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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Air Filters in Data Centers

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Studies have found that data center pollution is the result of servers that overheat and cause the emissions of toxic gases

For years, data center pollution has been the source of ongoing concern by environmental experts who worry about the quality of air and the amount of energy expended inside these facilities.

The confluence of massive amounts of heat and energy, as well as the toxicity generated by machines made from silver, which has a high sulfur content makes data centers a source of outdoor and indoor pollution.

With the rise of social media companies such as Facebook, data center sizes and energy needs as well as pollution have also increased.

Because the digital age has created an insatiable need for 24/7 connectivity, communication and networking, data centers must support a much heavier load than even a decade ago.

Sources of Wasteful Energy

A recent New York Times investigation found that many data centers consume and expend a tremendous amount of energy, and many of these facilities do so in a wasteful manner.

One of the reasons is that data centers often operate at peak capacity 24-hours a day instead of being calibrated to adjust to the varying network demands during the day.

As a result, these data centers often employ backup generators to prevent blackouts, and those generators are often powered by diesel fuel, which results in a massive amount of diesel exhaust spewing from these facilities.

And you don’t have to be a trained scientist to know that the quality of outdoor air – or lack thereof – has a large effect on the quality of indoor air.

That means that as data centers continue to generate toxic emissions, the outdoor air quality suffers, and much of that air will end up circulating back into the facility, requiring an air filtration strategy to ensure the safety of employees as well as the maintenance of crucial equipment.

Other sources of wasteful energy include the commercial cooling systems that data centers require to keep their generators and their servers from overheating and triggering a power failure.

But the energy waste is also tied to air pollution as was shown in 2010, when several of Amazon’s data centers in Northern Virginia were fined for emitting diesel exhaust and failing to obtain the environmental permits to operate diesel power generators.

Indoor Contaminants

Several studies have shown that the air quality inside some data centers is compromised by gas contaminants and particulate contaminant.

Furthermore, much of the dust in data centers contains sulfur and chlorine salts that can degrade equipment such as circuit boards, which can lead to electrical shortages that can cripple an entire data center.

Paper and cardboard products often cause data center dust in the facility, and it can disrupt the effectiveness of heat sinks and cooling systems to the point where those systems have to work twice as hard to produce half as much cooling due to the airborne contaminants.

Data Centers Are Everywhere

The problem with trying to control the level of data center pollution is that these facilities are springing up at such an alarmingly fast rate that even federal regulators in the U.S. can’t keep up with where many of these centers are located.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are three million data centers in the U.S., which is about one data center for every 100 people.

In addition, U.S. data centers consume an estimated 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is a whopping two percent of all electricity use in the country.

With these kinds of numbers, it is imperative that data center owners implement an effective air filtration strategy to ensure that their facilities are contaminant-free.

Media Contact

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Monday, December 19, 2016

Hospital Air Filter News – How Hospital Design and Construction Can Help Improve Poor Hospital Air Quality

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Proper design and safeguards can help mitigate the effects of bad hospital air quality that can lead to serious health issues says Camfil Air Filters

Outdoor air pollution is a serious threat, especially in health care facilities that are supposed to be sterile and clean, so health-compromised building occupants are not jeopardized though serious infections or breathing related illnesses.

In fact, infections in hospitals have become a big problem throughout the U.S.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 600,000 people in the U.S. each year who develop infections in hospitals, and 75,000 of them will die.

That means that an astounding 12 percent of the people who develop infections during hospital stays will die, which is too high a number for facilities that are intended to save people’s lives.

And while bacteria that originate in IV lines and tubes cause many of the infections, some of the infections originate through airborne viruses and bacteria that find the ideal environment inside a hospital, and spread.

For example, C. diff, which is a virulent type of bacteria that can cause a variety of ailments, including severe diarrhea, and can live on surfaces for days.

That means that a hospital worker with C. diff on a pair of gloves who touches a curtain that separates two patients, can transfer the bacteria to that curtain.

And without proper air filtration devices, that bacteria can spread and infect people who frequent that area.

Common Contaminants Affecting Hospital Air Quality

Hospitals are unique in that infections reign wherever a person goes, and the fact that they are contained environments in which infected people are in close proximity with non-infected people, creates a cauldron in which the spread of infection is relatively quick.

Airborne contaminants fare no differently in hospitals, as they can flourish in an environment that incubates their qualities in a way that has negative consequences on good health.

Another common type of contaminant in a hospital can include mold such as Aspergillus, which results from excessive moisture and creates spores that can become airborne with the slightest disturbance.

Studies have also shown the presence of airborne viruses and fungi that are propagated by moisture and water can cling to ducts and vents, and spread throughout a hospital when cool air or heat blows through the HVAC system.

These contaminants can have a serious effect on patients who have suppressed or weakened immune systems, and who are much more susceptible to lower grade airborne bacteria and viruses that would not affect people with healthy immune systems.

How Hospital Design and Construction Can Help with Air Quality

Poor hospital air quality is usually a perfect storm of bad ventilation, inadequate HVAC systems, and a lack of proper air filtration systems to ensure that contaminants drawn from polluted outdoor air are eliminated.

Hospitals that are not built to keep airborne contaminants from escaping into other rooms may also be at a higher risk of rampant infections.

That’s why some hospitals are designing their rooms to help restrict the spread of airborne contaminants, by keeping patients isolated to one location.

Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas accomplished this goal by building an emergency room with an HVAC system that used displacement ventilation, in which air that circulates through the room flows through a return duct that has a HEPA filter that eliminates a high amount of particulates and infectious airborne organisms.

