Clean Air Solutions

Major Retailer Recognizes Staying Loyal to the More Expensive

Prefilter Continues to Offer Them Substantial Annual Savings

SOURCES

http://bit.ly/2kYSc00

http://bit.ly/2kLmU1o

http://bit.ly/2kYXBE5

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Camfil Announces That the New ISO 16890 Standard Is a Game-Changer for the Air Filtration Industry

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

ISO 16890 Ensures That Air Filtration Efficiency Standards Will Be Uniform Throughout the World

Stockholm, Sweden – January 31, 2017: Camfil is pleased to announce that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has introduced a new standard that changes existing testing and classification standards for all air commercial air filters used in general ventilation systems. This represents a revolution in the air filtration industry, as for the first time in many years; air filtration efficiency standards will be uniformly applied throughout the world.

“The reference for this new standard is ISO 16890,” stated Chris Ecob, Camfil’s Technical Director. “Of great significance is the fact that this standard has global applicability. And as if to reinforce that point, the decision-making was 100 percent voted positive by all countries around the world. Until now, there was no such global standard. In America, the ASHRAE 52.2 standard dominated, in Europe the EN 779 was dominant, and in Asia and the Middle East both standards dominated side by side.”

The ISO 16890 standard went into effect on December 1, 2016 and established new efficiency guidelines that replaced the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) standard as well as the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) standard. With different standards in effect, it was sometimes confusing for commercial air filter consumers to understand how to compare air filter efficiency rates in different countries.

“The new standard has some important benefits for specifiers and users of air filters together with the global air filter manufacturing industry,” added Ecob. “The standard is globally applicable and also invalidates attempts to compare results between existing standards. The standard will provide a level playing field for the air filter manufacturing industry. It will be easier to compare products on a level basis and make proper comparisons. In my opinion, this will serve to drive innovation and customer benefit. And at the other end of the scale, I believe it will serve to eliminate in the marketplace some of the low-performing products which probably shouldn’t be there.”

One of the biggest changes with the new ISO 16890 standard is that it requires air filter efficiency to be measured against fine particles that are sized at less than one micron. The standard requires that testing for fine particles be conducted when the air filter is new, and also repeated when any electrostatic charge on the filter has been removed or dissipated. The reason for the second test is that the presence of an electrostatic charge can artificially enhance air filter performance during testing in a laboratory. The second test ensures an accurate measurement of the air filter’s ability to eliminate the fine particles, which are most harmful to human health.

To learn more about the benefits of the new ISO 16890 standard, please read the blog published by Camfil, ISO 16890 Take a Breath Clean Air Is a Human Right.

About

Camfil is the world leader in air filtration and clean air solutions, with 23 production plants and R&D centers in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, visit us online at www.camfil.us or call us toll-free at 888.599.6620.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Friday, February 17, 2017

The New Standard That Changes the Game in Air Filtration

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

The new commercial air filtration standard, ISO 16890 has revolutionized the air filtration industry by establishing worldwide efficiency standards for air filters.

For years, commercial air filtration companies were hamstrung by the fact that efficiency standards were not uniform, which made it difficult for consumers to properly compare the worth of air filters on the market. But that has all changed with the implementation of ISO 16890, which brings all commercial air filters under one standard throughout the world.

“The introduction of the new standard, ISO 16890 is a true game-changer for the commercial air filtration industry,” stated Chris Ecob, Global Business Manager for Molecular Filtration for Camfil. “Of great significance is the fact that this standard has global applicability. And as if to reinforce that point, the decision-making was 100 percent voted positive by all countries around the world. Until now, there was no such global standard. In America, the ASHRAE 52.2 standard dominated, in Europe the EN 779 was dominant, and in Asia and the Middle East both standards dominated side by side.”

On the face of it, a new standard for the air filtration industry wouldn’t seem to represent such a big deal, but the truth is that ISO 16890 will provide some real benefits for consumers of commercial air filters.

To better define that point, here are three reasons that the standard will change the commercial air filtration industry for the better.

One Uniform Standard

ISO 16890 will impact the different standards used in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

For example, ASHRAE 52.2 was the standard used in the U.S., but in Europe, EN779:2012 was the dominant standard, and on other continents, a combination of the two was in effect.

These standards utilized what is known as a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV), which assigned efficiency based on the number of dust particles and pollutants that a filter trapped.

The new standard now establishes one uniform standard throughout the world and may eventually supersede the various current standards.

This will enable consumers to make valid comparisons between air filtration products, and will also help to drive sub-standard air filters out of the market.

