In the past, air filtration systems in spaces such as offices and schools were designed primarily to protect HVAC equipment and reduce the need for facility cleaning. In recent years, people have become aware of the issue of indoor air quality as independent studies have focused attention on the deleterious effects of airborne contaminants and the relationship of “sick building syndrome” to higher absenteeism and lower productivity. In turn, facility executives have felt increasing ethical, legal and marketing pressures to provide a high-quality indoor air environment for their occupants.

Air filtration systems aim to capture, in a cost-effective manner, as many of the suspended particulates, biological materials and gases from the air as possible. An air filtration strategy depends on the building’s occupancy, location, specific air quality issues, and the type and operation of the HVAC system. For example, the strategy for an airport terminal, which is subject to high volumes of diesel and jet fuel gases, differs from that of a typical office building.

Rating the Ratings

Filters are rated based on a minimum efficiency rating value (MERV). Normal filter types range from low efficiency (MERV 8) to medium efficiency (MERV 13) to high efficiency (MERV 15). (See box on page 14.) MERV 13 or MERV 15 filters are effective for most commercial and institutional applications.

Facility executives should balance air filtration efficiency with operating cost, which basically comprises filter costs and the cost of electricity to power the air handling system.

Low-efficiency filters cost approximately $50 each. High-efficiency filters cost roughly $140 each. HEPA filters range in cost from $180 to $500 each.

Pressure drop is one of the factors in the operating cost equation. Pressure drop is the measurement, in inches, of the decrease in air flow through the filter compared to no filter. Pressure drop is affected by MERV, dust loading and fan velocity. The higher the MERV, the greater the pressure drop across the surface of the filter. Similarly, as the filter accumulates particles, the pressure drop increases, resulting in decreased air flow through the filter. For example, at the recommended velocity of 500 fpm, the initial pressure drop of a new filter when the fan is running at maximum velocity is approximately 0.35 to 0.75 inches for a MERV 13 filter, 0.85 to 1.0 inch for a MERV 15 filter, and 1.0 to 2.0 inches for HEPA filters.

It might seem that the higher the MERV rating, the higher the operating cost because of the higher initial and replacement costs of the filters, plus the cost of power to operate the higher horsepower fans required to push the air through the filters.

But it’s more complicated than that.

Consider a comparative analysis of operating costs for medium efficiency versus high efficiency filters in a commercial office building. Most office buildings use variable air volume systems, and, depending on the building’s location, fans operate, on average, at 70 to 90 percent volume. The filters are at their highest pressure drops at maximum volume, thus the difference in operating costs between medium-efficiency and high-efficiency filters will be greater in a building in which the fans average 90 percent volume than in a building in which fans average 70 percent.

Regardless of the efficiency of the filter, operating cost is quite specific to the building; there is no rule of thumb. This means the type of filter should be selected based on the specific building location, occupancy, air quality issues and type and operation of the HVAC system. However, it is reasonable to specify a filter of at least MERV 13 to maintain good indoor air quality in common types of spaces. At 85 percent efficiency, the pressure drop is generally less than 0.50 inches, which can be handled by most existing air handling systems. If an owner is considering a higher efficiency system, a life-cycle analysis is strongly recommended to compare benefits against increased operating costs.

High Efficiency Filtration

High-efficiency-particulate air (HEPA) and ultra-low-penetration air (ULPA) filters have efficiencies ranging from 95 percent at 0.3 microns to more than 99.99999 percent at 0.12 microns. HEPA filters are widely used to control allergens and microbes in hospitals and laboratories, in sensitive manufacturing facilities and in facilities requiring protection from agents of bioterrorism. ULPA filters were developed in the early 1960s for use in the microelectronics manufacturing industry, where they are still used today.

Typically, a HEPA or ULPA filtration system uses lower efficiency filters as “pre-filters” to capture some of the particulates before the air reaches the final stage of filtration. That setup extends the life of these expensive filters.

Carbon filters, which adsorb odors and gases, are primarily used in airports and highly specialized industrial applications. They are not only expensive, but also have a very high pressure drop, so they are limited to applications with a maximum air flow of 200 fpm. This requires mechanical units to be sized accordingly, that is, 2.5 times larger.

Electrostatic filters create an electrical charge in the air, causing particles to attach not only to the filter, but also to one another, forming heavier particles that drop out of suspension. These are effective in controlling allergens and tobacco smoke, but care must be taken to specify a type that does not generate ozone, which is harmful to the respiratory system. These are rarely used in commercial applications because of increasingly common bans on smoking, but they are used in a number of large airports.

Current Practices

Most modern Class A office buildings use filters rated MERV 13 or higher. Building owners realize that this translates to higher operating costs. However, they can market a high-quality indoor environment, justifying higher lease rates. At the same time, the owner’s potential liability drops.

More schools should be equipped with MERV 13, if not MERV 15 filters, plus ultraviolet (UV) light sterilization because of children’s susceptibility to respiratory infections and the effects of pollutants. UV units that emit type C light could be incorporated into the air handling system just behind the air filters, reducing biological pathogens both in the air and on the filters themselves.

In contrast, because of the largely transient nature of the occupancy, most retailers tend to use lower efficiency air filtration systems, unless higher efficiency filters are required to protect their merchandise.

Health care facilities are a special case. Hospital codes require HEPA filtration for critical areas, such as operating rooms, other invasive procedure rooms, infectious disease isolation rooms and emergency room waiting areas.