What Are MERV Air Filters And Why Are They So Popular?
What Are MERV Air Filters And Why Are They So Popular?
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) tells you the efficiency of an air filter at its lowest performing level.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), established this rating under Standard Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size.
MERV ratings allow you to make comparisons between filters to determine which is most efficient for your specific application with the goal of eliminating nuisance pollutants in a residence or workplace.
MERV ratings allow you to make comparisons between filters to determine which is most efficient for your specific application with the goal of eliminating nuisance pollutants in a residence or workplace.
In the U.S., the MERV 8 filter has proven to be the most common filter on the market. MERV ratings are based on how well an air filter traps common airborne pollutants within specific size ranges.
Filters are tested against 12 size ranges of particles, with the smallest range being around 0.3 micrometers, and the largest range around 10 micrometers.
To determine MERV, an air filter’s performance is determined by measuring the particle counts upstream and downstream of the filter being tested.
To determine MERV, an air filter’s performance is determined by measuring the particle counts upstream and downstream of the filter being tested.
Particle counts are taken over 12 specific ranges of particle sizes, during six testing intervals, beginning with a clean filter and then after periodic additions of a special ASHRAE test dust for five additional measurement cycles.
Particle density in the test duct is evaluated before and after it passes through the filter. Based upon defined calculations, as noted within the Standard, a specific MERV is assigned to the air filter
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