Unleash the Power of HEPA Air Purifiers For Healthier Indoor Air

It’s no secret that the air we breathe is fundamental to our overall health. This is particularly true in healthcare settings where patients may have compromised immune systems and are especially vulnerable to airborne contaminants. Maintaining high Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is critical for protecting these sensitive groups as well as everyone else who may walk in the doors of your facilities — patients, staff, contractors, and visitors alike.

Air contamination through harmful particles can cause irritation, infection, and the spread of disease. To meet strict IAQ standards, healthcare centers need robust air filtration solutions. However, healthcare facility managers might struggle to stay on top of and exceed IAQ regulations due to the complex and never-ending battle to control airborne contaminants such as dust, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses.

In this blog, we will explore how HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration systems work to eliminate air contamination and why they are essential for maintaining a healthy, compliant environment in a modern healthcare facility. 

Why Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Matters in Healthcare Settings

IAQ is crucial in hospitals and medical centers because it directly impacts the safety and well-being of patients, staff, and visitors. Poor IAQ allows potentially dangerous airborne contaminants — such as dust, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses — to circulate freely, increasing the risk of infections and compromising patient safety. Though all patients may experience negative effects from these kinds of airborne particles, patients and those with low immune systems are at an even higher risk of illness, infection, or death when faced with exposure to these contaminants.

Healthcare environments are busy by nature — constantly bustling with activity. While any indoor environment is at risk of building up unwanted airborne particles, the busyness of increased foot traffic, combined with procedures, treatments, and sometimes construction or maintenance work, can introduce additional pollutants into the air of your facility. Air contamination in these settings not only puts patients at risk but also affects staff and visitors.

Though you’re up against significant risks as a healthcare facility manager, you can help prevent the spread of infection and ensure a safer, healthier environment for everyone by maintaining high IAQ through effective air filtration solutions like HEPA air purifiers.

How HEPA Filtration Works to Eliminate Air Contamination

HEPA filters play a vital role in helping you maintain excellent IAQ, particularly in environments where air contamination must be minimized for the sake of health, safety, and regulatory compliance. Because of the demand on them to perform consistently, HEPA filters are rigorously tested for their ability to maintain 99.97% efficiency in removing particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size. This level of filtration is important because many harmful particles, such as bacteria and viruses, can be as small as 0.3 microns.

Air purifiers’ HEPA filters combine several advanced filtration methods (which we will discuss in detail below) to capture airborne contaminants effectively. By using methods like interception, impingement, diffusion, and electrostatic filtration, HEPA filters capture everything from larger particles like dust and mold spores to smaller contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. This comprehensive approach ensures that HEPA filters can effectively reduce air contamination and maintain high IAQ standards in sensitive areas of a healthcare facility, such as operating rooms or intensive care units.

The 5 Methods of HEPA Filtration: Explained

Filtration is the physical removal of particulates from the air, but HEPA filtration uses 5 different ways to do this. By establishing a variety of ways to capture particles using the same filter, HEPA filters are able to consistently achieve an industry-leading level of filtration.

Understanding how this process works begins with understanding the five main filtration methods commonly used in air purifiers: straining, impingement, interception, diffusion, and electrostatic filtration.

1. Straining

Straining is one of the most basic methods of filtration. Its principle is relatively simple: if particles in the air are larger than the gaps between filter fibers, they'll be caught while smaller ones pass through. While it effectively removes larger contaminants from the air, it offers a lower level of filtration efficiency for smaller particles.

2. Impingement

Impingement works like a sticky trap. In this method, particles in the air directly collide with filter fibers. Many of these fibers have adhesive coatings, ensuring that once particles make contact, they remain stuck. This method has lower filtering efficiency but can effectively capture certain sizes of contaminants.

3. Interception

Interception is akin to leading airborne particles through a maze. As particles enter the filter, they get tangled in the filter’s fibers and cannot move past without being caught. This method offers a moderate level of filtration efficiency and is effective at capturing particles that are able to pass around the filter fibers through airflow.

4. Diffusion

Diffusion is ideal for capturing tiny, erratically moving particles in the air. Their unpredictable movement increases the likelihood of collision with filter fibers. Once these particles contact the filter fibers, they are held in place. This method boasts a high filtering efficiency, especially for particles smaller than 0.1 microns, and is essential in capturing contaminants such as certain bacteria and viruses.

5. Electrostatic Filtration

Electrostatic filtration uses the power of charged particles to clean the air. Negatively charged particles are attracted to positively charged filter fibers. This charge difference ensures that these contaminants are captured effectively from the airstream. Given this unique and effective approach, electrostatic filtration also offers high efficiency.

Why HEPA Air Purifiers Are Essential for Healthcare Facilities

In healthcare facilities, every airborne particle poses a potential threat to patient health. HEPA air purifiers are considered the gold standard for a healthy IAQ because they can capture 99.97% of harmful particles consistently because of the 5 methods of filtration they are designed to carry out.

