Don't Be Fooled by HEPA Filter Types: Standard and Approved Filters

Maintaining air quality is essential to keeping your facility clean and healthy. One of the best ways to achieve this is by using certified high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. However, not all filters are created equally. A common issue many facility managers encounter is the confusion caused by "HEPA-like" filters, which are designed to mimic true HEPA filters but lack proper certification. While most filters are designed to remove particulate matter, allergens, volatile compounds, and chemicals from the air, the level of effectiveness and the stricter certification requirements—such as HEPA filter size and filtration standards—make a significant difference between your options for air purification systems.

Despite the marketing fluff you may encounter about different machines and their levels of filtration, there is only HEPA and non-HEPA. While you may hear terms like “HEPA-style” or “HEPA-like,” these are not genuine HEPA filters and will not provide the same level of filtration that you are looking for from tested and certified filters. 

As you’re shopping, keep an eye out for these terms — they’re the ones that you can trust to deliver certified HEPA filtration. 

• True HEPA filters
• H13 HEPA filters (Medical-grade)
• H14 HEPA filters (Higher filtration level medical-grade)

Depending on the type of project your medical facility is undergoing, the air purification required will vary between these levels. In this blog, we will explore the HEPA filter meaning, the similarities and differences between these types of filters, and how to choose the best HEPA air purifier for your healthcare facility when a high level of air filtration is needed.

What is a HEPA Filter?

So, exactly what is a HEPA filter? HEPA filters are highly regulated and rigorously certified filters that are required to meet strict standards set by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). They are made of materials such as tightly interwoven glass and synthetic fibers that allow only the tiniest particles to pass through. These filters are able to trap small particles that are not visible to the human eye. A HEPA filter is a type of pleated mechanical air filter that is designed to remove a minimum of 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any particles in the air with a diameter specification of 0.3 microns (µm). Particles that are larger or smaller than  0.3 microns are trapped with even greater efficiency. 

HEPA filters are very effective, particularly in the medical setting as they help prevent the spread of germs to staff and vulnerable patients. However, not all HEPA “filters” are created equally, leading back to the question, “What is a HEPA filter?” A “true” HEPA filter conforms 100% to the DOE filtration standards and allows for the highest indoor air quality levels. This means it must trap 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. HEPA filters’ capture ability for particles between 0.3 and 10 microns is reported by Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs – a rating that comes from a test method developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The filter's rating can range anywhere from 2 to 20. Higher ratings indicate better-capturing power.

Types of HEPA Filters

There is much discourse in the air filtration community about different types of filtration systems, but when it comes to HEPA-certified filters, there are three main categories:

1. "HEPA-like" Filters

Although marketing may lead you to believe otherwise, no "HEPA-like" or "99% HEPA" designation exists. Either the filtration system you're considering is HEPA-certified, or it is not. Common jargon you may come across includes terms like "HEPA-type," "HEPA-style," or "99% HEPA." These filters are not certified and are not held to the same rigorous testing standards as true HEPA filters. Such labels are purely marketing tactics, aimed at misleading consumers into thinking they are purchasing a product with HEPA filter ratings when, in fact, they are not.

The key difference is that these "HEPA-like" filters don't meet the same criteria defined in the HEPA filter definition, which requires a filtration efficiency of 99.97% for particles as small as 0.3 microns. "HEPA-type" filters may capture larger particles but are not effective against the finer particulates that true HEPA filters excel at removing.

That is not to say these alternatives don't have value in certain situations. For environments where cost is a primary consideration and where the population is less vulnerable, such filters may provide adequate filtration. However, if you're aiming to protect sensitive populations, like those in hospitals or healthcare facilities, opting for non-HEPA filters could compromise air quality.

2. True HEPA Filters

When people refer to HEPA filters, they typically mean "true" HEPA filters. This distinction was created due to the confusion caused by marketing terms like "HEPA-like" and "HEPA-style." True HEPA filters are tested and certified to meet stringent HEPA standards, meaning they are proven to remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The difference between true HEPA vs. HEPA-like filters is significant. True HEPA filters are subjected to rigorous testing, ensuring they meet performance standards. By contrast, non-HEPA filters don't undergo this same level of scrutiny. This makes true HEPA filters ideal for settings where air purity is critical, such as hospitals, cleanrooms, and homes with individuals suffering from severe allergies or respiratory conditions.

3. H13-H14 Medical-Grade HEPA Filters

H13 medical-grade HEPA filters are a specialized type of true HEPA filter, often used in hospital settings and referred to as medical-grade. While true HEPA filters effectively target particles down to 0.3 microns, H13 filters are rated to capture particles as small as 0.1 microns. This makes them highly effective in environments with vulnerable populations, where the risk of airborne contamination must be minimized. For allergy sufferers, H13 filters provide superior protection due to their enhanced filtration capacity.

