Comparison Table

MERV CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Minimum efficiency reporting value, commonly known as MERV rating, is a

measurement scale designed in 1987 by the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to rate the
effectiveness of air filters.

The scale "represents a quantum leap in the precision and accuracy of air-
cleaner ratings"[1] and allows for improved health, reduced cost and energy
efficiency in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) design. For
example, a HEPA filter is often impractical in central HVAC systems due to the
large pressure drop the dense filter material causes. Experiments indicate
that less obstructive, medium-efficiency filters of MERV 7 to 13 are almost as
effective as true HEPA filters at removing allergens, with much
lower associated system and operating costs.

The scale is designed to represent the worst-case performance of a filter

when dealing with particles in the range of 0.3 to 10 micrometers. The MERV
rating is from 1 to 16. Higher MERV ratings correspond to a greater
percentage of particles captured on each pass, with a MERV 16 filter capturing
more than 95% of particles over the full range.
PRE-FILTER

Filter placed upstream of a filter with greater efficiency to ensure pre-filtration

of the particles beforehand, which will thus avoid too rapid saturation of the
filter at medium and high efficiency.

MEDIUM EFFECTIVENESS

Filtering particles of 3 μm (microns) and more at an efficiency ranging from

35% to 75%, this type of filter can have a MERV classification ranging from 8
to 12.
HIGH EFFICIENCY

Filtering particles of 0.3 μm (microns) and more at an efficiency ranging from

85% to 95%, this type of filter can have a MERV classification ranging from 13
to 14. This type of filter can be used as a pre-filter to a HEPA and ULPA filter.

HEPA

HEPA meaning High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter. This type of filter removes
at least 99.97% of airborne particles equal to or larger than 0.3 μm (microns).

ULPA

ULPA meaning "ultra low penetration air". A ULPA filter can remove at least

99.999% of dust, pollen, mold and any particle in the air equal to or greater
than 0.12 μm (microns), at a minimum.

ACTIVATED COAL

Coal that has been purified by steam heating to adsorb certain elements. In air
filtration, activated carbon filters are mainly used to filter unwanted odors in offices
and laboratories.

ULTRAVIOLET

Especially used in the hospital environment, UV light filtration releases a

quantity of energy necessary to break molecular links of micro-organisms.
When these microorganisms (microbes, germs, viruses, bacteria, molds, etc.)
pass through the UV rays of ultraviolet lamps, there is a breakdown of
molecular links, which results in cellular or genetic damage that leads directly
to the destruction of these.

EFFICIENCY

The ability of a device to remove particulate or gaseous material from a

stream of air by measuring the concentration of material upstream and
downstream of the device.

DURABILITY
Ability to retain dust in the filters with the least possible harm to the flow of
air.

RELIABILITY

Filter capacity to perform its function well thanks to a construction of superior

quality.

MICRON OR MICROMETER (ΜM)

Unit measuring the length of the international system of 10-6 meters, which
corresponds to a millionth of a meter.

BAG FILTERS

Filter whose filter layer is in the form of polyester or fiberglass bags.

PLEATED BAGS

Generally a filter consisting of a mixture of cotton and polyester or synthetic

media folded several times to increase the filtration area.

CLEANROOMS

Airtight enclosure in which the properties of the atmosphere

(temperature, hygrometry, content of particles and micro-organisms, pressure
and movement of air, etc.) are controlled.

CONTAINMENT UNITS (BAG IN / BAG OUT)

Bag In / Bag Out systems are containment units that have an option that
allows the user to include a filter replacement device using polyvinyl chloride
bags with handles. The addition of this type of bag for the replacement of
filters makes it possible to avoid any contact with hazardous materials picked
up by the filters.

GRAVIMETRIC EFFECTIVENESS TEST

Test often used to compare very low efficiency filters, such as pre-filters. This
test uses a synthetic dust that has a particle size distribution much larger than
those found outside, in the ambient air. The gravimetric efficiency is
calculated with the following formula:

GRAVIMETRIC EFFECTIVENESS = GAIN BY FILTER WEIGHT

Weight of synthetic dust emitted

In summary, if we sent 10 pounds of synthetic dust and the filter, after the
experiment, weighs 9 pounds more than the original, the filter will have an
efficiency of 90%, since it has captured 9 pounds out of 10.

