Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.healthyindoors.com/i/1367386
Different Filtration, Different Levels of Effectiveness Air filters, specifically, HEPA units have been shown to be very effective in captur- ing particles. Parti- cles as small as the Coronavirus are retained by HEPA filters utilizing dif- fusion mechanics. When used alone, HEPA-rated media provides superior performance for removing virtually 100 percent of particulates, and in this case the 'rating' matters. HEPA designa- tion has a strict set of requirements and they must be able to remove > 99.97 percent in the U.S. per MIL-STD 202 and in Europe > 99.95 percent removal of particles per ISO 29643 and EN 1822. Filtration Facts, Backed by Science Filtration unit room position and air flow are as critical as the HEPA filter used. These facts drive the success of the Ha- lo-air purification system, a product of 50 years of research and development. This unit is mounted to the ceiling and uses active air movement to directly pull air upward to the unit and out of the shared breathing zone where it is then filtered by an H14 High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. The HEPA filters are the ultimate contamination removal filters and W e are still mired in the health dan- gers presented by COVID-19 and all its variant manifes- tations. We also know viruses have been with the human race since our origins and will never be eradicated. But as equal- ly concerning are the unseen dangers of pollution that we breathe every day and particularly those that are present indoors. With that in mind consider that the EPA states that the average American spends 87% of their life indoors with the average human breathing in over 360 liters of air per hour. It therefore stands to reason that we must create ways to maintain the health of our society through incorporating healthy air solutions to improve our indoor air quality (IAQ). Due to the pandemic, we are now more aware than ever of the air we breathe and should be considering what could be lurking in the air which includes a number of possible contagions, bacterium and fungal spores https://www.atzlabs. com/pdf/Airborne-microbe-list.pdf along with general particulate pollution (PM 2.5) that impacts our overall health. One of the obvious contagions is the SARS- COV-2 virus which ranges from 5 micron in size to as small as 0.129 microns in size and can remain airborne indefinitely under most indoor air conditions unless there is proper air movement and dilution from filtration or ventilation. Because of this breathing contaminated air is the great- 22 | April 2021 Using Proven Science to Define Best Commercial Air Purification System for Your Protection By Jesse Coiro est risk of infection due to our bodies inabilities to filter out these small conta- gions, which is also true for some other very well-known viruses, such as influenzas and rhinovirus. Though these are certainly significant health concerns, so too are the other pollutants we are exposed to with very similar micron sizes that impact not only our respiratory system, but also our cardiovascular system, reproductive system and even our central nervous system. The Impact of COVID-19 However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, attention to IAQ is now being paid and the EPA recommends usage of air purifiers indoors which may be particular- ly helpful when additional ventilation with outdoor air is not possible. When used properly air cleaners can reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a building or small space. The EPA stated that 'When used along with other best practices recom- mended by the CDC, filtration can be part of a plan to protect people indoors.' People should take steps to utilize CDC guide- lines and all facilities should take advantage of cutting-edge air filtration technologies that can reduce infection transmission. Technology Focus