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First time shoppers on the web
looking for air cleaners typically run across the acronym HEPA on a
variety of sites and see it used in different ways. They don’t know
whether HEPA is a brand of air cleaner, a type of filter, a
technology, or something else. And in talking to sales reps, they get a
wide variety of explanations, and are often further confused.
HEPA stands for “high energy particulate arresting”. It was developed by
the US Atomic Energy Commission, thus the fancy name. HEPA is simply a
type of paper used in making a filter for air cleaners. The paper (or
media as it is often called) is a finely meshed paper that can absorb
lots of bad stuff. To make a HEPA filter, a large amount of HEPA paper
is pleated so that it condenses to a small filter. However, if you were
to unpleat the paper and stretch it out, you would have a very large
expanse of paper. That’s why a hefty HEPA filter can absorb particulate
for years. (Particulate is a fancy word for dust particles, pollens,
etc.)
HEPA filters are used in medical environments a lot. So you’ll often see
the term “True Medical HEPA filtration” or something along those lines.
Technically that means the filter removes 99.97% of all air borne
particulate matter larger than 0.3 microns. That’s the standard by which
air cleaners are judged in the industry.
Next you have to wonder, what particles are larger than 0.3 and what
particles are smaller (and if you’re like most people, why does it have
to be so complicated just to buy a little clean air). A particle that is
0.3 microns is about 240 times smaller than a human hair. A HEPA filter
will absorb a plant pollens, mold spores, tobacco smoke, pet dander,
dust particles, and fabric fibers. For many allergenics and asthmatics
those are the things that need to be eliminated from the air so a
standard HEPA filter greatly helps.
If air cleaners contain a true HEPA filter then it will be
classified as a HEPA air purifier, or sometimes, a HEPA air cleaner.
So HEPA is a type of filter, and thusly, a type of air purifier. It is
not a brand and no one company owns the technology.
