Choosing the best course of action to keep your industrial or commercial indoor environment properly ventilated can be difficult and confusing.
Many air purifier buying guides speculate different things and can often be misleading. Our air quality experts at Euromate have been in the industry for 40 + years and have the best knowledge and updated health advice to give you the facts about air purification.
The main questions you may be asking are, is buying an air purifier necessary? If I do need one what features are important, and how many will I need to effectively cover my space?
In this 2022 air purifier buying guide, we will answer all of these questions and provide you with the best recommendations for your business or organization.
Learning the Basics – How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, fine dust, odors, gases, and oil mist are in your home, place of work, and even your favorite restaurant.
Air purifiers work to clean your indoor air by using a fan to draw in air from the room and pushing it through a set of filters. These filters are usually made of paper, fiber, or mesh, and require replacement to maintain efficiency.
These filters remove airborne allergens, bacteria, and environmental pollutants, then release the cleaner air back into the room; ensuring cleaner air with every cycle.
However, Allergens that are embedded in furniture or flooring will not be captured by air purifiers.
Do I Need to Purify my Air? What are the Benefits?
We spend a large part of our lives at our place of work, school, childcare, recreational environments, and eventually aged care.
We generally assume that pollution is an outdoor problem, but often pollutants such as vehicle exhaust, airborne dust, pollen, bacteria, and viruses make their way into our indoor environments.
As a business owner or manager of an organization, it is your duty of care and should be your priority to ensure the well-being and safety of your employees, patrons, or people in your duty of care.
4-6 air changes an hour are usually recommended to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, odors, moisture, and other pollutants.
A few of the many benefits include:
- Reducing asthma and allergies, particularly in reaction to dust and pollen
- Keeping the air clear of bacteria and viruses
- Contributing to the health of your employees
- Reducing absenteeism costs and providing a return on your investment
- Reducing malfunctions and maintenance costs of machines
Here are the important air purification buying guide questions you need to consider when making your purchasing decision.
What Indoor Environment do I Need to Purify? Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial Air Purifier Buying Guide.
Depending on whether your space is an industrial warehouse with oil and dust pollutants, or a medical center that needs to reduce the risk of bacteria and virus pollutants, your filter combination and unit type will change.
The market is currently flooded with cheaper domestic units, that can be used within your home for general pollutant filtration.
This may include Samsung, Dyson, or smaller brands on Amazon. However, if you are looking for larger units for commercial or industrial use, with a HEPA filter and certifications, you will need to invest a bit more.
Which Filters Do I Need When Buying an Air Purifier?
Most units will allow you to mix and match multiple types of filters to resolve your specific issues and cover all the bases. Let’s breakdown the various air purifier types:
The HEPA Filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)
This filter is the most important filter within an air purifier, trapping particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Generally, eliminates 99.95% of viruses, bacteria, dust, and other particles in the air, as small as 0.3 microns in size.
The Carbon or Charcoal Filter
These filters are effective for trapping pollutants such as odors, smoke, and chemicals in porous carbon. However, these filters are generally not efficient in removing bacteria or allergens from the air.
The Ozone Filter
Ozone filters can remove odors from the air, but have not been shown to effectively remove chemicals or allergens. Additionally, it has been found to cause health issues in humans.
Therefore, ensure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions or avoid selecting this type of model.
The Ionic or Ionization Filter
Ionic or ionization filters are the best for removing fine particles such as dust and smoke using a small electrical field. The negative or positive particles are then pulled from the air by plates with the filter.
The Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilising Filter
A UV sterilizing filter is useful for killing viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. Ultraviolet filters are not a good choice if you’re concerned about allergens, chemical fumes, smoke, or odors in your indoor environment.
Additionally, keep in mind that UV light takes a few minutes to kill germs, and therefore it is unlikely pollutants captured by the air purifier will be exposed to the UV for that long. Therefore, don’t rely just on a sterilizing filter, also add a HEPA filter.
Choosing the correct filters for your unit can be confusing, therefore we recommend taking this buying guide as your first point of call, and speaking with air and product experts when purchasing for the best advice on your indoor environment needs.
What is the Correct Air Purification Unit Size for my Space?
A key guide when purchasing your air purifier is knowing how large your space is in (m2). Your room size is a key indicator of which unit to purchase, therefore, most air purifiers will have a recommended room size it can facilitate.
Firstly, if an air purifier is too large for your room, your energy bill will be unnecessarily high. Whereas, if a unit is too small it is not likely to remove all contaminants in your space.
Finding the correct size air purifier begins with measuring your floor area in all rooms you wish to cover. To calculate this measurement, simply multiply the length by the width of the room.
A good gauge is to ensure a purifier can provide enough air changes to a room that is at least one-third greater in size than measured.
Additionally, before purchasing please consider if your space is better off with a fixed roof unit or a portable plug-and-play unit that you can move between rooms.
Air purifiers can be fairly heavy appliances, therefore check that their weight is manageable or on wheels to make moving easier.
What ‘Clear Air Delivery Rate’ do I Require, and Will This Effect Noise Emission?
The last thing to consider as a part of your buying guide is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) that you require.
This is an industry-standard measure of the volume of air that the air purifier can clean. It’s expressed in cubic meters per hour (or cubic feet per second). The bigger the number, the better.
To increase this rating, look for an air purifier with a powerful fan setting that allows air flow when you need to clean a room’s air quickly. This looks different in different sized rooms, averaging between 3-7
full air changes an hour. Many high-end units provide whisper-quiet operation on their models to make them ideal for schools, childcare, and office environments.
In Conclusion
No one unit will be perfect for every indoor environment, meaning it is crucial to ensure you consider carefully before purchasing. Domestic home air purifiers generally cost about $200–500, on a lower level. However, if you are looking for a commercial or industrial unit it will be more of an investment, often rebated by the Government!
Euromate Pure Air provides a full range of both industrial and commercial units that can be adapted to your every need. Speak with Euromate Pure Air’s air specialists today for a free air assessment and advice on your indoor environment.
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