That means that the air that flows back into the room has been filtered to a high level, helping to restrict the spread of contaminants.

In addition, some hospitals are choosing to renovate with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems, which reduce energy costs, improve ventilation and contribute to a greater level of good indoor air quality.

Camfil’s Clean Air Solutions

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been committed to providing affordable and energy-efficient commercial air filtration solutions to clients throughout the U.S., with the guiding principle that clean air should be a human right.

Hospitals seeking to ensure the safety of their patients and staff can benefit from a consultation with a Camfil representative, who can offer a number of clean air solutions.

From conducting on-site tests to evaluating hospital air filters quality, to providing industrial HEPA filters, devices that create negative pressure and containment systems, Camfil is the one-stop shop for all of a hospital’s air filtration needs.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Hospital Air Filter News – How Hospital Design and Construction Can Help Improve Poor Hospital Air Quality appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Sunday, December 18, 2016

Auto Repair Shop Pollution and How Camfil Commercial Air Filters Can Help Eliminate Contaminants

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Hazardous waste creates high amounts of auto repair shop pollution that can have negative effects on health

One of the biggest sources of bad air quality is auto repair shop pollution, which is often due to a combination of hazardous wastes, chemicals and other processes that generate particulates that can be harmful, especially to people with breathing disorders.

The unique aspect of many auto repair shops is that while they are technically built outdoors, the enclosed nature of many of the work areas traps pollution triggered by these shops in a very similar way to an indoor facility.

As a result, auto shop owners must have the same urgency in establishing an effective air filtration system as the owner of a restaurant or lab, due to the threat of contaminants that can affect workers.

Factors Contributing to Auto Repair Shop Pollution

There are several factors that contribute to the poor air quality at many auto repair shops throughout the U.S.

Auto repair jobs such as changing motor oil and transmission fluid, and disassembling engine components often causes leaks and spills of chemicals that can atomize and become airborne.

In addition, any auto repair shop that does paint work on vehicles must utilize spray paint that can also have a high level of toxicity.

Auto repair technicians also use solvents for the purpose of cleaning or degreasing engine components. These solvents include trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and perchloroethylene.

All of these solvents have the capacity to transform into volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the heat and pressure that is often present in auto repair shops.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined VOCs as any compounds in liquid form that become vapor or gas, and contains oxygen, hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromide, sulfur or nitrogen.

When VOCs are released outdoors they create a smog or haze-like effect that is seen in many major cities throughout the world such as Los Angeles and Beijing.

When released indoors or in an outdoor area that is enclosed on three sides, studies have shown that VOCs can lead to difficulty breathing, headaches, fatigue, nausea, skin disorders and possible damage to organs such as the liver and kidney.

Possible Clean Air Solutions

In an effort to lower the amount of contaminants, some auto repair shop owners have implemented some clean air solutions.

One example is that some of these owners have purchased aqueous cleaning systems instead of aerosol cleaning systems to clean engine components and other car parts.

Aerosol cleaners often contain acetone, toluene, xylene, methanol and ethyl benzene, which are solvents that are potentially harmful when inhaled or when they touch a person’s skin.

Some studies have shown that ethyl benzene may cause cancer in animals, and prolonged exposure to these solvents can lead to health issues related to the nervous system, including damage to the nerves in the hands, arms, legs and feet.

Another example of clean air solutions that some auto repair shop owners have implemented is ensuring that used fluids such as old motor oil and coolant is enclosed in a secure storage area, and that floor drain openings are covered so that fumes cannot easily escape into the air.

Camfil Offers Full-Service Air Filtration

Although these clean air solutions will undoubtedly improve the air quality at auto repair shops, only a complete air filtration strategy can ensure the elimination of many of the airborne contaminants at these facilities.

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been a leader in the commercial air filter industry, guided by the principle that clean air should be a human right. Camfil offers a number of commercial air filters that are not only affordable, but also provide energy savings. Camfil’s “green” air filters are designed to reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent because they are longer lasting and require fewer change outs during the year.

Camfil’s complete line of containment systems, high temperature filters, air purifiers and air cleaners can help lower auto repair shop pollution, and improve air quality for employees as well as customers.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Auto Repair Shop Pollution and How Camfil Commercial Air Filters Can Help Eliminate Contaminants appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Friday, December 16, 2016

The Importance of Good Air Filter For Customers and Employees

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Multiple studies show that retail shop air quality can affect the health of workers and patrons, highlighting the need for an effective air filtration strategy.

It’s no secret that outdoor air pollution has a negative effect on retail shop air quality, but in order to implement an effective strategy to eliminate contaminants, shop owners must first understand the factors that cause poor indoor air quality.

Commercial spaces that are enclosed are at a higher risk of trapping indoor pollutants, which can then circulate throughout a facility and lead to health issues.

In fact, according to a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, indoor air pollution is often much worse than outdoor pollution.

“From cooking residue to paints, varnishes and fungal spores, the air we breathe indoors is often more polluted than that outside,” stated Prashant Kumar of the University of Surrey, a co-author of the study.

The problem with bad indoor air quality is that most people spend a majority of their day inside some type of enclosure, whether it is a home, a mall, an office or another commercial facility.

If the air quality in those places is actually worse than the air quality outdoors, then people with health problems such as asthma may find that their ailment worsens when they are inside.

And with so many people in large urban areas frequenting retail shops, whether standalones or in a mall, retail space air filtration is a significant factor in the amount of pollutants people are inhaling every day.