In order to meet medical-grade standards, the HEPA filter ratings must indicate at least 99.97% removal of allergens. Specifically, H13 filters can capture 99.95% of particles as small as 0.2 microns, while H14 filters can capture 99.995% of those particles. The 0.2-micron size, known as "the most penetrating particle size," is notoriously difficult to filter, which is why these medical-grade filters are highly sought after for healthcare settings.

What About ULPA Filters?

You may know that ULPA (Ultra-Low Particulate Air) filters are designed to remove even smaller particles than HEPA filters. ULPA filters are ultra-fine, capturing 99.999% of particles down to 0.12 microns, compared to HEPA filters, which capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. While this may sound more impressive, the reality is that ULPA filters are often overkill for most healthcare settings.

ULPA filters are primarily used in highly specialized environments, such as cleanrooms and certain laboratory settings where the tiniest of particles, like chemical fumes and highly infectious agents, need to be filtered out. In contrast, HEPA filters are more common in healthcare environments, where they are highly effective at capturing common airborne contaminants like bacteria, viruses, dust, and allergens.

One key difference between these filtration systems is that HEPA filters are much more cost-effective and easier to maintain compared to ULPA filters. ULPA systems typically require more frequent replacement and maintenance, which drives up costs. Additionally, for most healthcare facilities, ULPA filters are unnecessary, as HEPA filters are perfectly capable of capturing the pollutants that are most concerning in these environments.

Which Should You Choose: HEPA vs. ULPA?

When evaluating which filtration system is right for your facility, it's important to assess your specific air quality needs. In the vast majority of healthcare settings, HEPA filters combined with additional technologies, such as UV-C light, offer a highly effective, practical, and affordable solution for maintaining clean air. ULPA filters, while excellent at capturing ultra-fine particles, are often overkill in these environments and do not justify the additional costs in most cases.

For facilities focused on protecting patients and staff from common airborne threats like bacteria, viruses, and allergens, HEPA filters will provide sufficient filtration without the unnecessary complexity and expense of a ULPA system.

How Do HEPA Filters Work in a Medical Facility Environment?

In medical settings, HEPA filters play a critical role in controlling airborne contaminants. These high-efficiency particulate air filters are commonly used in operating rooms, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and laboratories to prevent the spread of harmful particles and ensure a sterile environment.

The HEPA filter meaning lies in its ability to trap particles down to 0.3 microns, making it invaluable in healthcare settings where infection control is a top priority. HEPA filters help remove germs, bacteria, and viruses from the air, protecting both patients and staff from airborne infections. Depending on the size and function of the room, the appropriate HEPA filter size and MERV rating will vary, but their high efficiency remains crucial for maintaining a healthy environment.

Which HEPA Filter Should Your Facility Use?

Depending on the facility, the best choice of HEPA filter will vary. You'll want to consider both the type of pollutants you are dealing with and the sensitivity of your facility populations when evaluating which level of HEPA filter makes the most sense for your unique circumstances.

Recommended HEPA Filters

The main types of HEPA filters to look at are H13 and H14. "HEPA-like" or similarly named filtration machines are a more basic type of filter and are generally less effective at capturing small particles. They are often called that to convince buyers that they are equal to the filtration you'd receive with a certified HEPA filter, but the truth is that they are at least to some degree less effective, no matter how close they may be to HEPA compliance.

HEPA filters are the next option up and have undergone a variety of testing to ensure their effectiveness. They are also equipped to meet the Department of Energy (DOE) requirements and provide well-suited air filtration for those more sensitive to airborne pollutants. For the best air filtration of the bunch, you'll want to opt for the H13 Medical-Grade HEPA filter. These are the best and excellent options for highly vulnerable patient populations or hazardous pollutants that may be stirred up in a construction or renovation project.

How HEPA Filters Impact Different Facilities 

In hospitals, HEPA filters are necessary for keeping the air clean. They can be used in many different scenarios. 

How HEPA Filters Are Commonly Used

• Help to remove harmful particles and reduce the risk of infections during operations in surgical suites
• Filter the air for newborns in NICUs, where patients are more vulnerable to getting sick
• Filter the air in labs where scientists work with dangerous materials to prevent contamination
• Avoid fines for not meeting cleanliness or air quality standards
• Go inside warming beds to keep patients safe from germs in the air
• Go inside cleaning equipment like vacuums to keep hospitals spotless and free of microbes

Where a Minimum MERV 14 Rating is Required

As mentioned earlier, MERV ratings have levels and tell us the filter's efficiency. Depending on the room or facility the filter will be used for, there are different recommended MERV ratings your HEPA filter should have.

