What is a HEPA Filter?

There is only one air cleaning method Approved and Required in circumstances where human life, health, or safety is dependant upon cleaning relatively large volumes of air. That method is used in patient isolators (boy-in-the-bubble), orthopedic operating rooms, hospital pharmacy preparation of I.V. add mixtures, biological safety cabinets for infectious disease research, to contain radioactive particles, and in pharmaceutical production facilities to ensure the purity of medications. That one method is TRUE HEPA filtration. - Allergy and Asthma Network - Mothers of Astmatics, Inc.

What is a TRUE HEPA Filter?

The Letters in the word HEPA stand for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance. (You may see others saying that the A means Arresting, Arrestor or Air but they all have the same basic meaning: "to capture") A "True" HEPA is also known as an ABSOLUTE Filter because of it's efficiency!

The "True" HEPA filter was developed during World War II by the Atomic Energy Commission and it was designed to remove and capture radioactive dust particles from the air which might escape and present a health hazard to the researchers. The "True" HEPA filter was specifically designed to protect the Human Respiratory System.

The "True" HEPA is recognized by OSHA / EPA as the ULTIMATE in cleansing the air and is a proven method.

For a filter to be called a "True" HEPA, it must retain and filter out all particles from the air that passes through it down to 0.3 microns in size at an efficiency rating of 99.97%.

A "True" HEPA's efficiency DOES NOT decrease during it's life, it actually increases and its also known as an ABSOLUTE type filter media for particle capturing.

For a filter to be labeled "True" HEPA, it must be certified 99.97% efficient in capturing 0.3 micron (not 0.1 or 0.01 etc..) respirable-size-particles (RSP) according to the U.S. Military Standard MIL-STD-282, commonly known as the DOP test. The reason 0.3 micron is used and no other is because 0.3 micron is the size at which all mechanical filters are LEAST efficient in capturing. Other methods of testing do not give a true picture of efficiencies relative to respirable-size-particle (RSP) capture.

"True" HEPA filtration is recognized as one of the most efficient air filtration methods known and proven to remove airborne particles, down to the size of 0.3 microns, and is almost exclusively used in medical, laboratory, and commercial applications where totally clean air environments are required for human health and safety.

"True" HEPA filters are used for nuclear contamination, lead and asbestos abatement, surgical facilities, tuberculosis wards, clean rooms, computer rooms and other areas where clean and particle free air is essential.

Since 0.3 micron size particles are the most difficult size particles to remove from the air (not 0.1 or 0.01 or any other number) and they pass easily into the body's respiratory system, (RSP) they are specifically used in the testing and certifying of a "True" HEPA Filter.

(Please note: "HEPA-Type" filters are lower cost, not as efficient, and not an equivalent to a "TRUE" HEPA filter. "HEPA-Type" filters are simple low cost impersonators of a "TRUE" HEPA filter.)

Is 0.3 Microns Filtration Important?

YES! Particles that are 0.3 micron in size are the most difficult particles to trap and contain within a filter. Also, 0.3 micron particle, when inhaled, passes easily into the body's respiratory system so the body's natural defense system is more vulnerable to these small particles. This is why ONLY "True" HEPA filters are recommended by Allergists and Doctors.

What's a Micron?

A micron is a measure of length: "1 micron equals 1 millionth of a meter!".

A particle that is 10 microns or less in size is not visible to the naked human eye.

Examples of some common air contaminants and their size in microns:

• Human Hair ......................................... (70 - 100 microns)
• Human Sneeze ................................. (10 - 100 microns)
• Pet Dander .......................................... (0.5 - 100 microns)
• Pollen ................................................... (5 - 100 microns)
• Spores from Plants .............................. (6 - 100 microns)
• Mold...................................................... (2 - 20 microns)
• Smoke ................................................... (.01 - 1 micron)
• Dust Mite Debris ................................. (0.5 - 50 microns)
• Household Dust ................................. (.05 - 100 microns)
• Skin Flakes ........................................... (0.4 - 10 microns)
• Bacteria................................................. (0.35 - 10 microns)

When living organisms such as BACTERIA and VIRUSES are captured by a True HEPA filter, are they killed?

