Clean Air Solutions: 2022

Friday, December 30, 2022

HEPA Filters Explained — How Do HEPA Filters Work?

HEPA air filters and devices that use them have become a hot commodity since 2020, but HEPA filters have been around since the early 1950s.

HEPA filters are used in a variety of highly sensitive applications, such as preventing airborne contamination in hospitals and healthcare facilities and protecting equipment from particulate matter in cleanroom facilities. HEPA filters are also being used in offices, classrooms, and homes to improve air quality by removing particulate pollutants, pollen, pet dander, and other airborne contaminants, as well as to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

What Is a HEPA Filter?

As explained by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency),

“HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is an acronym for ‘high-efficiency particulate air [filter]’ (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy). This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).”

“I would object a little bit with this definition,” says Mark Davidson, Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials for Camfil, USA. “There’s nothing theoretical about it. A HEPA filter is one that has been individually tested according to one of the tmajor global test standards.Many so-called HEPA air filters on the market may not actually provide this level of protection or anything close to it because there is no evidence the filter achieves HEPA-level performance. As a result, many air cleaners and air purifiers that advertise HEPA filters are actually not offering the protection from airborne viruses that consumers paid for when they purchased those devices.”

A tested and certified HEPA filtershould have a label on the filter itself indicating that factory testing has taken place and the results should be provided. Be wary of manufacturers who cannot provide documentation to show that their air filters are actually HEPA filters.

How Do HEPA Filters Work?

HEPA filters are among the most effective particulate matter filters available to buy. HEPA filters trap a much higher percentage of microscopic contaminants than even the highest rated MERV or even the more accurately labeled MERV-A filters.

HEPA filters, as noted above, are a type of mechanical air filter, which means their three-dimensional structure of ultra-fine fibers physicallycapture particulate matter. There are no moving parts in a HEPA filter, and they don’t use ionization or UV lights. Global standards differ slightly, but HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of particulate matter greater than 0.3 micron size from the airstream.. Other standards refer to HEPA filters as ones that are at least 99.95% efficient on MPPS.

What is MPPS? Most Penetrating Particle Size Explained

For one test standard, the definition of HEPA filtration references a specific particle size — 0.3 microns — at which 99.97% of particles are captured.

For context, 0.3 microns is approximately 0.000012 of an inch, which is about 300 times smaller than the diameter of a single strand of human hair.

“Other test standards rely on the “most penetrating particle size,” or MPPS, to determine the performance of a filter” according to Davidson. “This test identifies the size particle which is most likely to penetrate the filter. . In many cases, this size is 0.1 – 0.2 microns which is actually less than 0.3 microns. A HEPA filter carrying the label of H14 is 99.995% efficient on MPPS which means it actually captures particles slightly larger and smaller than MPPS at an even higher rate.”

When purchasing either a HEPA filter for an existing system or an individual room air purifier with a HEPA filter, the most important step is to verify the HEPA filter has been tested, certified and labeled as an actual HEPA filter.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.

The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 31 manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 35+ countries, and about 5,200 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

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https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter-1

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Friday, December 23, 2022

Is Air Pollution Worse in the Summer or Winter? Air Quality Experts from Camfil Weigh In

Across the world, more people die from air pollution-related illnesses than in car accidents. During summer and winter months, weather patterns and other factors can cause increases in air pollutant concentration and worsened air quality. In this article, air quality experts from Camfil explain the factors that can lead to poor air quality in the summer and winter seasons.

Air Quality in the Summer

There are a variety of factors that can worsen summer air quality in certain regions, such as:

Dry summer weather conditions. Extended periods of time with no rain allow dirt, soil, and sand to loosen, making it easier to be picked up and spread into the air by the wind. This leads to an increase in particulate matter levels in the summer in dry areas.
Wildfires. The damage from wildfires varies year to year, but when high, smoke can travel thousands of miles. Wildfire smoke contains both particulate and gaseous pollutants that affect air quality thousands of miles away from the site of the fire.
Summertime activities. Popular summer activities such as lighting bonfires, setting of fireworks, and traveling distances by plane and car release pollutants into the air.
Summer thunderstorms. There is evidence suggesting that summer thunderstorms cause a unique distribution of plant spores and pollen that is known to cause asthma attacks and increased emergency department admissions.

Air Quality in the Winter

The winter season can bring about its own set of air quality issues. Contributing factors include:

Inversions. Inversion layers create a near-surface temperature layer that doesn’t mix with the lower atmosphere, trapping pollutants in place and causing them to increase over time. This is especially true in areas with less wind, such as valleys and other low-lying areas.
Indoor heating. The increased use of heating sources during the winter months also leads to higher concentrations of air pollutants. Home and commercial heaters can release particulate matter into the air which can cause asthma attacks and respiratory irritation. The burning of wood for heating can also release gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide into the air.
Denser air. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means that it is moved less by wind. As a result, it is more difficult for the wind to disperse pollutants in the winter, leading to build-up and higher concentrations of pollutants in specific areas.
Less precipitation. While some regions have dry summers, others have dry winters. Rain removes pollutants from the air as it falls, so when there is no rain for weeks or months at a time, concentrations of pollution continue to increase.