Why Retail Space Commercial Air Filters Are Important

According to the latest statistics from the National Retail Federation, about 40 million Americans work in the more than three million retail shops throughout the country.

The revenue generated from these establishments is about $2.6 trillion in total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), so it’s clear that retail has a significant impact on the U.S. economy.

But with so many workers in these places, retail shop air quality is also vital to the overall health of these employees.

This is especially true in under-developed nations that have a thriving retail sector, because the adverse health effects caused by poor indoor air quality can lead to absenteeism, a decline in productivity and even health crises.

Common Pollutants Found In Retail Shops

The volume of research on retail shop air quality has found several common pollutants present in these establishments, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM 2.5), bacteria, fungi, radon, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are gases or vapors formed from liquids or solids that have been linked to poor respiratory health.

Worse yet, the EPA has reported that VOCs in commercial facilities such as a mall or retail store are 10 times higher indoors than they are outdoors.

Retail shops that store products such as paint, paint stripper, solvents, wood preservatives, cleansers, disinfectants, pesticides, copiers, printers, correction fluid, glues, adhesives and chemicals have been associated with poor indoor air quality.

But retail shops are also vulnerable to pollutants that are brought in by patrons, including pet allergens and smoke.

To combat this problem, some retail shop owners have adopted a “Close the Door” policy that keeps all doors in their stores closed during business hours.

Several studies have shown that a closed door policy may lower the amount of PM 2.5, soot and nitrogen dioxide inside a shop.

However, without marrying this policy to an effective ventilation and air filtration system, it is doubtful that simply closing the doors to a retail shop will pay off in the long term.

Camfil’s Air Filtration Solutions

That’s why Camfil has created an entire line of air filtration devices to improve retail shop air quality. Camfil’s products are designed not merely to provide clean air solutions, but to also improve energy efficiency at a retail shop.

Camfil offers air cleaners, ventilation systems and furnace filters that can help a retail shop owner implement a full air filtration strategy. Not only are Camfil devices affordable, they are also Green-friendly, in keeping with the company’s ethos that clean air should be a human right.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post The Importance of Good Air Filter For Customers and Employees appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Friday, December 9, 2016

Study Finds High Bacterial Counts Affect Lab Air Quality

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Nigerian study on bio-lab air quality finds bacterial contamination that highlights need for effective air filtration strategy.

A study published in the Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology has found that elevated levels of bacteria compromise lab air quality at the University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

The study was conducted to measure the level of microorganisms present at the lab that could affect the health of lab workers, students and anyone who visits this facility. The study took place over five days and indoor air quality was measured at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The control measures included the number of people at the lab for each testing time, the time the air sample was taken and the duration of exposure to the lab air.

Factors that were pertinent to the study included the amount of outdoor pollutants that entered the lab, the number of people in the lab, the kinds of activities those people were engaged in, and the quality of the ventilation system at the facility.

Curiously, the study did not factor in air filtration systems, which may indicate that no such devices were present at the lab at the time the facility was tested.

Samples were collected in Petri dishes that contained sterile cultures that were exposed to the lab air at the designated testing times for 60 minutes.

Interesting Results

The study found that microbial contamination was highest during the 12 p.m. testing time, likely because more people occupied the lab during this period of time than at any other testing time. Researchers also theorized that increased activity from those present at the lab kept bacteria airborne for a longer time

The most common type of bacteria found was Aspergillus, Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Escherichia.

Dangers of Bacteria Found in Study

The bacteria found in the study should be of concern to anyone who wants to maintain good health.

Aspergillus is a type of mold that is found indoors and outdoors, which means that a majority of people throughout the world breathe in this mold on a daily basis. For those with a functioning immune system, Aspergillus doesn’t pose much of a health threat.

But for people whose immune systems are compromised, weakened or otherwise affected by an illness, inhaling Aspergillus can lead to lung infections that can easily spread through the body and cause major health problems.

Bacillus, more commonly known as Bacillus cereus, is a dangerous type of bacteria that produces toxins that can lead to severe cases of diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Some types of Bacillus contain anthracis, the main ingredient for anthrax.

Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria that can cause a variety of illnesses, including staph infections, which are fatal if not treated immediately. This bacterium is especially dangerous because it remains alive on a surface for a long time without the need of a host. It can also survive in inhospitable environments that would kill other types of bacteria.

Although the bacteria Escherichia may sound unfamiliar, most people probably know the other term for it: E. Coli.

Coli is a bacteria that grows in food and is also found in the environment. Although many strains of this bacteria are not harmful, certain strains of E. Coli can lead to urinary tract infections, breathing disorders, pneumonia and severe cases of diarrhea.

Camfil Offers Clean Air Solutions for Bio Labs

With all this grim news, it may seem as if it’s impossible to keep biological labs sterile and free of contaminants such as the bacteria that was just described, but that’s not the case.

Camfil has been an industry leader in commercial and industrial air filtration technology for more than 50 years, and can provide the clean air solutions needed to significantly improve lab air quality.

No matter what air quality standards a bio lab has to meet, Camfil offers the products necessary to eliminate bacteria, airborne molecular contaminants, particulates, and gas molecules that compromise the quality of air at these facilities.

Camfil is committed to providing air filtration devices that are affordable and energy-efficient, and the company is guided by the principle that clean air should always be a human right.