NO, "True" HEPA or HEPA-Type, and for that matter, NO filter media KILLS anything! "True" HEPA is a trapping filter media. The only way trapped Bacteria will die is if the air coming into the filter is DRY. Without moisture the bacteria will die. If you have moist or humid air (most homes and living areas are not DRY air) bacteria can breed within the filter. The only way Bacteria will be killed within a "True" HEPA filter is if the filter has been SPECIALLY treated for killing bacteria OR there is a Germicidal Ultra Violet light.

Will a True HEPA Capture and Trap ALL Viruses?

NO, most all Viruses are smaller than 0.3 microns and they can pass through a HEPA filter. Some may get trapped by adhering to the HEPA media but can also break loose and return to the air.

Is a "HEPA-Type" Filter the same as a "True HEPA" Filter?

NO!! HEPA-Type filters look like a genuine "True" HEPA but have nonspecific filter efficiency for respirable size particles (RSP) (0.3 microns) anywhere from 25% to 95% whereas a "True" HEPA has a certified 99.97% efficient in capturing 0.3 micron particles. (This info provided by Allergy and Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc)

What is a Bio-HEPA Filter?

A Bio-HEPA filter is a HEPA filter that is made with materials (such as glues, paper and binders) that are non-outgasing. Bio-HEPA filters are the best for the chemically (MCS) and environmentally sensitive individuals.

Should I leave my HEPA air cleaner on all of the time?

YES! Leaving the unit ON even when you are away lets the unit constantly scrub the air. Also, if a unit is turned off for a long period of time and then turned back on, you may smell some of the captured particles within the HEPA and or carbon. You should ALWAYS leave a HEPA unit running 24/7. If you do turn it off for days and weeks you are best to also change the filters. Most people's reasoning for turning it off is to save on electrical costs. This is why an energy efficient blower moter (low wattage) is the best!

Is the HEPA Filter the Most Important Part of an Air Cleaner and are not ALL HEPA Air Cleaner Systems the Same?

NO, all HEPA Air Cleaners ARE NOT the same! Care must be taken when choosing a HEPA Air Cleaner because the most important part of any HEPA Air Cleaner, and the most expensive part besides the "True" HEPA air filter itself, is the Power, Performance and CFM (cubic feet per minute) of the Blower or Fan motor. There is no sense in having a good filter media such as a "True" HEPA filter if the blower or fan motor is weak and/or of poor quality. Since a "True" HEPA filter has a high efficiency of 99.97% a strong fan motor is REQUIRED and ESSENTIAL because the efficiency of any filter is meaningless if the unit can not draw air to and into the "True" HEPA filter itself.

Is a higher wattage unit mean stronger fan motor?

NO! The higher the wattage simply means the higher in electrical costs to run. High quality and High-End HEPA air cleaning units do not use lower cost, high energy using fan motors. Energy efficient motors are available but at a higher cost to purchase. Also, most High Quality Fan Motors are also quieter! A portable HEPA Air Cleaner with a quality energy efficient fan motor should be in the area of 80 to 150 Watts MAX at 350 to 400 CFM.

The design of the air outlet on an air cleaner is also very important. The filtered air out of a unit should blow either downward, upward or only from one side away from the unit so the filtered air is'nt simple recycled and filtered again. Units that simply blow filtered air outward over the filter are least efficient because they filter more clean air than dirty air.

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Because a "True" HEPA filter retains and filters out all particles from the air that passes through it down to 0.3 microns in size at an efficiency rating of 99.97%, ONLY "True" HEPA filters are recommended by more Allergists and Doctors than any other filter type systems. ( EXAMPLE: If 6,000 air particles down to 0.3 microns (dust, etc..) are drawn through a "TRUE" HEPA Filter on a single pass, 5,998 of them would be captured and retained in the HEPA filter and only 2 particles would make it through! That's 99.97% efficiency... That's "TRUE HEPA!)