Tests for More Dangerous Pollutants

One of the weaknesses of the current air filtration efficiency standards is that they did not test for particulates that were smaller than three microns.

Per a piece titled, Why ISO 16890 is the Future for HVAC Filters, air filtration and purification application specialist Ben Klawitter writes that the old standards simply didn’t test for the particulates that were most harmful to human beings.

“MERV relies heavily on particles larger than three microns,” Klawitter writes. “These particles are less than 0.20 percent of all particles in the air. Also, the particle size of ASHRAE dust which is used to determine dust holding capacity is 100 times larger than the average particle size found in ambient air, which renders a dust holding capacity test mostly useless.”

The new standard will focus heavily on how well air filters can eliminate the tiniest particles, which have been identified as the most hazardous to human health.

Creates Particulate Classes

One of the other big changes with ISO 16890 is that is creates four classes or divisions of particulates against which all commercial air filters will be tested: PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and ISO coarse, which refers to particulates such as sand and hair.

And per the article, Air Filtration in Transition: A New Test Standard is Coming, published in Filtration News, the World Health Organization (WHO) has used particulate sizes when calculating air quality, and now the air filtration industry will follow suit.

Air filters will have to show a minimum efficiency rating of 50 percent for each particulate class.

The old standard did not address the real working conditions of air filters when it came to smaller particles, but that has now been addressed.

The PM1 Problem

So the question is this: Why is this new class of particulates so important?

Because particulates such as PM1, which include the smallest particles, that have long been identified as posing a threat to human health.

A recent article in China Daily by Wang Hongyi titled, Study Shows PM1 Air Pollution Is Most Harmful, found that the air in major cities such as Shanghai is compromised by the presence of PM1.

But the issue in many Chinese cities beset with pollution is that officials are intent on measuring larger particulates such as PM 2.5, while neglecting the smaller PM1, which is more dangerous.

“Among the conclusions of the research,” Wang wrote, “is that the smaller the particle size, the more danger the pollution poses to public health, suggesting that more research is needed on PM1 pollution – particles of 1 micron or less in diameter.”

Camfil Welcomes the New Standard

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been the industry leader in commercial air filtration, and with that leadership comes a desire to ensure that efficiency standards continue to evolve.

The ISO 16890 is the next step in air filtration standards, and as such, Camfil welcomes the opportunity it presents to ensure the highest quality products in the commercial filtration industry.

To learn more about the benefits of the new ISO 16890 standard, please visit our blog.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

SOURCES

http://bit.ly/2lXaSiy

http://bit.ly/2lsUjgn

http://bit.ly/2lXaGzs

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

Causes of Air Pollution and How to Prevent Lackluster Air Quality in Your Commercial Space

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

The biggest mistakes most people make when it comes to air pollution is thinking their business is immune to air quality problems

As a business owner, you will have to do all you can to ensure your customers and employees stay safe. Air pollution is something you probably don’t think about on a regular basis. Neglecting to consider the quality of the air in your commercial building can cause serious health issues for anyone who breathes in this air. There are a variety of things that can lead to the air in a commercial space being polluted. It is your job to work with professionals in the air purification industry to figure out what can be done to keep the quality of the oxygen in your building at peak condition.

If your business works with chemicals in confined quarters, then the quality of the air in your workspace can be compromised. Even something as simple as not changing out the air filter for your commercial HVAC system can lead to pollen and other allergens making their way into your air supply. Read below to find out about air pollution, what causes it and what you can do to reduce the amount of harmful allergens and chemicals in the air supply at your place of business.

Symptoms You May Notice When Dealing with Air Pollution

The main thing you need to be concerned with when trying to combat air pollution is the warning signs indicating there is a problem. By learning these warning signs, you will be able to take action when a problem is discovered. Below are some of the symptoms you may notice when an air pollution problem is brewing in your commercial building.

Constant wheezing
Repeated sneezing
Frequents congestion issues
Extreme fatigue
Watery or dry eyes
Itching skin

The fact is that the human body needs quality oxygen to operate as intended. Rather than ignoring these types of warning signs, you will need to figure out what needs to happen to rid the air supply in your commercial business of pollutants.

Air Pollutants Are a Lot More Common Than You Think

Among the biggest mistakes most people make when it comes to air pollution is thinking their business is immune to air quality problems. Most people have this idea that air pollution is reserved for large cities covered in smog. The fact of the matter is many of the products used by a small business on a regular day contain a variety of pollutants. There are a number of common products and substances that can cause air pollution like:

Chemicals used to clean a commercial building
Various types of mold
Air fresheners
Perfumes and deodorants
Pest control chemicals
Asbestos and formaldehyde
Bacteria and viruses

As you can see, the substances that can cause air pollution are a lot more common than you think. Reducing or eliminating these products or substances from your workplace is the first step in reducing the chance of air pollution.