Summer Air Quality vs. Winter Air Quality

Ultimately, the severity of ambient air pollution levels in different seasons depends on an area’s climate and other regional factors. For example, the dry summer conditions of Nevada and Colorado are more prone to increased ambient pollution levels than the humidity and frequent rain storms in states like Virginia during the summer.

Use tools such as the World Air Quality Index to keep track of air quality in your area, or contact an air quality expert to learn more about ambient pollution patterns in your area.

Protecting Your Lungs with Premium Air Filtration

Reducing ambient air pollution levels is a long-term effort, but given that the average American spends more than 90% of their time indoors, and that indoor air can be as much as fifty times more polluted than outdoor air, combating poor indoor air quality with premium air filtration can help reduce health risks associated with air pollution. Room air purifiers and air filters for existing HVAC systems from Camfil use advanced technologies to capture both airborne particulate matter and gaseous contaminants to help provide relief from polluted outdoor air.

With offices and manufacturing facilities in 30 countries worldwide, six R&D labs and experience that spans more than 50 years, Camfil has the knowledge and expertise needed to develop custom solutions for any air quality challenge. Contact us today to learn more about how Camfil can help your family breathe cleaner air.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

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Monday, December 19, 2022

Top 3 Factors to Consider When Upgrading Your HVAC Equipment and Air Filters

Upgrading or changing your HVAC equipment can be a challenging process to navigate. In this article, air filtration experts from Camfil explain the most important factors to consider when changing your building’s HVAC air filters and other HVAC equipment.

Lifetime Cost

It’s one of the most obvious factors to consider when upgrading your HVAC system or air filters. It is common to make the mistake of basing the decision primarily on the initial purchase price.There are other factors to consider when determining the overall lifetime cost of an upgrade. These factors include:

Energy costs (the energy consumed by the piece of equipment or air filter)
Possible issues created from the added footprint and weight if equipment upgrades are considered.
Labor and maintenance costs associated with new equipment or air filters
Replacement and disposal costs of new air filters
Initial purchase point
Shipping and storage costs

When evaluating equipment upgrades, the time or ROI is important. For air filters, the filter with the lowest initial price point may be far more expensive than other filters, because inexpensive filters are often poorly constructed with cheaper material.

Operating Conditions

Another important factor to consider when upgrading equipment in your HVAC system is the building’s operating conditions. One of the conditions is the required pressure within the building. If imperfections in the building envelope cause significant air leakage, then airflow or filtration adjustments may be needed to account for air entering the building through uncontrolled openings. . In some buildings, such as food and beverage processing or healthcare facilities, the pressure within the building may need to be closely monitored and adjustments made as needed. Systems can be designed for air to flow through buildings in a cascading effect; flowing from the highest positive pressure zones towards more negative zones with lower pressure.

Airleaks in the HVAC system’s ducts or filter bypass (which is when air passes around the edges of a filter instead of through the filter media) will create conditions that need to be corrected. As such, it is essential to make sure a building’s HVAC system undergoes regular inspection and maintenance. It is also important all filters are installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure that the filters are properly fitted. One of the most common errors is installing pleated filters incorrectly. Pleats should be installed running vertically when possible as this orientation maximizes performance criteria such as strength, low resistance, and moisture resistance.

Filtration Requirements

Different industries have different air filtration requirements or recommendations from professional organizations that should guide air filter choices. An office building will have vastly different requirements than a hospital or industrial facility. Consulting with an air filtration professional will help determine what requirements and recommendations may apply to a building.

Many air quality professionalshave recommended a minimum filtration efficiency of MERV-13 (MERV 14 or higher is better) to protect against COVID-19 because they are capable of capturing a higher percentage of infected particles.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

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Thursday, December 15, 2022

Air Pollution & Elevated Risk of Stroke: Size of Ambient Particulate Matter Tied to Stroke Deaths in 2022 Study

Exposure to particulate matter in the air has long been connected to a wide range of poor health outcomes. A new study published in Neurology has revealed a link between short-term and long-term exposure to particulate matter and stroke mortality. Furthermore, the study has demonstrated the increased dangers associated with smaller-sized particles.

Particulate Matter Size Classifications Explained

There are three classifications of particulate matter based on the diameter of particles. Particulate matter is measured in microns (micrometers); one micron is a millionth of a meter or a thousandth of a millimeter. To put the scale of particulate matter into perspective, human skin cells range from 20 to 40 microns in diameter on average, while a large grain of pollen is approximately 70 microns across.

The size classifications of particulate matter are as follows:

PM10 is the largest classification of particulate matter and is sometimes referred to as “coarse particulate matter,” with a diameter under 10 microns. While PM10 is small enough to be inhaled, our respiratory systems are able to filter out particles of this size before they enter the lungs.
PM2.5 refers to particles that have a diameter of 2.5 microns or less and is also referred to as “fine particulate matter.” Much of the research examining the effects of particle pollution on human health focuses on the effects of PM2.5. The infected respiratory aerosols that are responsible for spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus are typically classified as PM2.5.
PM1 is the smallest classification of particulate matter with a diameter less than a single micron. These particles are usually considered the most damaging to human health because they are able to enter the bloodstream through the respiratory system and damage other organs.

