As air moves through a building’s HVAC system, air filters trap and collect large and small particles such as dust, allergens and microorganisms. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), this filtration helps provide healthier indoor air quality. A filter's MERV number indicates how it's rated to remove these particles. But what is MERV rating, exactly?
An air filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating measures how effectively the filter stops dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and into the air stream. Filters with higher MERV ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower MERV ratings.
In general, filters with a rating of MERV 16 or below are considered to be HVAC-system-grade filters for residential, commercial and general hospital use. MERV 17 through MERV 20 filters are typically used in surgical operating rooms, clean rooms and other contexts that require absolute cleanliness.
When selecting the right filter for your application, higher is not always better. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than what your furnace or air conditioner manufacturer recommends can actually impair its performance.
The smaller pores in more highly rated air filters create resistance to air flow, and if the filter is used in an HVAC system that is not designed to handle this resistance, it can lower the system's efficiency, decrease indoor air quality, and put strain on the system's fan.
A position paper published by ASHRAE looked at the claim that particle filtration has health benefits. According to this paper, there's a well established connection between higher concentrations of particles in outdoor air and poor health outcomes, so it would make sense that filtering these particles out of indoor air could lead to better health outcomes.
The ASHRAE paper reviewed studies suggesting that:
Use the MERV rating chart below to understand which filters are best for which applications.
|
APPLICATION |
CONTROLS THESE CONTAMINANTS |
PARTICLE SIZE |
MERV 1 MERV 3 |
· Pre-Filter In Commercial Building · Residential Furnaces · Window Air-Conditioning Units
|
· Pollen · Dust mites · Sanding dust · Textile/carpet fibers |
Filters down to 10.0 micron particle size |
|
· Pre-filters or Final Filters · Commercial Buildings · Better Residential Buildings · Industrial Workplaces · Paint Booth Inlets
|
· Pollen · Dust mites · Sanding dust · Textile/carpet fibers · Mold/spores · Dust lint · Cement dust
|
Filters down to 3.0–10.0 micron particle size |
· Pre-Filters or Final Filters · Hospital Laboratories · Better Commercial Buildings · Superior Residential Buildings
|
· Pollen · Dust mites · Sanding dust · Textile/carpet fibers · Mold/spores · Dust lint · Cement dust · Legionella · Lead dust · Humidifier dust · Coal dust · Nebulizer dust |
Filters down to 1.0–3.0 micron particle size |
|
· Final Filters · General Surgery · Superior Commercial Buildings · Hospital Inpatient Care · Smoking Lounges
|
· Pollen · Dust mites · Sanding dust · Textile/carpet fibers · Mold/spores · Dust lint · Cement dust · Legionella · Lead dust · Humidifier dust · Coal dust · Nebulizer dust · Bacteria · Tobacco smoke · Auto fumes · Sneeze nuclei · Insecticide dust · Copier toner · Pet dander · Face powder |
Filters down to 0.3–1.0 micron particle size |
|
MERV 17 MERV 18 MERV 19 MERV 20
|
· Final Filter · Clean Rooms · Radioactive Materials · Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities · Carcinogenic Materials · Orthopedic Surgery Room
|
· Pollen · Dust mites · Sanding dust · Textile/carpet fibers · Mold/spores · Dust lint · Cement dust · Legionella · Lead dust · Humidifier dust · Coal dust · Nebulizer dust · Bacteria · Tobacco smoke · Auto fumes · Sneeze nuclei · Insecticide dust · Copier toner · Pet dander · Face powder · Virus carriers · Carbon dust · Sea salt · Combustion smoke · Radon progeny · Odor · Microscopic allergens |
Filters down to less than 0.30 micron particle size |
Air filters can be used as final filters or pre-filters. When used as final filters, they are the primary filters for an HVAC system. Final filters may be used alone in a single-filter system, or they may be used in combination with one or more pre-filters. When used in a multi-filter system, the pre-filters trap the dirt and large particles before the air reaches the final filters downstream, which then remove the smaller particles. This multi-filter system extends the life of the more expensive final filters, leading to overall cost savings.
Additional Reading
“Fibrous Filter Media,” Philip J. Brown and Christopher L. Cox, eds. Woodhead Publishing, 2017.
What MERV filter is recommended for preventing the transmission of airborne illnesses such as COVID-19?
A: Although ASHRAE does not recommend a specific MERV filter rating for preventing COVID-19 transmission, the organization suggests that upgrading systems in non-healthcare facilities to MERV-13 or the highest achievable level can be a worthwhile step in emergency response plans. Learn more about these recommendations here.
Q: Can HVAC operations strategies help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
A: There is evidence that HVAC operations may help decrease people's exposure to airborne pathogens that spread COVID-19 and other illnesses. Building technology group ASHRAE has compiled recommendations for filtration, humidity set points, automation and more.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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