How to Keep the Air in Your Building Clean

Now that you know the hazards that exist in regards to air pollution, you are ready to learn about how to combat these air quality problems. The first line of defense you have when trying to fight air pollution are the various air filters you have in place. As the professionals at Camfil say, “Air filters are physically simple but technically complex devices.” Here is some information about a few of the different types of air filters and the benefits they can offer.

HEPA Filters- Among the most common and effective type of air filter out there is the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. These types of filters are designed remove more than 99% of the pollen, mold and bacteria that make their way into a building’s air supply. There are also ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filters on the market designed to remove 99.9995% of the pollutants that make their way into the air supply in a building.

HVAC Filters- These are filters that have particle removal efficiencies consistent with guidelines as published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). They can be very effective at removing common dusts, molds, bacteria, allergens and other contaminants that present health hazards to building occupants.

Carbon Filters- If your company deals with a lot of harmful gases and aerosol pollutants, then a carbon filter is what you need. Generally, these types of filters are added in with the HVAC filters to enhance the effectiveness they have. Trying to use these types of filters to remove particle type pollutants will be ineffective, which is why using them in conjunction with a other types of filters is wise.

If you are in need of quality air filters for your business, then call on the team at Camfil for help. When contacting us, you will be able to get guidance on what type of filters can best meet your needs.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Causes of Air Pollution and How to Prevent Lackluster Air Quality in Your Commercial Space appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Monday, February 6, 2017

Air Filtration for Museums – Why Air Quality in Museums is a Big Deal says Camfil

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

High end HVAC systems for museums are vital to the health of museum workers and visitors as well as crucial to the preservation of millions of dollars in artifacts and collections.

When you enter a museum, you often feel as if you’ve entered a different world, but unfortunately the air quality in museums is not always at a good level for human health and for the preservation of priceless artifacts. But there are several reasons why the indoor air quality in a museum is not just a matter of proper ventilation, because when other air quality control factors are not considered there are some real-life consequences.

“Museums have a unique and important place in our culture,” stated CAMFIL NAME and POSITION. “But without a comprehensive air filtration strategy, museums run the risk of harmful pollutants that can cause damage to artifacts and priceless collections. And that’s not to mention the effect that these particulates can have on the health of museum workers as well as people who visit the museums.”

Per an article titled, Managing the Museum Environment on the Chicora Foundation website:

“Managing the museum environment can be difficult since it requires expertise and time. It also requires the efforts of all your staff as well as the cooperation of the public. But a controlled environment can be achieved, even by small institutions with limited resources.”

The truth is that no matter the size of a museum, the people in charge of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must first be aware of the importance of maintaining proper indoor quality before they can implement an air filtration strategy necessary for success.

With that in mind, here are several reasons why air quality in museums is of such vital importance.

Preserves Valuable Artifacts and Collections

The very existence of a museum is to preserve and protect historical items that would otherwise be lost or destroyed in a natural environment.

So it’s ironic that within the pristine confines of a museum lurk particulates that can harm the very items that museums are built to protect.

According to research conducted by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, museums are susceptible to indoor pollutants because many collections are “exhibited or stored in uncontrolled microenvironments, such as display cases or storage units.”

In addition, the study found that particulates such as dust, dirt, mold and even dead skin cells from visitors were all sources of indoor air pollution at museums.

Left unchecked, these pollutants can cause deterioration to items such as books, paintings and sculptures, many of which are already in a significant state of degradation.

Preserving these artifacts is essential for a museum’s existence, which is why the HVAC system with an air filtration system that can eliminate the tiniest particulates is a critical requirement for maintaining air quality in museums.

Protects the Health of Museum Workers and Visitors

Maintaining good indoor air quality at a museum is not simply a matter of preservation of artifacts, but also a health benefit for those who work on site and those who visit.

Studies have found that there are several types of organic and inorganic pollutants common to many museums.

A study in Conservation Journal, found that the five museums studied all had pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and organic acids.

In fact, what’s troubling is that organic pollutants are typically generated from sources within a museum such as paint, solvents, sealants, varnish and chemicals used to clean floors and displays. Additionally, these pollutants can even be introduced from the ventilation air from outside of the museum, especially in urban environments.

And while the concentrations of these pollutants vary, the issue is that museum workers may have prolonged exposure to these contaminants, which could have negative consequences for their health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage as well as lead to some forms of cancer.