New Study Links Particulate Matter Size to Stroke Mortality in 2022

A study published in the peer-review journal Neurology (“the most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journalism,” according to the American Academy of Neurology) found a link between the size of particulate matter patients were exposed to and the risk of death from ischemic stroke.

Researchers examined stroke hospitalization data from four provinces in China between 2013 and 2019. Of the 3.1 million hospitalizations examined, 32,140 were fatal, indicating a fatality rate of 1.03%. Patients’ residential addresses were used to calculate seven-day and annual averages of PM exposure prior to hospitalization.

The study had four main conclusions:

Stroke deaths were most strongly correlated to long-term exposure to PM1.
Regardless of particulate matter size, short-term increases in the seven-day average of ambient particulate matter concentration preceding hospitalization for stroke were linked to a higher risk of death.
Although the rate of death was higher for exposure to smaller particulate matter, the raw number of deaths was higher for exposure to PM10 because of more widespread concentrations of widespread PM10.
The link was stronger for ischemic strokes (strokes caused by a blood clot that cuts off blood supply to a part of the brain) than hemorrhagic strokes (strokes caused by burst blood vessels that flood a part of the brain).

Air Filtration Solutions Limit Particulate Matter Exposure

Though the study was conducted in China, where ambient levels of particulate matter pollution are higher on average than in the United States, short-term spikes in particulate matter exposure are common across the United States. The risk of death from stroke is just one of many health complications linked to air pollution exposure.

To reduce indoor exposure to particulate matter where according to the EPA, concentrations can be two to five times higher than outdoors, commercial and residential buildings can employ MERV-A-rated and Absolute® HEPA filtration.

Camfil’s City M air purifier is an in-room air purification unit that operates independently of the building’s HVAC system to deliver purified air regardless of HVAC system filter capacity. The City M uses Absolute HEPA filtration to remove 99.995% of particles at the most penetrating particle size from the air.

Find out more about the air filtration solutions that will best fit your home, school, or office building by contacting a Camfil representative.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

Sources:

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Thursday, December 8, 2022

Research Finds Increased Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease Linked to Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

It is widely known that exposure to air pollution is linked to a wide array of health issues, and is most frequently associated with lung and heart issues. However, the damage that air pollution may cause extends far beyond the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

A longitudinal study published in 2022 has found a link between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the risk of chronic kidney disease.

What is PM2.5? Fine Particulate Matter Definition

Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is a common pollutant in both indoor and outdoor air and is one of three classifications of particulate matter.

Particulate matter is a broad class of pollutants defined as any solid or liquid particles small and light enough to remain suspended in the air. PM2.5 particles have a diameter of 2.5 microns (micrometers, or one-millionth of a meter) or less and cannot be seen by the naked eye.

While larger particulate matter, such as PM10 (which has a diameter of 10 microns), can usually be filtered out by the respiratory system before entering the lungs and the bloodstream, PM2.5 is too small for these mechanisms to protect against it effectively. As a result, PM2.5 and its smaller counterpart, PM1 (with a diameter of less than one micron), can enter the body and cause damage to organs through the bloodstream.

The Link Between Air Pollution and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

The study was published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official peer-reviewed journal of the National Kidney Foundation. Researchers used medical record data from 7.3 million patients at the Health Management Center in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, which is Central China’s largest medical institution.

Of the entire medical record database, 99,960 patients had at least two estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) assessments between 2005 and 2018. eFGR tests measure blood levels of certain chemicals produced by the body to determine how well the kidneys are functioning (filtering out toxins). Higher scores on an eFGR test indicate better kidney function, with a score of 90 or higher representing normal kidney function and a score of less than 15 representing kidney failure.

27,535 of the patients were excluded from the sample because they had already been diagnosed with CKD at the time of the baseline examination, or pollution data was not available for their residence area, or they had a comorbid condition that could affect the function of their kidneys. The median age of the remaining 72,425 patients was 38 with 58% male.

Data from participants’ medical records was analyzed alongside PM2.5 individual exposure estimates based on the residential address provided in each patient’s medical records. Pollution data was extrapolated from the China High Air Pollutants (CHAP) dataset, which uses a combination of ground-based measurements, satellite remote sensing products, atmospheric reanalysis, and model simulations to calculate ambient pollution levels.

Analysis of the data found an association between ambient levels of PM2.5 and poor kidney function. Long-term (ten-year) exposure to particulate matter was shown to have the strongest correlation with kidney disease, while one-year average exposure had a medium correlation.

“In this large cohort study of participants in 121 counties of Hunan, China, we confirmed that higher ambient PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased risk of developing CKD,” the researchers wrote, “This effect was robust after adjustment for major covariates, and there was a strong positive association between cumulative average PM2.5 and CKD risk, especially when adjusted for other air pollutants such as BC, O3, and NO2. Furthermore, our study found that there is a potential synergistic effect of humidity and PM2.5 on the risk for incident CKD. These findings suggest that reducing the PM2.5 air pollution may yield benefits related to kidney health.”

