One of the main elements of green building is the existence of a system to counteract toxins that can be bad for health, including dust, bacteria, and smoke. Installing HEPA filters in the building’s circulation system will promote health and can even save the environment.
What is HEPA?
Basically, a High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filter is a type of air filter that uses glass fibers or other synthetic materials. This filter is useful for filtering small pollutant particles in the air, including viruses, bacteria, dust, and many more. To be categorized as pure HEPA, an air filter must absorb at least 99.95% particulate matter in the air based on ISO standards in Europe. Meanwhile, standard ISO in the United States requires that air filters filter a minimum of 99.97% of components 0.3 micron or smaller in the surrounding environment.
If the air filter is only able to filter out particles of 2 microns in size, it may be labelled as HEPA-type or HEPA-like to indicate the difference with pure HEPA type.
How HEPA Filter Works
Hepa filter will trap particles in the air using its suction tool. Particles that are more than 10 microns, such as dust or animal dander will be trapped between the air filter glass fibres. As for bacterias that are 0.3 to 1 micron in size will fill in the gaps between each fiber. In the end, all of the particles will stick to the filter.
As for the smaller particles such as viruses, that are smaller than 0.1 microns, the virus and the air molecules that it contacts with will be easily trapped by the filter fibers.
The Benefit of HEPA Filter for Green Building
1. Improving The Air Quality
Because HEPA filters can filter out the most common allergens, certain bacteria, and viruses, the air in will be cleaner. The effectiveness of this air filtration technology will increase further when combined with native plants.
2. Filter the Air Without Ozone
Air filters such as hydroxyl generators and ionizers that use electricity will create a fresher smell with ozone. But, a high concentration of ozone gas can trigger asthma symptoms. HEPA filters do not use or even produce ozone, that makes it safer and more environmentally friendly.
3. Reducing the Use of Chemical Fragrance
Like ozone, air fresheners also have an important role in eliminating odors. However, the chemical compounds contained in it have potential trigger allergy symptoms. Therefore, HEPA filters are a safer choice because they can eliminate the cause of bad odors without using harmful chemicals.
4. Prevent Respiratory Illness
Air quality greatly determines the health of our respiratory organs. Fewer particles and pollutants in the air, means lower the risk of respiratory disease.
5. Reducing Allergy Triggers
The causes of allergies are very diverse, ranging from dust, animal hair, moss spores, to certain chemicals. HEPA filters can trap allergens and reduce the triggers.
Did you know that 4.1% of the causes of death globally are because of breathing disease caused by poor air quality? Because of that, air circulation plays an important role for green building performance. To ensure that occupants have access to clean air.