change how the machine may be used.

Is an ozone generator legal to use in California?

California’s Air Resources Board exempts machines that are marketed, labeled, and used solely for industrial uses, such as mold, odor, fire, and smoke damage remediation carried out by trained personnel with no people present. The ozone machine must be marked with specific warnings so that guests who stumble upon it on a shelf do not operate it.

The information provided on this page is by Forever Ozone, which is not a law firm. So please review CARB’s air cleaner regulation and your local rules for your particular situation before purchase.

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