Performance VS Price For HEPA Air Filtration Systems
The acronym HEPA stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Absolute” filter. The word absolute means just that. A HEPA filter by standards means it will capture, initially, 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger. This means if you had 10,000 particles in that size range and put them through the HEPA filter only 3 are allowed to pass through the media. There are scanned HEPA filters which have a minimum efficiency of 99.99% at 0.3 microns, ULPA filters with minimum efficiency of 99.9995% at 0.12 microns and SULPA filters with minimum efficiency of 99.99999% at 0.12 microns. In every case the overall efficiency of the filters is directly proportional to how the filter in sealed, or contained in the holding frame or air filtration device.
There are a number of small, portable style HEPA filtration systems sold on the market today. The majority of them are designed for residential applications; specifically bedrooms and small living areas. These systems have very small fans and can only move about 50 to 200 CFM of filtered air and have HEPA filters that are not necessarily sealed tightly in their housings. Then there are fewer than 5 portable type HEPA units that are designed to be used in the commercial markets where optimum performance is required. When we get to the larger, stand-alone HEPA filtration systems, those that can move from 100 to 2,000 CFM of filtered air, there are only two companies in that arena.
HEPA filters are expensive. They requires very special equipment to manufacture them and highly sophisticated, expensive test equipment to certify them and ensure they meet all the regulations and standards that allow them to be certified as HEPA filters. They are usually framed in aluminum or steel and have a gasket on one side to allow for compression sealing in their prospective housings. Unless the HEPA filter is completely sealed, air will by-pass around the filter and render the HEPA filter useless.
Companies and individuals purchase HEPA filtration systems to perform a certain function; removal of harmful airborne sub-micron particulate. The airborne particles may be allergens, pathogens, dust and dirt particles or particles from a manufacturing operation. In almost every case, the performance of the equipment is tantamount to the price of the systems. Since the lack of performance is directly proportional to the overall efficiency of the specific operation, the inability of the HEPA systems to perform can cost hundreds of times more than the equipment itself.
Pure Air Systems has been manufacturing commercial grade, certified HEPA based air filtration systems since 1985 and its systems are considered one of the premier units on the market today. The fact that PAS has been in operation for over 27 years is a testament to their ability to meet or exceed the expectations of their customers. The medical, commercial, institutional, environmental, military and industrial markets all look to PAS to help them solve their critical airborne particulate problems. Performance is their primary concern.
For more information on the complete line of HEPA based air filtration systems from Pure Air Systems go to our website at: www.pureairsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @pureairsystems and like us on Facebook. Of course you can always call us at: 800-869-8025.