1.

Contaminants
Airborne particulate matter (PM) has become one of the most hazardous air
pollutants that severely affect the air quality, public health, and the ecosystems.
PM is typically categorized as PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, referring to particle sizes
below 1, 2.5, and 10 µm, respectively. PM2.5, capable of penetrating the
respiration system and blood vessels, can cause severe health problems, such as
lung cancer, asthma, and heat disease. Especially, aerodynamic particles with size
of 1.0 µm and 0.3 µm, and ultrafine particulates (UFPs) with particle size diameter
under 0.1 µm are regarded the most dangerous because submicron particles can
travel farther in the air.(3)
In addition, the outbreak and global spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
disease, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2), has infected 40 million people and caused over 1 million deaths
(by the time of writing) all over the world.(3)
2. Classified by efficiency(9)
3. Structure(7)

4. HEPA(11)
HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air). While HEPA filters offered by
competitors provide 99.99% typical efficiency at 0.3 micron level, HEPA filters
on Esco fan filter units can provide 99.99976% typical efficiency at 0.3 microns,
99.9996% at 0.12 micron levels and 99.99951% at MPPS (Most Penetrating
Particle Size). HEPA filters deliver localised clean air exceeding ISO Class 5 air
cleanliness requirements (Class 100 as per the US Federal Standard 209E).
Recommended for use in the construction of cleanrooms meeting Class 100 to
Class 100,000 requirements or for Class 100 clean air devices.(11)
5. ULPA(11)
ULPA filters (Ultra Low Penetration Air) are a superior filter type to the
conventional HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters used by most other
manufacturers. While HEPA filters provide 99.99% typical efficiency at 0.3
micron level, ULPA filters provide 99.9998% typical efficiency at 0.3 & 0.12
micron levels and 99.9997% at MPPS (Most Penetrating Particle Size).
ULPA filters deliver localised clean air exceeding ISO Class 4 air cleanliness
requirements (Class 10 as per the US Federal Standard 209E). Recommended for
use in the construction of cleanrooms meeting Class 1 to Class 10 requirements or

for Class 10 clean air devices.

*NOTE: Above filter efficiency graphs reflect filter efficiencies for HEPA &
ULPA filters with 66mm / 2.6” height for the nominal airflow velocity of 0.45 m/s
or 90fpm. Filter efficiency figures change with different airflow settings and filter
heights, e.g. filter efficiency will be higher for lower airflow velocities and vice
versa.(11)
6. HEPA/ULPA FILTER CHARACTERISATION(5)

7. Use of HEPA filters to reduce the risk of nosocomial spread of SARSCoV-

2 via operating theatre ventilation systems(10)

In the absence of temporary negative pressure respiratory isolation rooms, airborne

infectious disease outbreaks have resulted in the use of novel techniques to limit
nosocomial disease spread. Amongst these, high-efficacy particulate air (HEPA)
filters have been shown to be effective. HEPA filters are composed of mats of
randomly arranged fibres that intercept passing particles by a combination of
diffusion, interception, and inertial impaction. This confers their filtration capacity
which is effective to 99.97% of 0.1 micron particles. Aerosol droplets are 1e5
microns in size. Though research on HEPA filtration of SARS-CoV-2 is yet to be
published, their efficacy in capture and containment of diseases of similar particle
size is well documented. Because of the low cost and ease of installation, we
concluded that fitting a HEPA filter over the ventilation grills to filter the air
passing to recovery was the best solution for our case.(10)
8. DIN EN1882 standards
Filter Testing Standard EN 1822
• EN 1822 is the European test standard for HEPA & ULPA filters
• Certifies a filter's absolute minimum efficiency for all particles.
• Primarily used to certify air filters for clean room applications.
• The two-part EN 1822 test identifies the MPPS and challenges the filter with only
these particles, creating an absolutely worst-case scenario (Schroth and Caesar 2001).
• European Standard EN 1822 – 5 parts
– 1822-1 Classification, performance testing, marking
– 1822-2 Aerosol production, measuring equipment, particle counting statistics
– 1822-3 Testing flat sheet filter media (Standard for 3160)
– 1822-4 Determining leakage of filter element (Scan method, TSI components can be
used)
– 1822-5 Determining the efficiency of filter element (TSI components can be used)
References
(1)Reduction in MRSA environmental contamination
with a portable HEPA-filtration unit
T.C. Boswell*, P.C. Fox
(2) Development of a Method to Determine the
Fractional Deposition Efficiency of Full-Scale HVAC
and HEPA Filter Cassettes for Nanoparticles ≥3.5 nm
Ana Maria Todea , Frank Schmidt , Tobias Schuldt and Christof Asbach
(3) Tribo-charge enhanced hybrid air filter masks for efficient particulate
matter capture with greatly extended service life
Lingyun Wang, Ye Bian, Chee Kent Lim, Zhuolun Niu, Patrick K.H. Lee,
Chun Chen , Li Zhang , Walid A. Daoud , Yunlong Zi
(4) Testing of HEPA and ventilation filters
488 harwell
Oxfordshire OX11 ORA, UK
(5) High-efficiency aerosol filters based on silicon carbide foams coated with ceramic
nanowires.
Murilo Daniel de Mello Innocentini, José Renato Coury, Manabu Fukushima, Paolo
Colombo
(6) Characterisation of HEPA and ULPA Filters by Proposed New European Test
Methods
R. Wepfer, Luwa AG, Kanalstrasse 5, CH-8152 Glattbrugg, Switzerland
(7) New HEPAAJLPAFilters for Clean-Room Technology
T, Schroth, Carl Freudenberg, BA Gas Filtration, Postfach 100363, D-69465
Weinheim, Germany
(9) Filters and Filtration Handbook
 Fifth Edition • 2007
(10) Use of HEPA filters to reduce the risk of nosocomial spread of SARSCoV-2 via
operating theatre ventilation systems
Sophia Yeo*, Ian Hosein and Leo McGregor-Davies
Medway Maritime Hospital, Kent, UK
(11) Esco Catalogue Revision Code: FFU.8pg.v1.2005
Specifi cations subject to change without notice.
©2005 Esco Micro Pte Ltd
(12) Test of filter media according to EN 1822
Thomas Krinke & Hans-Georg Horn