Choosing the right air filter and filter media BY BOB JACKSON, CAFS NORSPEC FILTRATION LTD. SARNIA, ON Poor indoor-air quality (IAQ) is more than
Fortunately, many of these triggers
researchers, indoor air often is two to
just a nuisance; it’s costly, too. Poor IAQ
can be eliminated or significantly
five times more polluted than outdoor
significantly influences the occurrence of
reduced by the proper selection of air
air. Most of the respirable dust and
communicable respiratory illnesses and
filters in a building's HVAC system.
other particles people breathe into
allergies, asthma, and sick-building
Advances in air filtration have led to the
their lungs is smaller than 10 microns in
development of systems that provide
size. Therefore, the first step in determining the best type of HVAC filter needed – and an important step in any IAQrelated building strategy – is to identify the types and sizes of particular pollutants in the building. Once problematic pollutants are identified, it is time to look at filter efficiency. Filtration efficiency is defined by how well a filter cleans indoor air by removing airborne particles. Low-efficiency filters – those
symptoms. Some of the airborne triggers for these illnesses include microorganisms, respirable particles such as dust and smoke, volatile organic compounds, and allergens. In Canada, 5.7 million school children
superior IAQ while reducing energy costs and helping commercial and institutional buildings achieve greenbuilding milestones.
and close to one million teachers, administrators, and others walk into
Air Filtration and IAQ
15,000 school buildings every day – and
The average human breathes in
at least 50 per cent of these schools have
about 16,000 quarts of air, which con-
been diagnosed with indoor air quality
tain about 70,000 visible and invisible
problems.
particles, each day. According to
Air Filtration Specialists 44 Ops Talk • Fall 2010
4704 - 91st Avenue Edmonton, AB T6B 2L1 Tel: 780-468-9296 Fax: 780-468-5806