D.O.P. TEST

The D.O.P. uses uniform particles of hot or cold dioctyl phthalate with a
diameter of 0.3 microns and requires a penetration analyzer. For a filter to be
classified as "HEPA", the results of the DOP test must be greater than 99.97%
on a dust of 0.3 microns.

In order to obtain a HEPA efficiency, the filtration system must be tested with
a DOP test to detect any leakage between the filter and its frame.

There is also another type of test for HEPA filters:

 PSL (Polysturene Latex Spheres)

 PAO (Polyalphaolefins)
 Emery

(Daikin)

Understanding Hepa filters

An appropriately specified Hepa filter can be used in mechanically ventilated
spaces and recirculating systems to practically remove small airborne
particulates. CIBSE Journal technical editor Tim Dwyer looks at what must
be considered when integrating them into HVAC systems

As the world returns to work, the loading of particulates in the outdoor air is rising to
pre-pandemic levels and, in many areas, is reported as already above 2019 levels.

The range of particle sizes is vast (see ‘The filtering challenge’ panel). Larger dust
particles may be readily removed from an airstream with low cost, low air pressure
drop, panel and bag filters specified to standard EN ISO 16890:2016 ‘Air filters for
general ventilation’.
However, as particles become smaller, it is more challenging to capture them while
maintaining a workable pressure drop and reasonable filter longevity. It is these
smaller particles – particularly those categorised as PM 2.5, PM 1.0 and ultrafine –
that have been identified as having significant detrimental impacts on health.

An appropriately specified and installed high efficiency particulate air (Hepa) filter
may be used in mechanically ventilated spaces
and in recirculating systems to practically remove these smaller, airborne
particulates.

Hepa filters, such as the simplified example in Figure 2, are used routinely in
laboratories and operating theatres to protect against infection from airborne virus
and bacteria and are capable of filtering ambient particulates from vehicles and
combustion processes (such as wood burning).

In CIBSE’s current Covid-19 guidance, it is noted that for poorly ventilated spaces
with a high occupancy and where it is difficult to increase outdoor ventilation rates it
may be appropriate to consider using air cleaning and disinfection devices known as
(recirculating) room air cleaners. To be effective, air cleaners need to have at least
Hepa filter efficiency (and/or potentially use germicidal UV (GUV) radiation) and to
have a substantial part of room air pass through them. 1, 2

Standards

There are several national standards for Hepa filters that have evolved over the past
80 years, however, ISO 29463 ‘High efficiency filters and filter media for removing
particles from air’ – derived from EN 1822 ‘High efficiency air filters (EPA, Hepa and
Ulpa)’ – provides the appropriate benchmark for all global applications by defining 13
different filter classes ranging from ISO 15 E to ISO 75. (The ISO was designed to
accommodate the practices of other national standards including those from the US
and Japan.)

In Europe, ISO 29463 co-exists with a revised EN 1822 standard that maintains its
own equivalent classification system for air filters so retaining the designations of
Hepa filter classes that are familiar to many – H13 and H14 – and having test
methods that are in accordance with ISO 29463 Parts 2-5.

Hepa is designated in ISO 29463 in the range ISO 35 H-ISO 45 H and sits between
efficient particulate air (EPA) and ultra-low penetration air (Ulpa) filters. A key
difference between ISO 29463 and various national standards is that, instead of
testing mass relationships or total concentrations, the assessment of filter efficiency
is based on particle counting at the most penetrating particle size (MPPS), using a
standard aerosol, which will depend on the particular filter media and construction.

MPPS identifies the worst-case size for particle capture and, by virtue of the
multimodal Hepa filtering mechanisms, smaller and larger particle sizes will be
removed with a greater effectiveness.
There is a widespread misunderstanding that particles smaller than the MPPS will
pass through the filter – this is not the case (see panel ‘Mechanisms of filtration’).