Spaces requiring a minimum filter efficiency of MERV 14 after all air banks include:

• Inpatient care spaces
• Treatment spaces
• Diagnosis spaces
• Spaces providing direct service 
• Spaces providing clean supplies and clean processing
• Operating rooms 
• Inpatient and ambulatory diagnostic spaces
• Therapeutic radiology spaces
• Inpatient delivery spaces 
• Recovery spaces

Spaces That Require A Merv 13-Rated Filter 

• Laboratories
• Procedure rooms and associated semi-restricted spaces
• Nursing facilities
• Resident care
• Treatment spaces
• Support areas in inpatient hospice facilities

It is important to keep these spaces clean and safe for all parties inside. This is why choosing a HEPA filter with a higher MERV rating, like H13 or H14 filters, may be in the best interest of everyone involved.

How Will The Right HEPA Filter Benefit My Facility?

Selecting the right HEPA filter for your medical facility is critical to safely maintaining Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) through renovations, construction, or other disruptions that could potentially stir up dangerous particulate matter. Using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can help prevent the spread of viruses in areas that may be contaminated, protecting both patients and staff. It's essential to consider the appropriate HEPA filter size and HEPA filter ratings when selecting an air filtration system, as these factors influence the effectiveness of your air quality management.

In healthcare facilities, where the risk of infection is high, using the best HEPA air purifier can significantly reduce the spread of airborne contaminants. Additionally, HEPA filters help keep facility staff healthy by reducing their exposure to viruses and bacteria, which can prevent staffing shortages and operational disruptions. Among various air filter types, HEPA filters stand out for their efficiency and reliability in maintaining a safe and sterile environment.

The Importance of Approved HEPA Filters for Your Equipment

HEPA filters are crucial in maintaining air quality by removing airborne particles and allergens. It would be best to use approved HEPA filters designed for your equipment to ensure optimal performance and protect your investment. Approved filters guarantee proper fit and function, safeguarding your equipment's warranty and preventing potential damage. Some of the biggest benefits of HEPA filters for equipment include:

Removing Microscopic Particles from Equipment

HEPA filters are designed to capture and trap microscopic particles that can harm vulnerable patients' health, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and even bacteria and viruses carried by aerosols. These filters work by utilizing a dense network of fibers, trapping particles of 0.3 microns in size with an impressive efficiency rate of 99.97%. Smaller particles in the air run into and stick to the fibers and are removed as well. By removing these pollutants from the air and equipment, HEPA filters significantly reduce the risk of respiratory problems and allergies. As they remove these contaminants. HEPA filters are not only great for the rooms themselves, but also for use inside certain equipment such as cleaning materials like vacuums or in hospital equipment like warming beds.

Reducing Health Risks Associated with Equipment

In hospitals and clinics, airborne pollutants can pose significant risks to patients, especially those with compromised immune systems. The same goes for buildings such as schools, where there may be a constant spread of germs, and many of the same objects may be touched by many different people. HEPA filters can play a huge role in reducing the spread of airborne pathogens and reducing the transmission of airborne viruses, including influenza, the common cold, or hospital-acquired infections. His further helps protect those with compromised immune systems from respiratory infections or other harmful infections.

Creating a More Sterile Environment for Equipment 

Especially in medical-related areas, it is important to maintain indoor air quality. All of these particles in the air can settle on the surrounding surfaces, including equipment. HEPA filters reduce the concentration of airborne pathogens, helping to maintain a sterile environment and minimize the risk of infections. They also decrease the likelihood of cross-contamination to ensure the well-being of patients and staff. This makes them ideal to be used in areas such as bulk storage, soiled holding spaces, food preparation spaces, laboratories, operations rooms, protective environment rooms, and laundries.

By choosing approved HEPA filters, you provide the best air quality for yourself and those around you. Non-approved filters may not deliver the same level of performance, leading to decreased effectiveness and potential health risks. Investing in approved HEPA filters is an intelligent choice that protects your equipment and promotes a healthy environment.

Choosing the Best HEPA Filter For You

When it comes to air filtration, don’t be misled by filters claiming to be “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type.” These air filter types may offer some filtration but fall short of the rigorous standards set by the DOE. The HEPA filter meaning is clear: only true HEPA filters provide the level of filtration required to capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, offering superior protection and ensuring that your facility meets air quality standards.

Being misled by non-certified filters can lead to inadequate air purification, potentially putting patients, staff, or other occupants at risk of exposure to harmful airborne particles. For the best results, choose certified HEPA filters that fit your facility's specific needs. Whether you need filters for a medical facility or other sensitive environments, true HEPA filtration is the most reliable choice for maintaining clean, safe indoor air quality.

Download our HEPA vs. ULPA Guide to learn more about the differences between filter types and determine which is right for your facility.

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