Knowing who certifies HEPA filters is important so you can get clean air at home or work. Whether you’re a buyer, purchasing agent, user, or pro, understanding how they’re certified helps you make smart choices.
Every HEPA filter is tested by manufacturers using the methods set by the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technologies (IEST) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). They challenge filters with particles or aerosols of a certain size and measure what comes out.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how filters get certified and what it means for you.
Is there a certification for HEPA filters?
Every product with a negative air machine and HEPA filtration is certified as a unit. We do an on-site controlled environment performance test and give you a certification report.
The Process of Getting Certified
Every HEPA filter goes through tough testing and certification to prove it works. This certification is more than just a sticker.
Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technologies (IEST)
The IEST sets the rules and ways to test HEPA filters. They have standards like IEST-RP-CC001 and IEST-RP-CC007 that tell you how to check filter efficiency, resistance, and how well they work.
To get certified, you test filters with particles or aerosols of a certain size and see how well they catch them.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO, especially with standards like ISO 29463, gives you a way to test and grade HEPA filters. It tells you how to figure out how well the filter works with different-sized particles and in different situations.
On-Site Controlled Environment Performance Test
Besides lab tests, lots of HEPA filters get tested in real places. You check how well filters work in the real world to make sure they do the job where they’re supposed to.
Certification Reports:
Once they pass the tests, filters get a certification report that shows how well they did. These reports prove that filters meet the rules and give you confidence that they’re good.
How do I know if my filter is HEPA certified?
Look for numbers on labels like “99.97 percent of all particles 0.3 microns in size.” If the marketing tells you like “more than 99 percent of dust and pollen,” that’s not True HEPA.
Here are some common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them
Don’t get fooled by marketing
Be careful with filters that say they’re “HEPA-type” or “HEPA-like.” They don’t have to meet the same standards as real HEPA filters, and they’re usually not as good.
Don’t leave out the details
Don’t buy filters that don’t tell you how well they work or what size particles they can catch. Look for filters that give you the details you need.
Don’t buy filters that say things they can’t prove to you. Look for filters that have the right paperwork to show they’ve been tested and certified.
Is certified HEPA the same as true HEPA?
A HEPA-type filter is only 99% efficient and captures particles as small as 0.2 microns. That may sound better than the 0.3 effectiveness of True HEPA, but it’s not.
How often must HEPA filters be certified?
Unless you have an approved exception, you should test your HEPA filters at least once a year. If you have a Class 5 cleanroom, you should test your filters every 6 months. If your test shows that your HEPA filter is leaking, you need to fix it using an approved patching procedure based on the IEST RP-CC034.
How often you need to test your HEPA filters depends on a few things:
Where you use your filters can change how often you have to test them. For example, if you use filters in a hospital, a lab, or a cleanroom where they make chips, you might have to test your filters more often. You have to do that because you have to have really clean air in those places.
Different places have different rules about how clean the air has to be. You have to follow those rules. The rules tell you how often you have to test your filters.
If you use your filters a lot or if you have a lot of pollutants in the air, you might have to test your filters more often. You have to do that to make sure your filters are still working right.
What is the HEPA filter compliance?
When we talk about HEPA filter compliance, we’re talking about following the standards set by the IEST and ISO. Compliance means that your filters meet the efficiency and performance levels you need. To be compliant, you need to have your filters tested and certified. The test will show that your filters can capture 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size.
Here are the things you have to do to be compliant:
You have to test your filter to see how many particles it can catch. You have to test it to see if your filter can catch particles 0.3 microns in size. Those are the hardest particles to catch.
You should test your filter to make sure it doesn’t leak. That means you must ensure no particles can get through the filter.
You need to make sure your filter doesn’t slow down the air too much. You have to make sure the air can still move around like it’s supposed to.
What are the requirements for HEPA certification?
To get certified as a HEPA filter, you have to be able to capture 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size. To get certified, you have to test your filters in a certain way. You have to test them to make sure they work the way they’re supposed to in the real world. You have to test them to make sure they can hold onto particles, let air through, and last a long time.
How do you validate a HEPA filter?
You usually do an integrity test to check if a HEPA filter is legit. You use a photometer to scan the filter surface and look for tiny holes that would let particles through. This is super important for keeping your air clean in places where it really matters.
Way to test
Aerosol Photometry: Aerosol photometry is when you use a photometer to measure how many aerosol particles there are before and after the filter. This is a super accurate way to measure particles, even really tiny ones.
People usually use it to test for leaks and make sure the filter is working right. It tells you exactly how well the filter is catching particles.
Particle Counters: Particle counters are machines that count and measure particles in the air. They tell you how many particles there are and how big they are.
You can use particle counters before you put the filter in and while it’s running to make sure it’s working right. It tells you how well the filter is catching particles of different sizes. Most of the time, HEPA filter manufacturers use particle counters to do on-site tests and some research.
DOP (Dispersed Oil Particulate) Testing: DOP testing is when you spray a bunch of oil particles (usually dioctyl phthalate) at the filter and see how many of them get through.
This is a really common and fast way to test for leaks and make sure your HEPA filter is working right, especially in places like clean rooms where you have to be extra careful.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you want the best air quality, you need to know about HEPA filter certification. Make sure you look for the right certification and efficiency ratings to get the best filter.