Air Filtration Combats Pollution-Related Health Risks

As the researchers noted, their methods were unable to account for indoor air pollution exposure. In China, outdoor particulate matter concentrations are approximately six times higher than outdoor particulate matter concentrations in the United States. In the United States, particulate matter concentration is usually two to five times higher than outdoor particulate matter exposure, according to the EPA. Consequently, indoor particulate matter exposure in some areas of the U.S. may be comparable to the exposure levels examined in the study.

Considering most Americans spend 90% or more of their time indoors, indoor particulate matter exposure is a significant health concern.

Camfil’s City M air purifier is an in-room air purification unit that operates independently of the building’s HVAC system to deliver purified air regardless of HVAC system filter capacity. The City M uses Absolute® HEPA filtration to remove 99.995% of particles at the most penetrating particle size from the air.

Find out more about the air filtration solutions that will best fit your home, school, or office building by contacting a Camfil representative.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

Sources:

https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(22)00623-0/fulltext

https://www.ajmc.com/view/study-finds-particulate-matter-exposure-associated-with-incident-ckd

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Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Air Quality Life Index Finds That Air Pollution Cuts Global Lifespan By 2 Years in 2022

Air pollution is scientifically correlated to a range of health conditions, and causal links between air pollution exposure and deadly diseases including stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, lung diseases, and other conditions. Overall, the impact of air pollution on our health results in reduced life expectancy.

In this article, air quality experts from global air filtration leader Camfil discuss the 2022 AQLI report findings.

What Is the Air Quality Life Index?

The Air Quality Life Index, or AQLI, is a metric produced by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) that expresses air pollution concentration in terms of its impact on human life expectancy. In addition to showing the impacts of current pollution levels, the AQLI makes policy suggestions to reduce air pollution exposure and increase our life expectancy.

While many efforts to reduce air pollution focus on CO2 and other greenhouse gases, particulate matter is considered by the EPA to be the greatest environmental threat, as well as the deadliest to the human body.

Particulate matter pollution has declined by 64.2% in the United States since the introduction of the Clean Air Act in 1970, leading to an increased life expectancy of 1.3 years. Despite this success, recent scientific evidence has shown that 92.8% of the U.S. population are living in areas with unsafe levels of pollution according to guidelines by the World Health Organization.

AQLI Findings in the United States

Despite overall reductions in pollution levels since 1998, there is still room for improvement:

The average level of particle pollution in the United States was 7.1 μg/m3 as of 2020. This is above the World Health Organization’s guideline of 5 μg/m3.
If pollution levels were to be reduced to the WHO guideline, the average American could expect to gain 2.5 months of life expectancy, which totals 68 million life years for the whole population.
The West Coast, particularly California’s Central Valley, would see the greatest benefit from reductions in pollution, where increasingly severe wildfires in recent years have led to rising pollution levels.
In 2020, 19 of the 20 most polluted counties in the United States were in California.
In the nation’s most polluted county, Mariposa County’s pollution levels stand at 22.6 μg/m3. Residents stand to gain 1.7 years of life expectancy if air pollution isreduced to the WHO guideline.

AQLI Findings Across the World — Air Pollution Impact on Global Life Expectancy

In other countries around the world, air pollution has a much greater impact on average life expectancy. Here are some of the most severely impacted countries:

Bangladesh — 6.9 years
China — 2.6 years
India — 5.0 years
Indonesia — 5.0 years
Pakistan — 3.8 years

Air Filtration Technology Reduces Air Pollution Exposure

Policy changes are a slow process, and the practical effects of those changes can be even slower. What can we do to protect our bodies from the effects of particle air pollution in the meantime?

Given that Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, where particulate matter concentration is often two to five times higher than outside, ensuring that indoor air stays clean is essential for keeping Americans safe. Fortunately, a range of science-backed air filtration solutions are available to meet the varying needs of different applications.

Contact a Camfil representative to determine the best air filtration system to protect your people and processes.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

Sources:

https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/the-index/

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Sunday, November 27, 2022

Growing Body of Research Reveals Link Between Commercial AC Filters and Employee Brain Function

While there is plenty of research out there pinning the dangers of workplace air quality on things like printer ink, furniture off-gassing, and air fresheners, there is one source of indoor air pollution that has not been so thoroughly investigated: our breath, our body temperature, and a little thing called CO2.

While the data is not nearly complete as many air scientists would like it to be, there is a growing body of evidence that the mere accumulation of CO2 that can occur in small, enclosed spaces (like your company’s conference room) can lead to noticeable changes in brain function.

The research, which includes work from the Berkeley Lab and the LBNL Indoor Environment Group, suggests that rapid CO2 buildup can dilate blood vessels, reduce neuron activity, and cause disturbances in communication between different regions in the brain. The result? An overall reduced ability to make effective decisions, which unfortunately is precisely the kind of thing that is done in conference rooms.

How Cheap AC Filters Prevent Adequate Office Ventilation

While the health effects of CO2 buildup are still being studied, there is no question that increased levels of carbon dioxide in indoor air can point toward system-wide air filtration issues.

“The buildup of CO2 is one of the more obvious indicators of a ventilation problem.” Says Mark Davidson, Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials at Camfil USA. “Not only do you have to worry about what the extra CO2 is doing to brain function, but the buildup itself means there could be other harmful air pollutants that are not being efficiently removed from the air supply.”

