Consumers should research the technology, attempting to match any specific claims against the intended use of the product. *Note: CDC’s recommendation for primary surface disinfection in occupied environments is to follow the CDC/EPA guidance for surface disinfection. Because our intention was to focus this study on high-efficiency HVAC filters, i.e., MERV 12 and higher, we selected MERV 12, MERV 13 and MERV 14 fil-ters because these high-efficiency filters are commonly used in homes. The time required to remove airborne particles from a space can be estimated once the source of infectious particles is no longer present and the dilution air is free of new infectious particles (e.g. With our custom air filter wizard, you can build a size to fit your needs. While these systems do not bring in outdoor dilution air, they are very effective at cleaning air within spaces to reduce the concentration of airborne particulates, including SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. In addition to buildings, ventilation considerations are also important when you have multiple persons within vehicles, including public transportation (buses, subways, trains, school buses, carpools, and rideshares). What filter should I use to protect those in my building from COVID-19? When used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and others, filtration can be part of a plan to protect people indoors. The addition of the HEPA filter device provides additional clean air to the room. Of all the unknowns still surrounding the transmission of the coronavirus, one thing is for sure: Being indoors with lots of people in cramped conditions is a major no-no. Note that MERV ratings are not standard; filter strength can vary from brand to brand. Efficiencies for MERV 15 and MERV 16 filters are even higher. Second, if faced with a MERV-13 regulatory mandate and budgetary concerns that prevent the first choice, then 2-inch MERV-13 (not MERV-13A) air filters could be sourced, but be aware that the actual performance of MERV 13 air filters will be closer to MERV-8 after a period of time. However, GUV can inactivate viruses in the air and on surfaces*. Four types of residential HVAC filters were investigated in this study. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. The air movement created by the air cleaning device can also decrease the value of k. Together, the increased ACH and decreased k can help substantially reduce wait times. Consumers should request testing data that quantitively demonstrates a clear protective benefit and occupant safety under conditions consistent with the intended use. This does not necessarily imply the technologies do not work as advertised. However, the virus generally does not travel through the air by itself. Thus, HEPA filters are no less than 99.97% efficient at capturing human-generated viral particles associated with SARS-CoV-2. CDC twenty four seven. Some of the recommendations below are based on Guidance for Building Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemicpdf iconexternal icon from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Most commercial and residential HVAC systems have a MERV 6 or 8 filter, which takes care of the basic pollen, dust, dust mites, mold and bacteria. Your best options, says Hager, include HEPA and MERV filters. It will be up to the building owner/operator (obtaining expert consultation as needed) to identify which tools are appropriate for each building throughout the year. MERV rated filters are typically used in air conditioning systems, including systems found in most homes. employees are also reluctant to return to work, potentially costing owners more in energy bills. These viral particles are human-generated, so the virus is trapped in respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei (dried respiratory droplets) that are larger than an individual virus. Here, the clean volumetric air flow rate (Q) is: Q = Qe + Qhepa = 72 cfm + 145 cfm = 217 cfm. For smaller offices, portable UV air purifiers can provide a handy solution. Select from 1", 2', and 4" depths. This ventilation concept is applied to areas where the “clean” environment requires a higher level of protection and/or where the “less-clean” environment has a higher risk of containing airborne contaminants (activities or occupancy by individuals with a higher risk of being infectious). The room has average air mixing, so assign k = 5. HEPA fan systems can be used as stand-alone units, or many larger units allow flexible ductwork to be attached to the air inlet and/or outlet (note that larger ducted units don’t fall under the “room air cleaner” description and may not have a CADR rating). Did the study environments represent your environment and intended use? The test is based on particle size. What MERV filter is recommended for preventing the transmission of airborne illnesses such as COVID-19? In other words, a job that takes one hour--which Domenikos says is the standard amount of time it takes to retrofit a single HVAC unit--could cost around $2,000 for a typical 4,000 square-foot office space in New York or upwards of $25,000 for a 100,000 square-foot space. This can be done passively, through intentional placement of supply and exhaust heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) grills or by the intentional creation of pressure differentials between adjacent spaces through specification of offset exhaust and supply air flow rates. 