For example, micro-glass filter mediums (such as pleated borosilicate glass fibre
media) or polymeric media (mixed fibre media that can provide enhanced consistent
performance characteristics) would – as shown in the example in Figure 3 – typically
have a MPPS in the range of 0.12μm to 0.25μm. However, for larger, and smaller,
particles the capturing efficiency will rise.

Mechanisms of Hepa Filtration

Inertial impaction occurs when large particles are unable to quickly adjust to changes
in the flow stream around the fibres, so they impact with a fibre and are captured.
Interception is where a particle comes within one particle radius of a fibre and is
trapped by the fibre. Brownian motion is where very fine particles create a random
path through the media that increases the probability of the particle contacting a fibre
and being captured. There will also be an electrostatic effect as a result of the
inherent static charge as air moves across the filter media, although in most cases
this is not a dominant effect.

Figure 3: Key modes of particle capture in an example Hepa filter with a MPPS of 0.16μm (based on
diagram provided by Camfil)

So as to meet the H13 and H14 requirements, the Hepa filter must, on average,
remove at least 99.95% and 99.995% of particles respectively at the specific MPPS
for that filter (the size of the most penetrating particle is discovered in a media pre-
test prior to determining the final efficiency.)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) standard, adopted by many US-originated

products, requires a Hepa filter to remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles
specifically at 0.3μm in diameter. An example of a commercially available H14 class
Hepa filter tested to EN 1822:2019 with an airflow of 0.944m 3.s-1 has a clean overall
airside pressure drop of 250Pa to give approximately a minimum 99.995% overall
efficiency at MPPS. (The economic point for this filter to be replaced is considered to
be when air pressure drop is approximately 510Pa).

The EN1822:2019 test standard (as per part 3 of ISO 29463) requires that the Hepa
filter media to be tested as a flat sheet for MPPS before manufacture, since batches
of the same media, from the same manufacturer, can vary.

Table 1: Hepa filter classification comparison – European and global

Air filters should be tested to a recognised and current performance standard – there
are many products that use the term ‘Hepa’ without an appropriately certified test.
Hepa filters that are marketed where MPPS is simply ‘believed to be 0.3μm’ is not
appropriate for today’s Hepa applications. All UK/European Hepa filters should be
individually tested and certified to EN 1822:2019.

AHU integration

It is unusual to retrofit Hepa filters directly into an existing AHU. However, if a need
arises, it would be more likely to mount the Hepa filters into a ducted housing
downstream of the AHU.

The integrity of a ‘leak proof’, properly designed, accessible, serviceable housing for
the filter is essential as, otherwise, at least some of the airstream will bypass it.
The air pressure drop across a Hepa filter is likely to be two or three times that of a
general purpose panel filter – it is important to select Hepa with the lowest pressure
drop as well as having a long serviceable life. (For example, 50Pa added to the
pressure drop through a filter passing 1m3.s-1 will consume an additional 1.2kWh of
fan power every 24 hours that, taking fan and motor efficiency into account, will likely
cost in the order of £75 per year (at UK electricity prices).

Since Hepa filters usually have very fine pleated paper media that can be easily
clogged by coarse dust, pre-filtration is used to remove most of the larger particulate
matter and PM10s from the airstream – this will prolong the life of the Hepa and is
likely to cut the total life-cycle cost of the total filtration installation.

The specific selection of the filter pair will benefit from some modelling of individual
cases (as simple as a spreadsheet model) since it will be dependent on the
contaminant load in the air, the cost of fan power and the capital and maintenance
costs of the filters.

As a result of capital and operational cost, it is unlikely that Hepa filters will be fitted
in general HVAC AHUs in the near future, however, their selective application can
allow systems to provide safer environments when challenged with air that is
otherwise gravely contaminated with fine particulate matter.

References:

1 Covid-19 – Emerging from lockdown – safely re-occupying buildings v3, CIBSE, 19

May 2020.

2  Covid-19 Ventilation guidance v3, CIBSE, 15 July 2020. Up-to-date editions of the
CIBSE Covid guides are freely available at bit.ly/CJSep20Hepa1