Cheap HVAC filters, improperly calibrated systems, changes in occupancy or even changes to the outside environment near the facility can all cause indoor ventilation issues to occur over time.

The Role of Commercial HVAC Air Filters in Employee Health

Without proper ventilation and air filtration of workplace spaces, there are a number of other harmful airborne pollutants that will have the opportunity to “build up” in the air supply, posing a threat not only to human health but also to the system components themselves, which can degrade when exposed to increased levels of airborne chemicals.

Commercial HVAC filters should be selected, installed, and replaced based on the needs of the facility compared to the performance capabilities of the air filter.

Rethinking Rooftop HVAC Filters for Commercial Use

Packaged rooftop units are one of the most commonly utilized air filtration methods for commercial HVAC systems. But no matter what type of system is installed, one of the most important things to consider is the type of air filters being used.

The air filter is one of the smallest and least expensive components in an air handling systems, but it has an impact on how the entire system functions. An air filter that is not up to the task not only increases operation cost, it affects the quality of the air inside the facility.

Upgrading Your Commercial HVAC Panel Filters

“The trick is to select an air filter that fits into the narrower space typically found within rooftop HVAC systems, but delivers the desired particle capture efficiency (MERV-A value) with a long service life (high dirt holding capacity) while maintaining a low pressure drop so airflow into the building is maintained at the proper level.”

That’s not as easy as it sounds says Davidson.

“Right now, our Camfil 30/30 Dual 9 sits at the top of the list. It has a high MERV-A value, 9/9A, meaning it will deliver MERV 9 air quality for its entire service life. It has a very high dirt holding capacity. In fact, it’s so high, we offer a 9 – 12 month service life guarantee on it. And, it maintains a low average pressure drop throughout its entire service life. It’s the trifecta of panel filters for rooftop air handling units” Davidson added.

Unexpected pressure drops from cheap air filters can result in poor ventilation. It’s important for industrial, commercial, and retail operators to fully understand the capabilities (and the lack of capabilities) of the air filters in their units.

Finding Experienced HVAC Air Filter Companies

Anyone who is looking to improve their own workplace IAQ should start by finding a commercial air filtration company that knows what’s actually at stake when it comes to office air quality.

Camfil USA has over 50 years of experience in the design, implementation, and maintenance of commercial and industrial air filtration systems, making them one of the most experiences HVAC filter companies in the country. At their website, you’ll find a number of Design & Engineering tools that can help you plan out an effective, efficient filtration system for your facility or workspace.

Sources

https://iaqscience.lbl.gov/vent-info

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Sunday, November 13, 2022

The Obvious and Hidden Benefits of Air Conditioning

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 88% of American households reported some form of air conditioning with 66% of those households having central AC. In the nation’s geographical areas where summer temperatures and humidity are higher, the number is closer to 95%. However, according to the IEA, (International Energy Agency) only 8% of the 2.8 billion people living in some of the hottest areas outside of the US, have air conditioning in their homes.

The positive impact of air conditioning on our lives is hard to overstate. If it’s summer and you’re reading this at home, you are more comfortable than you would be otherwise. If reading online, you wouldn’t be able to do so at the speed and convenience (and low cost) as you do now without air conditioning cooling the servers in data centers that power the internet. If sick or recovering from surgery in a hospital, controlling temperature and humidity promotes healing. Doctors, nurses, other staff members and medical equipment perform better in controlled environments. At work, your employer reaps significant productivity gains in those spaces that are air-conditioned.

One less obvious benefit, and underutilized, of air conditioning, is the necessity to install filters that remove contaminants from the airstream to maintain the performance of the cooling coils. It was discovered early on that dirt accumulating on the coils essentially acted as an insulator and reduced the heat transfer which must occur during the refrigeration cycle. As such, the original purpose of an air filter was to protect the equipment, not the people in the space where the conditioned air was delivered. There’s more to this story and we’ll return to the topic later.

Unfortunately, air conditioning is not free. The components to cool the air, while often included within the same air handling equipment that supplies heat, are costly. In low humidity areas, evaporative cooling equipment can be used, but the majority of systems rely on chemical refrigerants whose impact on the environment must be controlled which further adds to the cost. There are other expenses, but the most obvious expense to operating an air conditioning system is the electrical energy required to power the fan which moves air through the system.

Fan motors can be controlled with variable frequency drives (VFD) to better match output with demand to avoid fan motors running at maximum speed 24/7. Smart thermostats turn the system fans on or off depending on forecasted temperatures, load demands or time of day. Both are effective strategies to reduce fan energy cost, however, there is one more strategy that could be utilized. But first, let’s return to the necessity of air filters in an air conditioning system and the challenges and opportunities they offerAll air filters exhibit resistance to airflow which is known in the HVAC industry as pressure drop and measured in inches of water gauge (in w.g.). This is the difference in air pressure between the upstream and downstream side of a air filter. As air molecules weave through the maze of fibers within the filtration media, air velocity slows much in the same way as vehicle traffic slows navigating crowded, twisty roads. As cars keep coming down the road, they bunch together and traffic slows even further. When this effect occurs in an air filter, there is more air pressure upstream of the filter than downstream and it’s this pressure difference that’s known as pressure drop.