SOURCE

REFERENCE URL: http://bit.ly/2hmji3J

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Study Finds High Bacterial Counts Affect Lab Air Quality appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Sunday, December 4, 2016

Study Finds Outdoor Air Pollution Kills More Than 5 Million People Every Year, Shows Need for Industrial Air Filtration Solutions

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

(Study shows that half of pollution deaths around the world occur in China and India, points to need for air filtration to combat indoor pollution)

A recent study presented at the 2016 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), has found that as many as 5.5 million people die every year as a result of outdoor air pollution, highlighting the urgent need for industrial air filtration to clean indoor air.

What’s even more troubling is that more than half of those who die each year from outdoor air pollution live in China and India, which not coincidentally, happen to be the two fastest growing economies in the world.

“Air pollution is the fourth highest risk factor for death globally and by far the leading environmental risk factor for disease,” stated Michael Brauer, a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health in Vancouver, Canada. “Reducing air pollution is an incredibly efficient way to improve the health of a population.”

And’ as giant industrialized countries such as China and India begin to grapple with the issue of poor air quality, researchers at the AAAS meeting said that even with an effort to reduce emissions, the death toll from outdoor pollution will rise in the next 20 years.

Some Common Causes of Bad Outdoor Air

Outdoor air pollution is an intractable healthcare problem that resists easy solutions.

As large countries such as China and India continue to accelerate their industrial development, they also increase the sources of air pollution that are creating a haze of smog over their largest cities.

Researchers have pointed to industrial manufacturing, power plants, and coal-burning factories as the most common source of air pollution in urban areas.

These processes release particles into the air that are inhalable, and that can cause a number of breathing problems, including asthma.

Not surprisingly, particulate matter – also known as PM – is the most prevalent contaminant in most cities that are plagued with bad air pollution.

PM is a mix of solids and liquid drops, and includes particles such as dirt, soot, dust and smoke that can be seen with the naked eye, and other particles that are so small that only a microscope can detect their presence.

PM typically forms in the upper atmosphere, and occurs from a reaction between chemicals that include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Educational Efforts to Spread the Word About PM

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a website known as “AirNow,” which lets citizens check the Air Quality Index (AQI) every day.

The AQI is a measure of the cleanliness level of outdoor air, and also includes information about possible health effects based on the AQI level recorded that day.

In addition, the EPA has initiated a flagship Air Quality Flag Program to help schools, community organizations and air quality agencies understand how to know when outdoor air is too polluted for recreational activity.

And as part of its effort to lower air pollution, the EPA requires industrial companies to adhere to the tenets of The Clean Air Act, which sets standards for the amount of pollution that a facility can generate.

There are six common contaminants named in The Clean Air Act, including particulate matter, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.

Industrial Filtration Offers Some Answers

Outdoor air pollution has a detrimental effect on indoor air quality, which poses just as many health risks.

But unlike outdoor air pollution, which is not subject to filtration devices, indoor air quality can be improved through the use of industrial air filtration systems.

Industrial air filtration is applicable to labs, data centers, hospitals, power plants, factories and other sites where outdoor pollution creates poor indoor air.

Industrial air filtration systems can be added to ductwork that is already installed at a facility, but are also available in mobile units that can be placed in a variety of locations for optimal air cleansing.

Camfil Leads the Way

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been providing the most technologically advanced industrial air filtration systems. Camfil offers the most efficient industrial filtration systems to clients throughout the world, and has built its reputation on providing quality on a budget. Camfil operates under the guiding principle that clean air is the right of all humans no matter where they live. The company is well equipped to offer clean-air solutions to any facility that seeks to improve its indoor air quality, and the overall health of its employees.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Study Finds Outdoor Air Pollution Kills More Than 5 Million People Every Year, Shows Need for Industrial Air Filtration Solutions appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Thursday, December 1, 2016

How Indoor Air Quality is Defined and How It Affects Commercial Air Filtration Strategies

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Indoor air quality standards can help industrial consumers develop their air filtration strategies

Commercial office buildings and retail spaces are often plagued with poor indoor air quality that is the result of outdoor air pollution, which requires effective air filtration devices to eliminate contaminants.

Part of the problem is that owners of these facilities often don’t understand how air quality is measured, and what makes air quality good or bad.

And without understanding the basics of indoor air quality, it is impossible to develop an air filtration strategy that meets the unique needs of a commercial establishment.

For example, a restaurant owner will have a different set of filtration needs than the owner of a bookstore, simply because a restaurant’s cooking processes release a higher amount of particulates and odors than would be typically found in a bookstore.

Defining Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is defined as the level of contaminants in a space that can adversely affect the health of people who are confined to that area for a prolonged period of time, or people who visit that space.

But in addition to the level of contaminants, odors and particulates in the air, indoor air quality also takes into account humidity, temperature, ventilation, mold and moisture.

In the U.S., the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring that employees work in safe environments, though they have not established legal standards for the quality of air at a workspace.

However, OSHA has issued guidelines such as moderate humidity, a comfortable temperature and access to constant fresh air from outside. Of course the fresh air is a factor only if it is clean air.

In addition, OSHA recommends that those in charge of the physical operations of a commercial facility establish a means of eliminating or controlling outside pollutants from contaminating indoor air.

Common Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

The level of indoor air quality inside a commercial space is often dependent on the type of activity or process that commonly occurs at that establishment.

However, many commercial facilities have common issues that can lower the air quality.

These include:

Lack of adequate ventilation

Lack of clean, fresh outside air

Large amounts of bad outside air that is drawn indoors

Outdated HVAC systems

Moisture that leads to mold

Indoor construction introducing contaminants

Furthermore, retail spaces such as dry cleaners, must often contend with the release of chemicals due to the solvents used to clean clothing and fabrics.

