When it comes to air quality solutions, you’ll often hear people talking about HEPA filters. But here’s where things get confusing: Is HEPA a brand name or a type of filter? This is an important distinction to make if you want to clean up the air in your home, office, or tech environment.
HEPA was once a registered trademark, but now it’s a generic term for highly efficient air filters.
From helping you understand air quality concerns to picking the right product for your needs, this article will explain what HEPA means and why you should care.
What is another name for a HEPA filter?
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and it’s not just a name. It’s a way to talk about how good a filter is at getting rid of really tiny particles. The name comes from the fact that a HEPA filter can get rid of 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size. The standard was made up in the 1940s during the Manhattan Project to stop radioactive stuff from getting in the air.
People usually say “HEPA” when they’re talking about filters that meet this standard, but you need to know that for a filter to be a real HEPA filter, it has to meet some really strict rules. You might also hear people say “true HEPA,” “HEPA-like,” or “HEPA type.”
Usually, only true HEPA is the one you need to remove 0.3um particles with 99.97% efficiency.
The important thing for you to know is that a HEPA filter is only as good as its certification and testing against established standards. When you buy a HEPA filter, look for test certifications by following standards organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy or the European Standard EN 1822. That way, you know you’re getting something that really works.
What company makes HEPA filters?
Making HEPA filters is a special thing. The companies that do it have to know a lot and have a lot of technology to meet the tough rules of the HEPA standard. Some of the best companies that make really good HEPA filters you need to know:
NuAire, Inc.: They make lab stuff. Their HEPA filters are used in biosafety cabinets and clean rooms. The filters protect against biohazards and chemical vapors.
HEPA Corporation: They make custom HEPA filters for industry, commercial, and homes. They make filters for various uses, so they work great wherever you put them.
Graver Technologies: They make HEPA filters for important stuff like medicine, biotech, and nuclear power. Their HEPA filters work great in tough conditions and catch particles really well.
Nordic air filtration: They sell all kinds of filters for factories. Their HEPA filters last a long time and catch really small particles, even in very dirty conditions.
Koinfilter: We make HEPA filters for homes and industries. Our HEPA filters meet strict air quality standards and get rid of particles to make your air better.
All of these companies make filters that meet the strict HEPA standards. They also come up with new ideas to make air better. When you’re picking a HEPA filter, think about what the company is known for and what you need the filter to do. You might need one for your house, for a factory, or for a special place like a lab or a clean room.
Is HEPA a Certification?
You may think HEPA is a certification that guarantees the best filtration. But the truth is, HEPA is not a certification. It’s a set of standards.
As you know, which I have said many times, HEPA is used to trap 0.3um. This is its duty.
No Certifying Body
You might think that there is some organization that certifies the filter as HEPA. The reality is that manufacturers will follow standards like EN1822 to test Hepa filters, and the test reports they produce are often what you get when you buy a Hepa Filter. That’s because there is no organization that will do the certification.
What Does This Mean for You?
For you, just knowing that HEPA is a standard and not a certification can help you make better decisions when you’re shopping. You want to make sure that the HEPA filter you’re buying has clear documentation that it meets the 99.97% standard. Some companies might call their filters “HEPA-type” or “HEPA-like,” which means they don’t meet the strict HEPA standards and might not purify your air as well.
To sum it up, HEPA is not a certification, it’s a set of guidelines that make sure you’re getting the highest efficiency in air filtration. When you’re shopping for HEPA filters, make sure the product specifies compliance with these standards so you get the most out of your air purifier.
What is considered a HEPA filter?
A HEPA filter is the best kind of filter you can get to clean the air. It can catch 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns (µm) big. That’s what makes HEPA filters different from other filters you can buy.
Function, Material, and Working Process
What makes a HEPA filter special is that it can catch really tiny particles. It can catch particles that are 0.3 microns big. That’s the hardest size of particle to catch. It’s called the most penetrating particle size (MPPS).
HEPA filters are usually made from a bunch of fibers that are all mixed up. The fibers are usually made of fiberglass. How thick the filter is, how big the fibers are, and how fast air goes through the filter are all things that make the filter work.
When air goes through a HEPA filter, a few things happen. Some particles stick to the fibers. Some bigger particles hit the fibers and get stuck because they can’t keep going. Some tiny particles move around and get stuck on the fibers because they’re moving all over the place. Some particles get stuck in the spaces between the fibers.
If you know this stuff, you can make a good choice when you pick a HEPA filter. It will help you get the air as clean as you want it to be and make sure you stay safe.
Should you run a HEPA filter all the time?
Running a HEPA filter all the time can keep your air clean, which is great if you live in a place with lots of pollution or allergens. But you have to think about how much energy it uses and how long the filter will last. Running it all the time means you get the benefits of clean air, but it also means you’ll wear out the filter faster.
Get good air
If you live in a place with lots of pollution or you have pets, running a HEPA filter all the time can help keep your air clean by always getting rid of allergens and tiny particles.
More bills
Running a HEPA filter all the time will use more energy, which might be a problem if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on electricity. Newer HEPA filters are made to use less energy, but you still need to think about the cost and how it affects the environment if you run it all the time.
Different locations
Some HEPA filters are made to be used all the time in places like hospitals and labs, where they have to have really clean air. But for your house, you might only need to run it when you’re home or when the air is really bad.
Conclusion
So, HEPA isn’t a brand name; it’s a way to say how good a filter is. Knowing this can help you decide what kind of air filter to get. If you like technology, if you’re an engineer, or if you just want to have better air at home or work, you need to know about HEPA filters to pick a good air purifier.
