Camfil’s Steve Smith, Segment Manager for Air Cleaners and Purifiers,
In a new video (Air Cleaner & Air Purifier Applications What You Need to Know Camfil USA )air filtration industry experts Mark Davidson and Steve Smith explain the need for efficient air filtration beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the difference between air purifiers and air cleaners.
Riverdale, NJ, Sept. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Riverdale, NJ — Air filtration is an essential part of protecting ourselves from the COVID-19 virus. However, generally polluted air, both inside and outside, is a danger to human health even in the absence of harmful pathogens. “COVID-19 is forcing us, perhaps for the first time, to ‘see’ things that are invisible right in front of us,” notes Mark Davidson, Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials at Camfil USA.
“Modern HVAC systems outfitted with economy-grade air filters aren't capable of handling all the particulate in the air right now. To be honest, we’re not even sure what we’re introducing into our systems.”
In a new video, air filtration industry experts Mark Davidson and Steve Smith explain the need for efficient air filtration beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the difference between air purifiers and air cleaners.
The Purpose of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment
“HVAC systems are not designed for dust collection, but for conditioning the air; the heating and cooling of indoor air spaces,” explains Camfil’s Steve Smith, Segment Manager for Air Cleaners and Purifiers, who has worked in the dust collection industry for over twenty years. “And filtration attached to the system is primarily designed for protecting the equipment rather than the occupants.”
Air Purifiers and Air Cleaners — What Is the Difference?
“We consider an air purifier as a device capable of flowing up to 500 CFM,” says Smith. The CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute, of an air purification device indicates the volume of air that moves through the unit. One cubic foot is about the size of a basketball, so a 500 CFM unit circulates five hundred basketballs worth of air per minute. “Air purifiers are used for small spaces, such as hospital rooms, small classrooms, elevators, or mass transit systems.” Generally, these small air purifiers are unobtrusive and plug straight into regular 110-volt power supplies.
In schools, the advantage of having an in-room air purifier is that it mitigates the risks of potential COVID-19 infections from spreading. A sneeze, for example, could be dealt with by the air purifier before it can enter the HVAC system and possibly recirculate to other parts of the building. Aside from the COVID-19 virus, high-efficiency air purifiers filter out mold spores and indoor air pollutants, which are linked to decreased cognitive performance.