In a standard air filter, the pressure drop increases quickly as more and more dirt particles are filtered out of the air and accumulate on the fibers. This makes the pathways through the media even more difficult for air to pass through than when the filter was clean. As time goes on, less conditioned air is delivered to the space. If it’s a warm, humid day and the space in question is your home, it can become uncomfortable. However, if the space is a data center, the expensive servers could be damaged or if the space is a hospital room, it could be harmful to your health. This is a problem that must be solved.

One solution is to program the VFD (variable frequency drive) to increase the speed of the fan in order to overcome the higher pressure drop caused by dirt loading on the air filter. This forces more air through the system and restores the correct volume of conditioned air into the space which is exactly what we want or what we need. However, each step-up in fan speed requires more electrical energy which increases cost. Here’s where the right air filter can solve one problem and deliver a huge benefit at the same time.

An air filter that’s been engineered and constructed for performance (using techniques borrowed from the aerospace industry to reduce drag in aircraft) will maintain a lower pressure drop which delays the VFD from signaling for an increase in fan speed. The longer the pressure drop can be kept low, the less energy is used. There’s a mathematical formula to calculate the energy savings which states that at the standard rated airflow of 500 fpm, if electricity costs ten cents per kilowatt hour and the fan efficiency is an average of 60%, then for every 1/10” w.g. reduction in pressure drop, the annual energy savings is $34 per year, per full size filter. That’s worth repeating, $34 per year, per filter. Extrapolate that to include all HVAC systems and the number of filters in each one and you can see the potential reduction in energy usage (and the corresponding reduction in carbon footprint) is substantial. In fact, low pressure drop air filters can save more money in energy than they actually cost.

But here’s the huge benefit mentioned before and it’s arguably more important than saving energy and that’s improving indoor air quality. As stated earlier, the coils within the AC system need to stay clean in order to be most effective and today’s high performance air filters do so while maintaining low pressure drop. However, are those filters designed only to protect the equipment? Could they be designed to perform dual functions and protect the people also?

In order to design an air filter to do both requires an understanding of several disciplines such as mechanical, aerospace and material engineering as well as the filtration mechanisms within fluid dynamics. By combining these, air filters on systems that service office complexes, schools, public retail spaces, airports, hospitals and others can be engineered not just with a low resistance to airflow, but also with a high particle capture efficiency on the sub-micron particles known as PM1.

99% of all particles in the air are PM1, less than one micron in size. While the human respiratory system has defenses in place to keep certain particles out, as we’ve seen with COVID-19, there are some particles too small for our bodies to capture. However, air filters with a high particle capture efficiency can capture those particles at a very high rate. But in the past, those filters also came with high pressure drops, sometimes too high for the system fan to overcome.

Thanks to dedicated engineers, high quality raw materials, and manufacturing techniques, high performance air filters exist today that capture and hold these PM1 particles and do so while maintaining a low pressure drop so as to keep operational expenses in check.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

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The post The Obvious and Hidden Benefits of Air Conditioning appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air.

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Thursday, November 10, 2022

EPA Releases 2021 Annual Air Report: What It Revealed About Pollution Levels and Air Quality

Each year since the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1970, the EPA releases its Annual Air Report, highlighting the nation’s progress in the mission of reducing levels of hazardous pollutants in the air.

In this article, air quality experts from global air filtration industry leader Camfil explain the findings of the EPA’s Annual Air Report and what it means for Americans.

United States Air Pollution Follows a Downward Trend

The data from the Annual Air Report shows that key pollutants have been declining, both overall since the introduction of the Clean Air Act and year-over-year. It’s important to note that at the same time these key pollutants have declined, the US economy has grown and overall energy usage has increased. This demonstrates actions taken to provide clean and healthy air do not hamper economic growth.

Since 1990, the EPA has observed the following decreases in various pollutants:

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 8-Hour, 79%
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Annual, 61%
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) 1-Hour, 54%
Ozone (O3) 8-Hour, 21%
Particulate Matter 10 microns (PM10) 24-Hour, 32%
Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) Annual, 37% (from 2000)
Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) 24-Hour, 33% (from 2000)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1-Hour, 91%

Though total emissions of key pollutants have dropped by 78% since the very first Annual Air Report, the presence of dangerous air pollutants has not been completely eliminated, which still has notable effects on human health and the environment. In fact, the average American would see an extension of approximately two years in their lifespan if air pollution concentration was reduced to limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

EPA Report Highlights Dangerous Effects of Air Pollution on Health and Environment

As explained by the EPA’s report, there are six pollutants that

Carbon monoxide (CO):

Health effects: Exposure to carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches vital organs and other tissues, including the brain and heart because the molecules bind to a form of heme in the blood. It is well-known that exposure to large amounts of carbon monoxide can be fatal, but even in small amounts, carbon monoxide can lead to hospitalization in individuals with heart disease.
Environmental effects: Although carbon monoxide itself is not considered a greenhouse gas, the EPA notes that it contributes to the formation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses when emitted into the atmosphere.

