Are All Commercial Air Filters Created Equally?

Commercial air filters come in a variety of qualities and exist for a variety of purposes. Some offer little more air quality protection than a wet towel, while others can block bacteria particles. Choosing the right commercial air filter simply requires a little time and research.

Industry Specific Guidelines

Depending on the industry you work in, you may need a commercial HVAC unit that meets specific industry air quality guidelines. If this is the case, make sure you check those guidelines carefully. The air filters needed to protect machinery from damage are very different from the air filters needed to prevent bacterial disease from spreading through a facility. A mistake here can potentially be costly in more ways than one.

​Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value

Whether or not you need to follow industry specific guidelines for your commercial HVAC unit, identifying the quality of air filters is actually rather easy because they are clearly labeled. Every air filter has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) that ranges from 1 to 20. The higher the value, the smaller the type of particle it protects against, with a value of 20 protecting against particles that are smaller than 3 micrometers. For commercial use, you generally want an air filter that has a MERV of at least 5, and it is better to have a value of 10 or higher for any type of machine shop or laboratory.
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For more information on commercial air filtration, contact Smoak’s Comfort Control today.