HEPA air purifiers are especially important in sensitive areas of healthcare facilities including:

• Operating Rooms & Surgical Suites: High-stakes areas where any contamination can lead to serious complications.
• Intensive Care Units & Neonatal Units: Critical care environments where patients have weakened immune systems and cannot tolerate exposure to contaminants.
• Oncology Wards & Infectious Disease Areas: Spaces where controlling the spread of viruses, bacteria, and mold spores is vital to patient safety.

Why should you choose HEPA filters for these high-risk areas? Unlike "HEPA-like" or "HEPA-style" filters, certified HEPA filters provide reliable air purification that has consistently held up against rigorous testing. If you see a filter that is marked “certified HEPA,” you can purchase it confidently, knowing that the filter is guaranteed to meet certain markers of quality and efficiency.

Portable vs. Fixed HEPA Air Purifiers: What’s Right for Your Facility?

Healthcare facility managers have two main options when implementing HEPA filtration: integrating HEPA filters into existing HVAC systems or utilizing portable HEPA air purifiers.

Each method has unique advantages:

• Fixed HEPA Filtration Systems Integrated into HVAC: These systems continuously filter air throughout the facility, ensuring a baseline level of high IAQ. They are ideal for consistently maintaining low levels of air contamination across large areas and can be especially beneficial in central service areas and rooms housing at-risk patient groups.
• Portable HEPA Air Purifiers: Mobile industrial-grade HEPA units are useful where airflow needs are variable or temporary, such as during construction or in areas experiencing higher-than-normal contaminant levels. These portable units can be moved to specific locations within the facility as needed and can filter air quickly and effectively at a rate of 300–800 cubic feet per minute.

Whether integrated or mobile, HEPA air purifiers provide the flexibility and capability needed to tackle air contamination throughout healthcare facilities. For instance:

• During Construction or Maintenance: Portable units help contain dust and debris, protecting immunocompromised patients.
• High Traffic Areas: They augment existing systems that cannot provide adequate airflow on their own.

The Importance of Maintaining Your HEPA Filtration System

While HEPA filtration systems are effective in capturing airborne contaminants, their performance heavily depends on proper and regular maintenance. HEPA filters can become clogged over time, reducing airflow and filtration efficiency. Here’s what healthcare facility managers can do:

• Use of Prefilters: Prefilters capture larger particles before they reach the HEPA filter, extending the HEPA filter’s lifespan by about 25%.
• Progressive Filtration: Placing a 90% efficient filter before a HEPA filter can increase the HEPA filter’s standard life up to nine times. However, it’s crucial to note that progressive filtration may cause filters to absorb chemicals that might later be released back into the air, meaning you’ll need to complete more frequent filter changes.
• Regular Efficiency Monitoring: A key way to ensure your HEPA filters are functioning correctly is by conducting the Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) particle test using particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. This test measures how effectively the HEPA filter captures these particles and can alert the team when it’s time to replace the filter.

Routine maintenance ensures that HEPA air purifiers continue to operate at peak efficiency, maintaining compliance with IAQ standards and providing peace of mind.

For additional tips on ensuring safe indoor air, check out our blog on how to evaluate indoor air quality.

Selecting the Right HEPA Air Purifier for Your Healthcare Facility

Selecting the right HEPA air purifier depends on your healthcare facility’s specific needs:

• Controlling Airborne Particles During Construction/Maintenance: If your facility frequently undergoes maintenance or renovations, products like the HEPACART® Classic or HEPACART® AutoLift might be ideal. Both offer HEPA-certified dust containment to limit the spread of dust and debris. The main difference between these two products is the AutoLift’s push-button system for easier setup and maneuverability.
• Improving General Air Quality in Patient Areas: For broader IAQ needs, the HEPAFORCE® GermBuster units can be a great fit. These units use UV-FORCE® for powerful continuous disinfection and are perfect for augmenting existing ventilation systems in areas at high risk of contamination.

When choosing the right filtration solution, consider factors such as the area’s level of traffic, whether immunocompromised patients are present, and whether there are ongoing construction or maintenance projects. Whichever option you choose, the HEPACART line of mobile HEPA filtration or purification units offers flexibility, ease of use, and robust HEPA filtration to maintain safety and compliance.

Harnessing the Power of HEPA Air Purifiers for Cleaner Air

Maintaining excellent IAQ is critical for patient and staff safety, especially in healthcare settings where air contamination can lead to severe consequences. HEPA air purifiers provide a robust solution to this challenge by capturing 99.97% of harmful airborne particles, ensuring both compliance with IAQ regulations and improved patient outcomes. Whether integrated into your existing HVAC system or deployed as portable units, HEPA filters deliver the reliable and effective air purification that healthcare facilities need.

By regularly maintaining these systems and carefully selecting the right HEPA filter air purifier for your facility’s specific needs, you can ensure a cleaner, safer environment for patients and staff alike.

Ready to take the next step toward a cleaner and safer healthcare environment?
Download our full guide on the difference between HEPA and ULPA filtration to learn more about how the right filtration system can enhance Indoor Air Quality and protect your facility.