Lead (Pb):

Health effects: Both long and short-term exposure to lead in the air are linked to severe consequences. Lead may harm nervous system development in children, leading to learning deficits, behavioral issues, and even lower IQs. In adults, lead exposure contributes to poor cardiovascular health and may increase blood pressure and even cause heart disease.
Environmental effects: When lead is released as air pollution, it invades water supplies and soil deposits, leading to decreased growth and lower rates of reproduction in plants and animals.

Ozone (O3):

Health effects: Breathing in ozone can immediately lead to a reduction in lung function, producing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, migraines, and dizziness. This can aggravate existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and emphysema, leading to increased hospital admissions in patients affected by such conditions. Ozone exposure is also associated with premature mortality from respiratory causes.
Environmental effects: Atmospheric ozone is essential for life on earth to thrive because it protects the planet from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays. Ground-level ozone, on the other hand, has a variety of negative effects on the environment. Ozone damages plants by slowing growth and reproduction, reducing photosynthesis, injuring leaves, and reducing crop yields. The damage that ozone causes plants may subsequently change the structure of ecosystems, leading to reduced biodiversity and redacted plant uptake of CO2.
Related post: The Hidden Hazards Of Indoor Air Pollution From Ozone

Nitrogen oxides (NOx):

Health effects: Nitrogen oxides are a group of highly reactive gasses. Nitrogen dioxide is the most prominent health concern of this group. Like many pollutants, short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide is known to aggravate existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, which can lead to hospitalization. In the long term, nitrogen dioxide exposure can contribute to the development of asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Environmental effects: Reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds form ozone while reactions between nitrogen oxides and other compounds form particle pollution. Deposits of nitrogen oxide acidify soils and surface waters, which affects the growth of plants, including crops, and the health of both wildlife and livestock animals.

Sulfur oxides (SOx):

Health effects: Sulfur dioxide is the most commonly occurring sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere as well as the one most closely linked with human health. Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide increases symptoms of asthma. Increased ambient sulfur dioxide levels are linked to emergency department admissions for respiratory illnesses. This effect is especially pronounced for at-risk populations of his children older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions
Environmental effects: Sulfur oxides react with ammonia and other compounds to form particle pollution, which has a range of environmental consequences. Deposits of sulfur oxides also acidify soils and contribute to mercury methylation of wetlands. At high concentrations, sulfur dioxide causes injury to vegetation and decreases biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Particulate matter:

Health effects: Much of the body of research examining the effects of air pollution on human health looks at the effects of particulate matter, especially fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which encompasses any particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. Particulate matter is most closely linked to respiratory and cardiovascular harm, including symptoms of respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, and itchy eyes), and cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
Environmental effects: Particulate matter is responsible for the hazy conditions and reduced visibility associated with air pollution. Particulate matter is known to be carried by the wind across long distances, where it settles on soil and on the surface of bodies of water. As a result of this settling, lakes and streams become acidic, coastal waters experience a shift in nutrient balance, sensitive crops and forest plants are damaged, and the diversity of ecosystems is diminished.
Related post: Older Americans at Risk – Low Levels of Particulate Matter Can Be Deadly

Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Polluted Areas

The EPA’s Annual Air Report shows that levels of key air pollutants are decreasing over time, leading to better ambient air quality on average across the United States.

However, there are still many areas in which residents’ everyday lives are impacted by poor air quality. While the effort to reduce air pollution at the source and improve air quality for all Americans is an ongoing team effort, public, commercial, and residential buildings can make large improvements in indoor air quality through the implementation of the right air filtration system. Evaluating each application and installing the proper air filtration solution can actually lower overall operating cost, particularly when it comes to energy usage.

Most HVAC systems come equipped with a filter that protects the equipment from being damaged by debris, but these filters are not designed to protect human lungs from finer particle pollution. Furthermore, HVAC filters rarely target gaseous pollutants (such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide); MERV-rated filters are designed to capture particles, not to trap gasses.

With an air purifier such as Camfil’s City M, which works independently of the building’s HVAC system, building managers can target both gaseous and particulate pollutants for optimized indoor air quality.

To find out more about what air filtration solutions work best for your building, contact a local Camfil representative.

About Camfil Clean Air Solutions

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

Sources:

https://gispub.epa.gov/air/trendsreport/2022/#air_pollution

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-annual-air-report-highlighting-trends-through-2021

The post EPA Releases 2021 Annual Air Report: What It Revealed About Pollution Levels and Air Quality appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air.

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

PM Checklist for HVAC System – Should You Extend the Time Between PM Service Calls?

Base PM schedule on equipment needs, not air filter changes.

Ask drivers how often they should change the oil in their cars and you’ll likely hear an answer that’s been repeated for generations: ‘three months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.’ The performance of older automobile engines and the low quality of motor oil demanded a short interval be followed to avoid expensive repairs. However, that may no longer be valid as improvements to automotive engines and advancement in oil chemistry has changed the paradigm; saving many companies significant internal or external labor hours and cost.

