In a way, the coronavirus has been a good thing. It has forced outdated systems to improve. It tested our health systems and gave us a lot of data to learn and grow from. With the recommendation of a MERV 13 or higher, does a MERV 13 filter meet your needs? A MERV 13 filter is a step in the right direction and captures more particles than a typical MERV 8 filter.
However, it's not as good at capturing small virus-sized particles as a HEPA can. A MERV 13 will trap less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 microns in size (coronavirus is 0.1 microns). It is also difficult for many existing HVAC (HVAC) systems to adopt a MERV 13 because of the increased fan load from finer filter media, which can actually cause more harm than good and reduce airflow if your system is not designed to handle that type of filter. On average, many installations are limited to one type of MERV 8 or MERV 9 filter.
What you need to know to keep you and your building safe Can building air filtration protect me from contracting COVID-19? What filter should I use to protect people in my building from COVID-19? Why shouldn't you use the most efficient filter you can find? I know hospitals have good filtration, why don't we all use systems like these? What about ultraviolet (UV) lamps? Do they work? What about portable air filters Doesn't filtration require droplets that cause COVID-19 to be in the air? I've heard that these are large droplets, what precautions should I take when changing filters? What about ionizers, ozone generators, plasma and other air cleaning technologies? Where can I go for more information? Hospitals (and many health centers) have specially designed mechanical systems that can adapt to the levels of filtration they need. They are often based on other control systems and strategies (for example, most importantly, they have dedicated staff who operate and maintain this equipment to provide maximum benefit. What about ultraviolet (UV) lamps, do they work? HEPA filters are the most efficient for residential or commercial use, followed by MERV 13-16 filters. These handy devices come with multiple filters to trap harmful particles and remove a large amount of COVID particles from indoor air.
MERV 16 is the tallest filter you can buy, but your air conditioning system may not be able to do it. The Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) is an effectiveness scale for air filters that was developed by ASHRAE in 1987.Alternatively, you can upgrade the ventilation system itself, making it suitable for at least MERV 13 filters. As part of a comprehensive indoor air quality strategy, filtration provides an additional level of protection against many of the harmful pollutants floating in the air. One of their recommendations is to use air cleaners with at least a MERV 13 rating, or a higher HEPA rating when possible.
A HEPA filter is essentially the ultimate solution in the world of air filters and far exceeds what a MERV 13 can do. To help protect against the COVID-19 virus, ASHRAE changed its recommendation from MERV 8 filters to MERV 13+. Therefore, using a high MERV filter to purify the air of COVID-19 can undoubtedly help reduce the spread in the office environment. Follow ASHRAE indoor air quality recommendations to reduce aerosol transmission of the COVID-19 variant of Omicron.
An additional benefit of MERV 13+ filters are the points they provide for achieving Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the air filtration efficiency criteria part of the certification. Considering the threat posed by the spread of COVID-19 and other germs, upgrading a building's air filter to a HEPA is a much more effective step than just a MERV 13 considering the small size of a virus (0.06-0.12 microns); the more efficient the filter, the better. .
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