Camfil’s Commitment to Providing Information

With more than 50 years of experience in commercial air filtration, Camfil is committed to bringing you news and information that can help you better understand the issues related to indoor air quality and the dangers posed by pollutants.

It’s clear from the stories sourced in this piece that museum owners must be vigilant when it comes to the air quality, because it affects artifacts and collections within the museum, and can also negatively affect the health of employees and visitors.

Air Filtration Solutions

Camfil has a wide array of HVAC systems for museums. They can offer air filtration solutions for the unique needs of a museum. Camfil air monitoring services can determine the exact nature of pollutants in your museum, then implement the proper solutions, which will also take into account the types of artifacts and collections stored in the facility.

Camfil’s molecular-filtration test facility is one of the most advanced in the industry with specific gas filter product testing for vapors and gases that may be present at your museum. Not removed through common air filtration, gases must be removed by systems that actually adsorb the harmful gases from the air where they are removed completely from the building when the filters are changed.

We look forward to providing you with our industry-leading air filters and air cleaners that will ensure that your museum maintains a clean and safe environment.

Sources

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Friday, February 3, 2017

What Office Managers Can Do to Maintain Their Air Quality

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

If you want to keep the air supply in your office clean proactive managers will do this

An office manager has a variety of different responsibilities. Making sure that the building you are in charge of runs like a well-oiled machine is essential. There are a number of things you will have to maintain to keep a commercial building free of repair and issues. Air quality should be one of the top priorities you have as an office manager. Without quality air, the people in your office space will have a variety of breathing and other health problems.

Taking the time to find out more about what causes bad air quality and how to address these problems is essential. The more you are able to find out about the filtration systems in place in an office building, the easier you will find it to stay on top of any issues that may arise. According to the team at Camfil, “Many new technologies have been employed in the effort to improve the quality and performance of air filters, and in some cases to reduce their cost.” Finding out about the various filters and what is the best fit for your office space is a great way to put the right solutions in place.

Knowing the Causes of Bad Air Quality is Important

Priority number one when trying to keep the air quality in your office good is finding out what causes the indoor air to become polluted. If you do not know what type of pollutants you are facing, you will find it very hard to put the right filtration products in place. Below are some of the most common causes of air pollution:

Dealing with Biological Contaminants- Dealing with excessive concentrations of things like bacteria or even mold can lead to the air quality in your office space suffering. An estimated 15 million Americans have allergies that can be worsened by the exposure to these types of substances. Things like inadequate maintenance or even unaddressed water leaks can cause biological contaminants to form and become airborne.
Chemical Pollutants Are More Common Than You Think- Things like tobacco smoke or even the emissions for certain types of equipment can cause air pollution. Also, if certain types of cleaning chemicals are spilled and not cleaned up properly, you may start to notice the air quality in your office space declining.
Particle Pollution- Whether solid or liquid, certain types of particles can wreak havoc on your air quality. Dust, dirt and pollen are some of the most common types of particle pollution you will face. These particles will usually cause allergic reactions and may lead to a variety of respiratory issues.

Getting familiar with these types of pollutants is essential if you want to keep the air supply in your office space in good shape.

How Can You Make Sure the Air Quality in Your Office Space is Pollutant-Free?

You may be wondering what you can do to keep the previously mentioned pollutants out of your office’s air supply. Read below to find out what you need to do to address air quality issues.

Avoid blocking the vent and grilles of your air vents.
Make sure no one is smoking cigarettes in or near entrances to the building.
Dispose of garbage immediately.
Encourage proper food storage.
Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean the office.
Act quickly when indoor air quality issues are noticed.

By following these guidelines, you will be able to limit the exposure you and the people in your office space have to air pollutants. Keeping a watchful eye on the air filters in place in your building is also important.

Things to Pay Attention to When Trying to Maintain the Quality of Your Indoor Air Supply

Knowing what to inspect and change on a regular basis is essential for office managers on a mission to improve indoor air quality.

The Air Filters Being Used- The main thing you need to be concerned with is what type of air filters are being used in your building. Cheaper and poorly made air filters will usually lead to allergens and other pollutants entering your air supply. You need to make sure the air filters you are using have a high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating, MERV 13 is recommended for office spaces.
Changing the Filters Regularly- Another very important thing you need to do when trying to maintain a high-quality indoor air supply for your office space is changing the filters on a regular basis. Your air filter manufacturer can provide filter change guidance as different filters have different performance characteristics.

If you are in need of help with the air filtration system in your office building, then call on the professionals at Camfil. We will be able to give you the guidance needed to put the proper filtration systems in place.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com