Effectiveness of Air Filtration Devices

Owners of businesses who seek to improve the quality of indoor air may find that improving ventilation and sealing out outdoor air may not be sufficient. In many cases, only a comprehensive filtration strategy can eliminate the particulates that have infiltrated a commercial space.

Air filtration systems range from small models that can fit on a table, to systems that are connected to the existing ductwork.

Commercial air filters are rated by what is known as a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV).

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) established this standard in 1968 as a means of testing air filters. Although the standard has undergone modifications, the main tenets have remained consistent.

A MERV rating chart typically includes factors such as particle size efficiency, arrestance – which is the percentage of lint, dirt and hair that an air filter removes – and a filter’s capacity to hold dust.

In addition, some industrial filters are known as High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, and fall into six categories: Type A, Type B, Type D, Type E and Type F.

Type A filters, also known as industrial grade filters are commonly used in hospitals. Type B filters are Nuclear Grade and used in nuclear reactor facilities.

Type C filters are used in clean rooms; Type D filters are used in drug manufacturing facilities; Type E filters are used in hazardous material facilities and Type F filters are used in semi-conductor facilities.

Camfil’s Air Filtration Legacy

For 50 years, Camfil has offered the most advanced air filtration products to industrial consumers throughout the world. Camfil’s driving principle is providing quality at an affordable price, and the company’s guiding principle is that clean air should be a human right, not one confined solely to those who live in developed nations. Camfil provides air filtration systems that can accommodate every commercial need, whether for a restaurant, a biochemical research facility or a dry cleaning business.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post How Indoor Air Quality is Defined and How It Affects Commercial Air Filtration Strategies appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

CDC Report Finds Elevated Levels of Lead in Indoor Firing Ranges Reports Camfil

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil a Leader in Firing Range Air Filtration Offers a Solution to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Report raises alarm bells about the poor indoor air quality and the health dangers posed by firing ranges.

A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that many indoor firing ranges are contaminated with lead, which can affect customers who visit these places, as well those who work at the ranges, and shows the need for proper filtration to combat poor indoor air quality.

There are more than 16,000 indoor firing ranges in the U.S., and an estimated one million law enforcement personnel visit these ranges to practice the use of their firearms.

The CDC report examined blood lead levels (BLLs) in a group of people, which included law enforcement officers as well as people who worked in “amusement and recreation industries,” that included a larger number of firing range employees.

The BLLs from this group were elevated as compared to BLLs from people who were not exposed to lead at firing ranges, and an investigation by the Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health (WaDOSH), found that one of the main factors of elevated BLLs was the failure to properly dispose of lead-containing dust at indoor firing ranges.

WaDOSH also found that the best remedies for reducing lead exposure at indoor firing ranges were the use of lead-free bullets, an improved ventilation system, the use of wet mops and effective air pollution filters to eliminate lead particulates.

How Lead Poisoning Occurs At Firing Ranges

The study raises the question of just how elevated levels of lead appear in the blood of people who visit indoor firing ranges.

When guns loaded with lead ammunition are fired at these ranges, they release lead vapor and lead fumes as well as lead dust and other toxins.

With each bullet that someone fires, lead residue is expelled into the air, and after the empty casing is ejected, the lead residue also settles on the ground, meaning that lead is both airborne and on the surface of the ground.

Even contact with a surface that is contaminated with lead can affect health as microscopic lead elements can enter the bloodstream and cause health issues.

What’s even more troubling, however, is that lead poisoning is often not confined to the indoor firing range, as people who visit these places can carry residue on their clothes and skin to their homes or workplaces.

This can cause secondary lead contamination, which is worsened if these residences and employment areas lack good indoor air quality due to a lack of air filtration devices, or ineffective air filtration devices.

According to a 2014 Seattle Times investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has only inspected 201 of the estimated 6,000 commercial indoor and outdoor gun ranges in the U.S.

And of those 201 inspections, 86 percent were found to be in violation of lead-level standards, which calls into question how many of the other firing ranges would have similar violations.

Worse yet, there are thousands of indoor firing ranges in the U.S. that are run under the supervision of sports clubs and recreational organizations who don’t have to follow OSHA regulations, because they don’t have employees.

Exposure to lead residue can cause fatigue, nausea, severe abdominal pain, muscle weakness, vomiting, seizures, and in serious cases, organ failure.

Camfil Offers a Solution To Poor Indoor Air Quality

Indoor firing ranges must have effective air filtration systems to help remove lead and other contaminants from the air. Check out Camfil Air Filtration for Indoor Firing Ranges.

Camfil’s range of HEPA air filters are designed to meet the needs of any firing range, whether it is a small range for sports clubs members, or a large commercial indoor firing range for thousands of users. Camfil is committed to clean air solutions by offering products that remove the most dangerous pollutants and improve indoor air quality.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post CDC Report Finds Elevated Levels of Lead in Indoor Firing Ranges Reports Camfil appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Friday, November 11, 2016

Grilling Hamburgers in Fast Food Restaurants – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Emission control has become one of the new buzzwords in many fast food restaurants, as increased awareness of air quality is forcing the owners of these facilities to provide a healthy environment for customers to come and enjoy their meals.

Recent studies related to fast food cooking have found that a number of contaminants are released into the air that could compromise the health of both employees and customers, once again showing how an effective air filtration system is necessary for good health.

