Do Air Filters In HVAC Systems Offer Protection Against Coronavirus Indoors?
HVAC systems are designed to provide pleasant environmental conditions. HVAC Air filters from LifeSupplyUSA can reduce viruses and airborne diseases in a space or building when properly used.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the question so many people are asking is: How can the use of air filters help in reducing the spread of the virus? This article takes a look at these questions and provides some detailed answers.
LifeSupplyUSA Air Filters
Air filters from LifeSupplyUSA are designed to filter air contaminants and pollutants from the air that passes through them. In other words, they can reduce small airborne particles containing diseases and viruses.
An effective virus-removing air filter from LifeSupplyUSA removes small airborne particles (in a size range of 0.1-1 um). Manufacturers always indicate this capability on their product in different ways. This is to help the buyer make a more informed choice when purchasing air filters.
In some cases, they may indicate the following:
- Particle removal efficiency for specific particle sizes
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) rating system
- High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters
Air Filters in HVAC Systems in Homes
The tiny droplet through which the coronavirus is spread has made air filters essential in the home HVAC system. When choosing air filters for the intended room size, ensure it meets at least one of the following standards:
- It is designated as High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA),
- It is CADR rated, or
- The manufacturer states that the device will remove most particles in a size range below 1 um.
Manufacturers always provide this information on the air filter label, description, or packaging.
Air Filters in HVAC Systems for Offices, Schools, And Commercial Buildings
Unlike the home setting, there is always an influx of people in a commercial place—both healthy and unhealthy people. The HVAC systems used for commercial buildings, offices, and schools are much higher than those used in a home setting. HVAC of large buildings is designed to filter air before it is distributed throughout a building.
The higher the HVAC filters, the more effective it is against air contaminants or pollutants. So, it would be preferable if you considered upgrading HVAC filters suitable for your specific building and HVAC system. You will find the perfect air filters for your HVAC system at LifeSupplyUSA.com.
Complications
The complications involved in HVAC systems installation for commercial buildings requires professional guidelines like those provided by CDC, ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), and more. CDC and ASHARE recommend commercial places upgrade their air filters to the highest efficiency that fits with the HVAC system and check the filter to ensure minimal filter air bypass.
They can also consider using portable air filters to support their HVAC system filtration and ventilation, especially in areas not sufficiently ventilated. Direct the airflow so it does not move directly from one person to another; this will reduce the spread of droplets that contains COVID-19.
Air filters in the HVAC system may be helpful when used with ventilation and source control. But it cannot serve as a substitute for either practice. Air filters alone cannot ensure adequate air quality, mainly where significant contaminant sources are present and insufficient ventilation. See ASHRAE and CDC for more information on air-cleaning and filtration and other essential engineering controls.
Conclusion
Poor ventilation in closed indoor spaces is linked to increased transmission of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, and COVID-19. Air filtration in our HVAC systems can help reduce these infections. To choose air filters that effectively filter viruses like COVID-19 from the air indoor, opt for
• A unit that is the right size for space you will be using it in (the manufacturer in square feet typically indicates this).
• A unit with a high CADR for smoke shows explicitly that it filters particles in the 0.1-1 um size range.
Finally, although air filtration systems from LifeSupplyUSA alone do not stop the spread of COVID 19, when used in conjunction with other best practices prescribed by public health agencies and CDC, such as mask-wearing and social distancing, they can work very well.