Know When to Use These Important Indoor Air Quality Measures
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filters are proven methods for removing particles from the air before they reach critical spaces.
Critical environments rely on HEPA and ULPA filters to ensure that contaminants don’t affect daily operations or harm people’s health.
The choice between HEPA and ULPA comes down to the nature of your facility. One isn’t necessarily a better selection than the other, as they should be chosen for their effectiveness in a specific environment.
However, facility managers should understand these filters’ qualities and learn how they help maintain high standards for indoor air quality (IAQ).
What Is a HEPA Air Filter?
A HEPA air filter is essentially a barrier between airflow and an environment. It is constructed from woven polypropylene or microfibers to catch particles as they attempt to pass through. HEPA air filtration has a 99.99% efficiency at catching particles as small as 0.3 microns.
This means that HEPA filters are nearly perfect at trapping particles such as:
- Viruses and bacteria.
- Mold spores and fungi.
- Smoke (e.g., cooking, wildfire, diesel).
What Is an ULPA Air Filter?
An ULPA filter works just like a HEPA filter. Woven media blocks particles from entering a room. However, this filter’s materials allow it to trap even smaller contaminants than HEPA filters. An ULPA filter is 99.995% efficient at removing particles as small as 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are highly effective at stopping particles like chemical aerosols or ultrafine dust.
Your Guide to Choosing HEPA or ULPA Air Filtration
Your facility needs precisely chosen air filtration systems and products to avoid the negative effects of airborne contaminants. The simplest method for choosing a HEPA or ULPA filter comes down to understanding your facility’s environmental requirements.
Choosing HEPA Filters
When to choose HEPA filters: HEPA filters are often leveraged in the healthcare industry, aerospace and automotive engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, microelectronics, and food and beverage production.
What air filtration products utilize HEPA filters: HEPA filters are found in fan filter units (FFUs) and can be used with hinged grilles, which include filtration as a last line of defense before air is distributed into or drawn out of a room.
HEPA use case example: A healthcare facility might choose HEPA filters for a large majority of locations, knowing that these filters are highly effective at trapping the most harmful particles that lead to infections.
Choosing ULPA Filters
When to choose ULPA filters: The industries that use ULPA filters are largely the same as HEPA filters, with one exception: ULPA filters are used in environments with cleanrooms, where extremely sensitive processes can be quickly compromised by unwanted particulate matter.
What air filtration products use ULPA filters: HEPA and ULPA filters are compatible with critical environment systems and products.
ULPA use case example: Certain areas of a hospital that largely rely on HEPA filters may consider ULPA filters when infection prevention is even more crucial. Environments like cancer treatment wards use ULPA filters to ensure maximum protection against viruses and bacteria whose fragments are smaller than 0.30 microns.
Although you may feel most comfortable partnering with a critical environment manufacturer to choose your ULPA and HEPA air filtration products, a basic understanding of these tools allows you to make informed decisions during the selection process. However, your next challenge is to choose a manufacturer that designs top-tier filters and a wide array of air filtration products that keep your facility safe and risk-free.
Discover Our High-Quality Air Filtration Solutions
AJ Manufacturing offers HEPA and ULPA filters along with the systems and products in which they’re used, including our signature ceiling systems, such as the SS-CARES, and our line of Criti-Clean™ fan filter units.
Our HEPA 479592 and ULPA air filters offer:
- Stainless steel construction.
- An anodized aluminum gel-seal frame for leak protection.
- Optional test ports for pressure drop, leakage, and adjustment.
- UL 900 Class 1 listing.
- Factory testing to ensure quality and performance.
The trusted name in custom HVAC for over 50 years, our critical environment manufacturing team exceeds your expectations for quality products that protect your facility’s air quality. Our depth of experience in a range of industries with mission-critical processes allows us to solve your clean air challenges with innovative and effective solutions.
Explore AJ Manufacturing’s entire line of air filtration products today.