Fast food restaurants serve an obvious purpose: delivering food at a rapid pace that customers can consume quickly and be on their way.

But what many fast food lovers don’t ever consider is the price of cooking with such speed is often paid by the release of contaminants that can not only significantly lower the air quality, but also cause breathing illnesses.

Contaminants Created by High-Heat Cooking

Hamburgers are one of the most common and popular fast food items throughout the world. For fast food restaurant owners, burger patties are inexpensive and cook in a very short period of time, especially when placed on a super-hot griddle.

And yet a recent study in Hong Kong revealed that grilling just four hamburgers in a fast food restaurant, releases the same amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as is released from a car driven for 1,000 miles.

That’s a troubling statistic to ponder, the fact that just four small hamburgers that are grilled can emit that amount of VOCs into the air.

And that’s not even taking into account the contaminants released by fine-dining restaurants, of which there are more than 9,000 in Hong Kong alone.

These contaminants are created when elements such as oils and fats cooked at extreme high temperatures form hydrocarbons that are harmful once released into the air.

Another air quality study in New Jersey found that 16,000 restaurants are responsible for releasing as much as 2,226 tons of particulates into the air.

This number was found to exceed the amount of particulates released by all the diesel vehicles in the state, which would include commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks, buses, dump trucks and waste disposal trucks.

These heavy commercial vehicles released 1,329 tons of particulates into the air every year.

Efforts to Combat Fast Food and Restaurant Air Pollution

The health implications for fast food cooking emissions are not just troubling for those who work in these places, but for those who visit these facilities to enjoy a meal.

Many fast food restaurants are enclosed, which means that a greater amount of particulates and VOCs remain trapped indoors.

That also means that customers are inhaling these contaminants each time they stop in for lunch or dinner, and for millions of people, fast food is a daily ritual.

So what’s to be done?

Air filtration is obviously the first answer, and more fast food restaurants are beginning to incorporate an air filtration strategy as part of their operating ethos.

And in states such as California, that may soon not just be an option.

Restaurants in the Bay Area which utilize commercial grills for cooking, will soon have to purchase catalytic converters that can help lower the amount of pollutants indoors.

Camfil Air Filtration Offers Clean Air Solutions

As part of its governing principle of providing clean air as a human right, Camfil air filtration company offers the most advanced air filtration systems in the world. For more than 50 years, Camfil has built its reputation on designing state-of-the-art filters that can eliminate the tiniest particulates, and cleanse the air of noxious odors. No matter the level of high-heat cooking in a fast food restaurant, Camfil’s air filtration products can offer solutions that improve the air quality and enhance the customer-dining experience.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Grilling Hamburgers in Fast Food Restaurants – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Air Filtration Update from Camfil USA – Federal Guidelines for Cleanrooms May Help Provide a More Effective Air Filtration Strategy

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil is uniquely qualified to partner with cleanroom operators to design a strategy that takes into account all the needs of this type of facility

Cleanrooms were invented to provide a sterile environment in which high tech products are manufactured or tested, but without an effective air filtration system, contaminants can wreak havoc at these facilities.

Federal cleanroom contamination standards point to the need for air filtration systems that can eliminate particulates reports Air Filtration Company Camfil

In fact, the sterility of cleanrooms is vital toward maintaining the integrity of any scientific research.

That’s because a cleanroom that is contaminated by particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cannot present research as being valid.

A review of what these facilities are, and the federal standards regarding the permissible amount of contamination, is vital in understanding how cleanrooms can be compromised by poor air quality, and how air filtration provides a solution.

Purpose of a Cleanroom

Cleanrooms are built in different sizes and configurations depending on the research that will be conducted.

They are often found in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and optics.

The main purpose of a cleanroom is to have a confined space where air quality is as good as possible, which includes controlling variables such as humidity, temperature and air pressure.

One of the primary ways to maintain optimal air quality in a cleanroom is to establish entrance and exit protocols that help control the amount of contamination in the cleanroom.

For example, workers in these facilities are often asked to enter through special openings, and must wear protective clothing that prevents skin-borne contaminants from compromising the air quality in the cleanroom.

Some cleanrooms that are used for live-culture research require personnel to wear breathing masks and layered protective suits to ensure that no contaminants can mix with the molecules involved in the research.

This would be applicable to cleanrooms that are involved in genetic testing, as an example.

Cleanroom Federal Classifications

The U.S. government has established federal standards to classify cleanrooms.

Initially, the government used Federal Standard 209E, but ISO 14644-1, an international standard, replaced that standard.

These guidelines are based on the number of particles in the air that are equal to or greater than the baseline of 0.5 micron in one cubic meter of air.

In the ISO standard, the most sterile cleanroom is designated as a class 1, and the least sterile cleanroom is designated as a class 9.

For example, a cleanroom with 35,200,000 particles per cubic meter would be receive a class 9 designation.

Furthermore, cleanroom facility operators are required to conduct particle count tests, air pressure differenential tests and airflow tests every 12 months.

Optional testing includes installed filter leakage tests and containment leakage tests every 24 months.

Importance of Air-Change Rate

One of the most important factors affecting air quality in a cleanroom is the air-change rate (ACR).

The ACR is the number of times in a 60-minute period that filtered air is recirculated within the cleanroom.

Cleanroom ACR is dependent on factors such as size and usage, so it can range from 10 to 600 times in a 60-minute period.

Air Filtration Strategy

It’s obvious that a cleanroom must remain as free of contaminants as possible to maintain research integrity.

