How to select the most suitable filter

If you suffer for seasonal allergies as I do, you may remember relief by entering in perfectly ventilated premises of trade centers.  Lots of manufacturers of ventilation equipment previously take more care for protection of internal components from dust and dirt and lower energy consumption than creation of high quality indoor climate. European HVAC industry association Eurovent shows initiative to change such approach. New ISO EN 16890 standard on filters also increases public awareness about filter performance.

Eurovent issued “Selection of EN ISO 16890 rated air filter classes for general ventilation applications”. It indicated the basic rules for filter selection.

New ISO EN 16890 standard classifies filters by their efficiencies according to different sizes of particle matters. Various particles can cause different negative effects on people’s health. But different sizes of particles may travel to different parts of respiratory system to cause damage.

DANGEROUS PARTICLES

The most dangerous are the smallest particles, that travel to bloodstream and lead even to cancer.

Outdoor air quality

Eurovent determines 3 types of outdoor air: ODA1, ODA2, ODA3. Depending on it different efficiency of filters is required.

ODA1

Outdoor air, which may be only temporarily dusty.

ODA2

Outdoor air with high concentrations of particular matter.

ODA3

Outdoor air with very high concentrations of particulate matter

Types of premises

Different types of premises may require different indoor air quality. Eurovent determines 5 types of premises.

SUP1

Industrial ventilation: Applications with high hygienic demands.
Examples: Hospitals, pharmaceutics, electronic and optical industry etc.

SUP2

General ventilation: Rooms with permanent occupation.
Industrial ventilation: Applications with high hygienic demands.
Examples: Kindergartens, hotels, residential buildings, offices, food and beverage production etc.

SUP3

General ventilation: Rooms with temporary occupation.
Industrial ventilation: Applications with basic hygienic demands.
Examples: Shopping centers, warehouses, washing rooms, food and beverages production with a basic hygienic demand etc.

SUP4

General ventilation: Rooms with short-term occupation.
Industrial ventilation: Applications without hygienic demands.
Examples: Storage rooms, stairways, general production areas etc.

SUP5

General ventilation: Rooms without occupation.
Industrial ventilation: Production areas of the heavy industry.
Examples: Garbage room, underground car park, welding plants, steel mill etc.

Filter selection

Depending on the outdoor air quality and indoor climate requirements Eurovent provides recommendation table for filter selection.

As usually the same ventilation unit severs to the different premises, therefore SUP2 category is the most commonly required. The most ventilation applications are in ODA2 category areas, therefore ePM1 70% filer is recommended, especially in residential applications. In separate cases ePM2.5 60% filter may be used in ODA1 territories with SUP2 requirements as well.

Some manufacturers install Coarse filter to ventilation equipment, declaring that they filter all the pollens. But pollen grains can be even smaller than 15µm therefore ePM10-ePM1 class filters is recommended for more sensitive people. In the most cases you may change filter of better filtration efficiency, due to the reason of installation of ePM10 or Coarse filters are related mostly to pricing issues or in the hunt for a better technical characteristic.

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