It is no secret that people generally spend a large portion of their day indoors, and since beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a shifted focus to improved indoor air quality (I.A.Q.) has been forefront in everyone’s mind. The air quality of buildings is vitally important in helping us stay healthy and safe at home, work, and any place that people gather. Indoor air pollutants, while unseen, can cause significant health concerns, and they must be addressed for the ongoing health and safety of the occupants.

Indoor air pollutant (IAP) composition can differ significantly depending on the source, emission rates, and ventilation conditions. Efficient design, operation, and upkeep of ventilation systems notably impact indoor air quality and ensure that people within the building do not experience diminishing health due to poor air quality conditions.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) filters are rated on the particle size they can filter out of the air, ranging from 1 to 16. Higher numbers indicate more efficient filtration. The best high-efficiency filters range from MERV 13 to 16, filtering particles as small as 0.3 microns with 75% efficiency.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are the most efficient air filters, rated with a  17 - 20 MERV rating. HEPA filters meet standards that remove 99.97+% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. These filters are typically used in hospitals to stop the spread of disease-causing airborne organisms.