Operators of these facilities must understand the importance of filtered air that flows from the cleanest areas of a cleanroom to the least clean areas, to increase the elimination of all contaminants.

In addition, airflow uniformity is vital in cleaning pockets of air where particulates may have accumulated in greater amounts.

Airflow uniformity refers to the consistent flow of filtered air in one direction, typically in a vertical flow.

Camfil Offers Effective Air Filtration Solutions

With 50 years experience in the air filtration industry, Camfil is uniquely qualified to partner with cleanroom operators to design a strategy that takes into account all the needs of this type of facility. Camfil’s advanced air filtration systems are constantly undergoing upgrades, and the company’s guiding philosophy is that clean air is a human right, not a privilege. In the furtherance of this philosophy, Camfil is committed to offering the highest quality products at the most affordable prices.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Air Filtration Update from Camfil USA – Federal Guidelines for Cleanrooms May Help Provide a More Effective Air Filtration Strategy appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Data Center Air Filtration – Pollution Increases Operating Costs, Highlights Need for Effective Air Filtration

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil Offers Data centers air filtration solutions for effective air filtration strategy

With worsening air pollution throughout the world, many data centers in urban areas are experiencing an increase in mechanical failures due to poor air quality, showcasing the need for an effective air filtration system.

Air pollution has become a major problem in many industrialized countries, including world cities such as Beijing, Los Angeles, Tokyo and New York, just to name a few.

These cities have struggled with pollution caused by traffic congestion, manufacturing and other processes that emit contaminants into the air.

And many of these cities feature massive data centers with large networked computers that store a company’s IT systems and equipment, vital to daily operations.

But as air pollution gets worse, the quality of air inside a data center is compromised, and that can have an adverse effect on a company’s bottom line in several ways.

Corrosive Effect of Contaminants

To remain operational, data centers must be cooled to a specific temperature, and the physical equipment must be protected from the elements to avoid costly breakdowns.

The most pressing threat to the sustainability of a data center is the corrosion of electronic components, which can directly lead to a mechanical or system failure.

Pollutants that are drawn in from the outside through ventilation systems and through doorways that open when employees enter or depart the facility typically cause this corrosion.

Although a variety of noxious gases can lead to corrosion, the most common contaminants that infiltrate a data center are sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, also known as PM.

In cities such as Beijing, the exhaust from cars, coal power plant emissions, and fires creates particulate matter, which all contribute toward the thick haze that often clogs the Chinese capital.

Heavy pollution in Beijing has led to illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments that is burdening the health care system.

And these contaminants can also break down computer circuitry as well as metal, and they can also cause malfunctions in the flow of electricity, which can lead to blackouts, or burn out the electronic componets in a data center due to electricity flowing through the wrong circuit.

One little-known fact about air pollution is that it accelerates the accumulation of salt in the air.

Salt is a main generator of corrosion, which is why poor outside air quality can cause problems in the deterioration of electronic components in data centers.

Common Data Center Malfunctions Due to Contaminants

Because data centers are built to rely on components working together at the same time, any disruption of one function will have negative consequences on the entire system.

One of the biggest problems with poor air quality in data centers is the fact that indoor pollutants can compromise the cooling system. This either means that the cooling system breaks down, or that more power is required to generate cooling air to keep the components funtioning.

Furthermore, the salt and sulfur inside these data centers can corrode key electrical components and that can cause electrical shortages, discharges and physical deterioration of equipment.

Air Filtration Is a Must

Any company that owns a data center must act preemptively to negate the effects of poor indoor air quality with an effective air filtration system.

Systems that provide real-time monitoring are often recommended to ensure that the air filtration devices are working at optimal efficiency. Filters can clean the air inside data centers, and also pressurize the air to block external pollutants from entering the facility.

Camfil Offers Time-Tested Solutions

As an industry leader for more than 50 years, Camfil offers data center air filtration systems that are constantly being upgraded to meet the changing needs of its consumers. Camfil understands that the biggest health challenge of the new millennium is the lack of clean air throughout the world, especially in underdeveloped nations.

That’s why Camfil is committed to offering advanced air filtration systems that are affordable, because clean air should be a human right. More information http://bit.ly/1ObCTJT

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Data Center Air Filtration – Pollution Increases Operating Costs, Highlights Need for Effective Air Filtration appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

How Hospital Air Filtration Can Combat the Three Causes of Poor Air Quality Inside Hospitals

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Air filtration may hold the key to alleviating the problem of poor air quality in many hospitals

Despite the fact that hospitals are meant to be places of healing and wellness, multiple studies have shown that the air quality inside many healthcare facilities is poor, which may require hospital administrators to implement an air filtration strategy to combat the problem.

Read our latest blog: http://bit.ly/2fQA23b

The very purpose of a hospital necessitates that it maintain a high level of cleanliness to promote the healing of patients, especially those in critical care units. But until hospital administrators and hospital staff understand the causes of poor air quality, they will not be able to address this issue and purchase the air filtration system that best matches their needs.

With that in mind, the following three causes have been commonly identified as major contributing factors to poor air quality inside hospitals:

Patients

Patients at healthcare facilities are there for a variety of reasons, but they can also be one of the main reasons that the air quality is less than ideal. Sick patients – especially those who have contracted respiratory diseases – are often stricken with coughs, which can contaminate the air and surfaces within a hospital room or lab. This contamination can adversely affect the indoor air quality, but it doesn’t just stop there.