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). Filters like a MERV 13 get you closer to 80 or 90 percent, or HEPA filters capture 99.97 percent of particles, so upgraded filters … MERV filters are not effective at filtering microbes and viruses until they are rated at 17 or better. Creation of the directional airflow can also be done actively, through the use of fans exhausting through open windows, strategic placement of ductwork attached to portable HEPA filtration units, or dedicated exhaust systems (installed or portable) that generate a desired airflow by exhausting air out of windows, doorways, or through temporary ducts. In addition to ventilation, the layered approach includes efforts to improve social distancing, wearing face masks, and hand hygiene. Typically you have a MERV 8 — MERV is a rating system for filters — and those capture less than 50 percent, it could be down to 20 percent of small particles. The higher you go on the MERV scale, the stronger your filter; MERV filters with a value of 13 to 16, for instance, can keep particulates as small as 0.3 microns from entering an enclosed space. Ensure restroom exhaust fans are functional and operating at full capacity when the building is occupied. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Now, he says if you increase the efficiency, your fan has to do to more. Although there are some highly contagious airborne diseases (like measles) where CDC provides specific guidance for 99.9% clearance wait times, the general recommendation in CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities is to wait to allow for a 99% reduction of any generated airborne particles before re-entering the room. Compact and mobile, UV air purifiers like those offered by Molekule, a UV air purifier company based in San Francisco, range in price from $399 to $799. But a MERV 8 filter is not fine enough to take out PM2.5 or viruses; for that, you need at least MERV … Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV), or Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI), is a disinfection tool used in many different settings, such as residential, commercial, educational, and healthcare. Table B.1 in the CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003) provides estimates of the time required to remove airborne contaminants, including airborne viral particles, from the air through ventilation dilution, exhaust and filtration. However, in the absence of an established body of peer-reviewed evidence showing proven efficacy and safety under as-used conditions, the technologies are still considered by many to be “emerging.” As with all emerging technologies, consumers are encouraged to exercise caution and to do their homework. Ventilation improvements may include some or all of the following considerations: *Note: The ventilation intervention considerations listed above come with a range of initial costs and operating costs which, along with risk assessment parameters such as community incidence rates, facemask compliance expectations and room occupant density, may affect considerations for which interventions are implemented. Accordin… Below is a list of ventilation interventions that can help reduce the concentration of virus particles in the air, such as SARS-CoV-2. Regardless of whether the 99% or 99.9% column on Table B.1 is used, the value in the table is usually an under-estimation of the actual dilution clearance time as noted in the table’s footnotes which include the following statement: “The times given assume perfect mixing of the air within the space (i.e., mixing factor = 1). Cognizant authorities such as the CDC and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommend an air filter with a minimum rating of MERV 13. While MERV ratings reflect a filter's ability to trap both microscopic and macroscopic particles, MPR ratings only grade a filter on its capacity to remove particles from 0.3 to 1 microns. While it may not be necessary to apply every consideration to be protective, implementing multiple mitigation strategies is recommended, if possible, to improve effectiveness. When outdoors, the concentration of viral particles rapidly reduces with the wind, even a very light wind. A lower density but still powerful MERV filter could be a good alternative. Now, calculate the air changes per hour: ACH = [Q x 60] / (room volume) = (72 cfm x 60) / (12’ x 10’ x 9’) = 4320/1080 = 4.0 ACH. Was the technology evaluated for potential adverse health effects or occupational exposures? HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. However, the virus generally does not travel through the air by itself. Since it's so strong, it can curb airflow and force the HVAC system to work harder, potentially costing owners more in energy bills. Avoid placing fans in a way that could potentially cause contaminated air to flow directly from one person over another. One way to do this for room air cleaners is to select a HEPA fan system with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) [See EPA’s Guide To Air Cleaners In The Homepdf iconexternal icon] that meets or exceeds the square footage of the room in which it will be used. Consider using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplement to help inactivate SARS-CoV-2, especially if options for increasing room ventilation are limited. Our advanced pleat technology provides less air flow resistance, with higher efficiency. For HVAC systems suspected to be contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, it is not necessary to suspend HVAC system maintenance, including filter changes, but additional safety precautions are warranted. To access the standard, the end user typically must purchase it, but ASHRAE, which is a global society focused on building systems, indoor air quality, and sustainability in the built environment, has made it available for free online viewingexternal icon during the ongoing pandemic. ACH = [Q x 60] / (room volume) = (217 cfm x 60) / (12’ x 10’ x 9’) = 13,020/1080 = 12.06 ACH (round down to 12). However, the virus does not travel through the air … What is a Merv rating? Many New Jersey homeowners ask us about MERV ratings, especially when it comes to choosing between MERV 8 and MERV 11 air filters. To safely achieve this, fan placement is important and will vary based on room configuration. MERV filters with a minimum rating of 8 to 12 are ideal for filtering out pollen and mold spores. 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