Today, some synthetic oils guarantee twenty-thousand miles between changes, which, for the average American who drives 14,263 miles annually, means a once-per-year oil change. While car manufacturers are extending maintenance intervals up to 10,000 miles, and in some cases longer, that message has not yet reached everyone. Quick in-and-out oil change shops with guilt-inducing windshield stickers are doing their best to ensure the 3,000 mile/three-month oil change remains firmly in place, for obvious reasons.

But oil change intervals are not the only maintenance cycle under challenge due to advanced technology. Recent improvements to HVAC equipment, building automation systems, and air filter technology have progressed to the point where the question should be asked: Is it also time to rethink the industry standard of automatically scheduling quarterly PM service calls on your HVAC equipment?

Let’s look at just a few recent technical innovations on three key components of HVAC systems and how they give you flexibility when determining the optimum interval between PM calls.

What Should Your PM Service Call Include? PM Checklist for HVAC System

In the commercial HVAC industry, “PM” stands for preventive maintenance. Just like getting an oil change for your car helps keep everything running smoothly and prevents engine trouble, a PM service will keep your HVAC system in good condition, preventing costly repairs and the downtime that accompanies them.

While the exact steps that your HVAC maintenance expert should take will depend on the specifics of your HVAC system as well as the time of year, here is a general checklist for what a technician will do during a standard preventative maintenance call:

Replace filters on heating and/or cooling equipment.
Clear pans and drain lines.
Measure airflow to ensure it is adequate.
Replace any belts and pulleys found to be in poor condition.
Examine electrical connections.
Clean evaporator and condenser coils.
Lubricate moving parts such as gears and bearings.
Ensure that controls, such as the thermostat, are working correctly.
Check and adjust fan and blower motor operation.
Measure refrigerant charge and check for leaks if the charge is low.

In short, a service contractor should be checking every component of your HVAC system to ensure that everything is running properly before any issues arise in its function.

How Often Do You Really Need Preventative Maintenance for Your HVAC System?

Modern HVAC equipment isn’t as prone to breaking.

Like most mechanical systems, HVAC equipment has benefited from the improved reliability of raw materials in the supply chain. Stress fractures from the vibration of moving parts are less of an issue as the consistency of metals and other materials used for structural supports have become more reliable. Belts, which in the past required regular inspections, now routinely run a minimum of one year between adjustments.

If we look at the heart of an HVAC system, new variable speed compressor technology reduces wear and tear by matching the compressor’s operational speed to the demand load. This also reduces repeated startups from a dead stop which is not only hard on equipment but requires significant energy.

If the compressor is the heart of the system, coils are the veins and arteries. Micro-channel coil technology, borrowed from the automotive industry, utilizes aluminum tubes as opposed to fins. These tubes are much sturdier with higher resistance to corrosion. The manufacturing technique used to produce these coils has fewer critical inherent failure points which further improves reliability.

Automated monitoring systems allow remote inspection and adjustment.

A maintenance office in today’s world may resemble an air traffic control tower due to the expanded use of building automation systems. It was not all that long ago, the ability to continuously monitor and adjust the performance of your HVAC equipment from a single computer terminal was limited to Fortune 500 companies with deep pockets. That is no longer the case as the widespread use of this technology has brought its benefits within nearly everyone’s budget.

These systems give the user the ability to monitor the current condition of multiple units with the same level of confidence as a visual inspection. As software continuously improves, diagnostic functions and even equipment failure predictions will allow managers to avoid running equipment to failure between pre-scheduled maintenance calls.

Higher-quality air filters protect HVAC equipment more effectively and for longer.

The air filter is the final piece of the puzzle. More than the other two components, the service life of the pleated air filter has historically been the primary driver when developing a PM schedule. In the past, air filters would need to be replaced every three months. The lack of technical innovation to improve service life by air filter manufacturers coupled with service contractors who built their business models on four changes per year left the industry with their version of the “3000-mile oil change.”

However, according to Camfil USA’s Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials, Mark Davidson; “While today’s pleated air filters may look the same as they used to, the similarity ends there. Today, you can find structurally strong, moisture-resistant pleated filters with higher MERV ratings. It may be a surprise to many, but 12-month service life guarantees are now available”

“Be an active participant when selecting air filters that protect your people and your products. Everyone in the supply chain doesn’t have the same motives so it’s up to users to request test reports or modeling software projections. After purchase and installation, validate those lab reports with actual field testing to confirm performance.”

“Also, ask what guarantees are in place as far as how long the filter is expected to last,” says Davidson., “Take advantage of those filters capable of delivering higher performance combined with longer life because by doing that, PM schedules can now be developed after removing the service life of the air filter from the equation. In other words, create PM schedules based solely upon the needs and performance of HVAC equipment; not because an air filter needs to be changed.”

Based on the advancement in equipment performance, building controls, and air filter technology, should building managers rethink the practice of automatically scheduling quarterly PM service calls? It may be hard to say yes to that question, but remember that improvements in the auto industry successfully challenged something as deep-seated as the 3000-mile oil change, and we are all the better for it. The overall cost to the consumer is down, performance is up, and we are disposing far less waste oil.

In the HVAC world, it seems technological improvements now allow PM schedules to be based primarily on the mechanical needs of the HVAC equipment and not because the air filters need changing. System performance is improved, overall costs are down, and far fewer dirty filters are shipped to landfills.