The Corona Virus pandemic has brought out a cry for protective gear, masks, respirators and ventilators not to mention HEPA based air filtration systems to maintain positive pressure rooms in make-shift hospitals. HEPA filters are made from special paper-like materials that are extremely dense and designed to capture a very high percentage ( usually 99.99% or greater ) of sub-micron particulate. These filters are used in surgery suites, laboratories, chip manufacturing, and any place where airborne particles ( bacteria and viruses ) are present. 

With the Covid-19 pandemic there is a race to provide any type of mask for the first responders, medical personnel and now the general public. This demand has brought out a number of individuals and groups making masks ( or printing them ) out of various materials; mostly cloth of some kind. However, some are offering HEPA masks that look like a regular cloth type mask. True HEPA masks worn by first responders are PAPR masks. Positive Air Pressure Respirators.These masks have true HEPA filters in their design and also have fans to assist in pulling the air through the HEPA filters. These masks are battery powered. Without the assistance of the fan you would would have difficulty pulling air through the mask with your own lungs as the HEPA paper has extreme resistance compared to standard surgical masks. 

The N-95 masks are similar to MERV 8 air filters. They are good for 95% of particles in the 3.0 to 10.0 micron range. Certainly much better than cloth but not as good as HEPA media. The reason this is important is that viruses, such as the Covid-19 virus, can be as small as .0005 microns in size. As a comparison, your hair is about 100 microns in diameter. This sub-micron size makes Covid-19 airborne and allows it to pass through standard mask materials. This is why this virus is so deadly. 

For more information on HEPA filters please go to our website at:  https://www.pureairsystems.com   or call us on our toll-free number at: 800-869-8025.

 

Post Tags: airborne contaminants Covid-19 Covid-19 Masks HEPA Filters viruses

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About the Author: Don Musilli

My name is Don Musilli. I started Pure Air Systems in 1985 and then sold it in 2006. I continue to consult for PAS and write their blog and control their Twitter account. I also, on occasion, make changes to the website. The company is now almost 26 years old and has been a major player in offering commercial grade, high performance HEPA and Carbon based filtration systems for the commercial, institutional, industrial and residential markets.

I currently reside in Englewood, Florida where I write blogs and do social media marketing for a number of clients.

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