Some patients who have open wounds or infections can transfer viruses and bacteria from their bodies onto surfaces such as bedpans, mugs, plates and silverware. They can also contaminate drapes, curtains, shutters, clothing and bedding, and once these materials are disturbed, those contaminants become airborne.

Hospital Construction

Many public hospitals in large urban areas were constructed in years ago, when the innovations in ducts and vents were not as highly advanced as they have become in modern times. As a result, the air that is drawn into the hospital may not be properly filtered through ductwork that has not been updated in several decades. That means that common pollutants such as dust mites, dirt, pollen and airborne bacteria more readily circulates through the vents in the hospital.

And that’s not even taking into account, ductwork and pipes that may be the source of leaks over a long period of time. Moisture is a particular problem in ductwork, because it often leads to problems such as mold and spores that can grow into a major health issue, beyond just compromised air quality.

External Air Quality

Much of the air that circulates through a hospital is drawn in from the outside. That means that indoor air quality in many health facilities is largely dependent on the quality of the outside air. This was never more evident that in a December 2015 incident at Beijing’s Children’s Hospital, in which the pollution index inside one of the wards climbed to 440, which is 20 times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The poor air quality inside the hospital was a direct result of a red-alert air pollution event in which the city was forced to close schools and factories because heavy smog led to an astounding pollution index of 900.

Poor indoor air quality in a hospital that results from adverse conditions outside, can compromise the health of patients who trust that health care facilities are a safe haven from anything that could make their symptoms worse.

The Need for Air Filtration in Hospitals

There’s an unwritten covenant that patients make when they visit a hospital for treatment: “Don’t do anything to make me worse.” And yet, many hospitals throughout the world violate that covenant with air quality that poses a significant threat to the well-being of patients.

Air filtration is not a luxury in these instances, it’s an absolute necessity. Hospitals must be the last bastion of cleanliness and health, a goal that is not achievable without a filtration system that is effective at removing even the smallest pollutants from the air.

Camfil Meets That Need

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of air filtration systems that are innovative, functional and health affirming. Camfil places a high value on the efficiency of its products, and through rigid testing, has developed solutions to the most complex clean-air problems facing the world. But that efficiency has not come at the expense of affordability, which is why no other hospital HVAC air filtration company can match the value that Camfil offers.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post How Hospital Air Filtration Can Combat the Three Causes of Poor Air Quality Inside Hospitals appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Study Shows Outdoor Pollution Worsens Air Quality in Fertility Labs, Highlighting Need for Efficient Air Filtration Systems

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Study finds that low air quality in fertility labs could affect the health of embryos, highlighting the need for effective air filtration systems to combat volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Without effective air filtration, pollution throughout the world will continue to get worse, and the consequences will include a variety of illnesses that stress health care systems – especially in underdeveloped countries – and increased costs to clean dirty air. Read what must be done to tackle the air pollution problem. http://bit.ly/2fcFyf8

Air pollution is a pressing issue in many of the world’s largest cities, which are often plagued with traffic congestion, overpopulation, and industrial production. Watch Videos

http://bit.ly/2f2pw4i

The hidden costs of pollution often go undetected until scientific studies identify correlations between poor indoor air quality, its effect on breathing and resulting lung illnesses.

That’s been true for cities such as Beijing and Los Angeles, which have been struggling with lowering emissions for years, even before citizens began to exhibit health issues associated with contaminants in the air.

What’s even more troubling is that laboratories, which are supposed to be sterile environments for research and learning, are also becoming contaminated by particle pollution, which may compromise test results conducted in these facilities.

A recent study found that this danger is even more prevalent in fertilization labs, which are designed to help create new life.

Association Between Air Quality and Embryo Development

The study, which was published in the Asian Journal of Andrology, confirmed what other studies and research have found, namely that poor air quality inside a fertility lab damages embryo development, and lowers implantation and pregnancy rates.

That’s because adverse airborne particulates drawn from polluted outside air, can infiltrate these labs, and chemically react with cellular development within these embryos.

While these studies are careful not to claim a direct causation, the findings do indicate that optimal reproductive success in a fertilization lab is not possible when the air quality in that lab is contaminated.

Types of Contaminants Found in Fertilization Labs

The study also found that the most common type of contaminant of concern in these labs were volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified VOCs as gases that are emitted from solids and liquid that can cause adverse health.

These organic compounds are derived from chemicals that are often found in common household goods such as wax; varnish; paint; cleansers; disinfectants; air fresheners; pesticides; wood preservatives; copiers; printers; correction fluid; glues and permanent markers.

So clearly, there are many sources of VOCs in fertilization labs that are not only drawn from outside air, but are also created within the lab itself.

In fact, the EPA has estimated that VOC levels are two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.

Which Air Filtration Is Most Effective?

In many fertility labs, particulate filtration may be insufficient to ensure the sterility of the environment. This often means that particle filtration must be combined with VOC filtration when selecting air filtration systems.

Making things even more challenging is that operational managers at these labs must take into account other factors that affect the air quality in these facilities.

For example, the size of a lab, the type of equipment used in the lab; the construction material used to build the lab; room temperature; room humidity; disposable materials used in the lab; and solvents used to clean the lab all have an effect on the air quality.

Without understanding how these factors all contribute to worsening indoor air quality, it is nearly impossible to implement a successful air filtration strategy.

Camfil Has the Solutions

As a company that has dedicated itself to providing the highest state-of-the-art air filtration systems, Camfil offers affordable solutions for the unique needs of every type of business. Camfil stands on more than 50 years of experience with the belief that clean air is not a privilege, but a right for every human being in the world.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com