When you have a high-capacity HVAC system for circulating the air within your business’s building, you’ll want to ensure that it’s efficiently cleaning the air that passes through. To do that, you need the right filter. If you’re unsure which filter to get, this guide covering the different types of commercial air filters will help you out.
Pleated Filters
The first stage pleated filter is the most popular and recognizable filter on this list. These filters are made of polyester or polyester blended materials and folded into an accordion-style shape. The pleated design can fit more surface area into a smaller base. The more filter material there is, the more dirt, dust, and fine particles the filter will capture.
While pleated filters aren’t the most efficient filter on the market, they are one of the most affordable, making them perfect for general use and first-stage filtration. They are also very easy to dispose of and replace and readily available in almost any size.
HEPA Filters
If you run a data center, hospital, critical production area, semiconductor production area, or biohazard containment area, you need the cleanest air possible. This means you’ll need high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. These filters are 99.97 percent efficient in catching all contaminants 0.3 microns or larger.
Of course, there are various levels of purity achievable with HEPA filters, so you should get a HEPA filter that will perform to your level of need.
Pocket and Rigid Filters
Not all HVAC systems need to have the deep levels of air purification that HEPA filters offer. Medium- to high-efficiency filters rated from MERV 11 to MERV 16 are common in the second or final stage in many general commercial ventilation systems.
The MERV 13 and higher secondary filters are long lasting and can capture large amounts of dust. They provide low pressure drops while protecting people and equipment from hazards common in commercial systems, such as airborne viruses, allergens, and mold spores.
Pocket-style filters are cheaper, but they aren’t ideal for variable air volume (VAV) systems. On the other hand, rigid V-cells and compact rigid filters handle the VAV systems well with their compact design and long lifespan.
These medium-efficiency filters are commonly found in commercial buildings, hospitals, data centers, and large facilities or arenas.
Activated Carbon Filters
The final type of commercial air filter is quite different from the others. Activated carbon filters remove harmful fumes and gases from your home or work environment.
While other filters can remove dust and fine particles from the air that can be damaging to the lungs, equipment, furnishing, and building structure, they don’t remove fumes or gases from the air.
Although more expensive, activated carbon filters remove these hazards. Studies on indoor air quality (IAQ) show that these fumes and gases can be toxic, but we can’t notice them with our senses.
Because of this, we firmly believe that activated carbon filters will become a requirement for commercial buildings to pass IAQ standards. These filters also help achieve a certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most prominent green-building rating system in the world.
For all your industrial filtration products, get in touch with Clean Liquid Systems. We have commercial air filters of all types, so check out our inventory today!