What is air filtration?

It is an air filter system device that potentially removes solid airborne particles in a specific space; if inhaled in the lungs, it is generally harmful to human health. 

Air filtration systems are responsible for filtering harmful particles such as germs, dust, pollen, powder, mold, fibers, etc. It uses chemical and physical processes with fibrous pleated cotton, paper, ionizers, foam, activated charcoal, catalyst, chemicals, absorbents, etc. Moreover, air filtration is customary in transportation, buildings, industries, and public areas where pollution is due to the nature of the job, environmental conditions, or other processes. 

Air Filtration in the Commercial Building

From a high level, an air filtration system in a building results from air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems. There are two main reasons for this: to minimize the number of contaminants in the air inside the building environment and to protect equipment components from any accumulation of debris and dirt. Every commercial space needs to have proper air filtration and ventilation for safety and hygienic purposes.  

As commercial buildings start slowly getting back due to the pandemic and filling up with workers and visitors. Proper functions of the mechanical building system, including HVAC systems and HVAC Access Doors and Panels, require particular attention to keep people comfortable and safe. 

Importance Of Air Filtration 

Air filtration provides the means to obtain the specific level of particulate cleanliness in the definition of air conditioning in has a variety of purposes, some of which include:  

• Protects all the human beings that occupy the space
• Removes airborne viruses and bacteria in a specific place to help avoid postoperative infection to others
• Protects equipment and decor within a particular area by minimizing the staining portion of airborne dust
• Eliminates hazards of fire by removing lint and other materials that might accumulate in the ductwork
• Minimizes building interior maintenance by reducing the frequent washing of such items as light bulbs, Venetian blinds, etc. 
• Extend the perishable goods’ shelf life by eliminating airborne mold during the operation process

Indoor air quality is an essential element for every human being in the building. Proper HVAC can make the difference between clean air that is easy and healthy to breathe and pollutants with stuffy air-filled air. Thus, understanding the different air filter types is the first step to improve indoor air quality in your space. 

Here are the seven commonly used air filter types:

• Pleated filters
• HEPA filters or high-efficiency particulate air filters
• Washable filters
• Spun glass filters
• UV light filters
• Electrostatic filters
• Media filters

Each filter has its pros and cons, depending on your goal for your commercial space. Generally, high-efficiency filters, which are also cost-effective, are best for commercial and residential use. Still, considerations should include whether mildew or mold is a threat and how often to change the filters. 

Choosing Right Filter

Higher Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values or MERV filters can eliminate a more significant number of particles. Still, the filter allows less air to clean through it. So, it is essential to determine the perfect balance between air resistance and filtration resistance. 

The high-efficiency particulate air or HEPA type filter has the highest MERV ratings. Filters having MERV 1 to 4 have a low capture efficiency particulate, MERV 5 to 12 are moderately efficient, while MERV 13-16 are advanced filters to capture microscopic particles. 

A commercial building cleaning expert can help you determine the most appropriate filters your building requires. 

How To Maintain Air Filtration and HVAC System

Regular inspection is essential to maintain high-efficiency filters operational to ensure that the HVAC system in the building is in good condition and operates as intended. Moreover, having proper HVAC Access Doors and Panels can make it easy to have any maintenance or cleaning activity in the system. 

Failure to use a proper air filtration system or poor maintenance of the system can lower the indoor air quality while your HVAC unit is pushing more hard than required. 

Takeaway

Air filtration in every building is crucial for every one of us. It will provide clean air and protect us from any harmful particles that may infect us. Safety must come first in all sorts in the building, especially in the air we breathe.