Why Untested HEPA Filters Present Safety Hazards in Healthcare

Healthcare facility managers: when was the last time that your facility tested its HEPA filters? If you aren’t sure, let this be your reminder of how important HEPA filter performance testing can be. 

On a normal day in healthcare, the stakes are already incredibly high. Vulnerable patient groups and hardworking staff are regularly exposed to infection and disease on the best of days. But, when you introduce interruptions like construction and renovation projects into the mix, the risk of releasing harmful airborne contaminants like dust, pathogens, and mold spores into sterile environments significantly increases. Between infection control requirements and balancing timelines and budgets, the risks of an outbreak or even just lower-performing filters are very real. 

HEPA filtration systems are designed to serve as the first and last line of defense against these threats. However, even the most advanced filters can fail if they are improperly installed or rigorously tested. This creates a dangerous gap in your infection control strategy, exposing patients and staff to preventable risks and potentially jeopardizing compliance with regulatory standards. 

The real question isn’t just whether your facility has HEPA filtration — it’s whether those systems are working as intended to protect everyone who depends on them. For healthcare leaders, this protection is non-negotiable, and HEPA filter testing is the key to protecting your budget, safety standards, and compliance.

How Does a HEPA Filter Work?

HEPA filters, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are engineered to capture 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes dust, bacteria, mold spores, and other contaminants that pose significant risks in healthcare settings. 

HEPA filters are considered the gold standard of air filtration because of the way they incorporate three types of powerful filtration methods simultaneously:

• Interception: Particles that follow the airflow path are trapped when they come close enough to the fibers inside the filter.
• Impaction: Larger particles collide directly with the filter fibers and are captured and locked away.
• Diffusion: Smaller particles, moving erratically due to their size, are trapped by the filter's dense fibers.

Through the combination of these three mechanisms, HEPA filters exceed the performance of standard air filters which are not designed to handle the demands of healthcare environments. 

Clean HEPA filter air purifiers are specifically built for situations where air contamination must be minimized, such as in operating rooms or areas undergoing construction. When untested or poorly maintained, however, these filters can fall short of the efficiency that they’re known for, allowing harmful particles to circulate freely in your facility. 

How to Guarantee HEPA Filters Meet Air Safety Standards

HEPA filtration relies on consistent, transparent testing to stay highly effective. Before a HEPA filter ever reaches your facility, it undergoes laboratory testing by organizations like the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). During these tests, filters must prove their ability to capture at least 99.97% of air contamination particles, with results affixed directly to the product for accountability. If a filter does not meet these standards, it cannot be categorized as HEPA. 

However, this is only the first step. Once HEPA filters are installed, they need to be tested on-site to confirm their performance under real-world conditions. Why? Installation variables such as improperly sealed units or compromised equipment can severely impact filter efficacy. This is also called “in-situ” testing, and it’s critically important to confirm that you’ll see the same efficiency in your facility that the HEPA filter demonstrated in a lab setting. Without on-site testing, a HEPA filter that performed perfectly in a lab might not provide the same protection against air contamination in a healthcare setting.

Routine in-service testing — which should be conducted every 6 to 12 months — is just as critical. Over time, even the highest quality filters can degrade, compromising their ability to maintain the air safety standards that you’re after. For busy construction and facility leaders, knowing that these systems are tested and functioning properly provides peace of mind while also preventing costly oversights.

The Dangers of Untested HEPA Filters in Healthcare

Your HEPA filters can only do their job if they are maintained and properly tested for efficiency. If you do not stay on top of regular maintenance, you’re unintentionally risking a significantly lower quality of air filtration and opening up your facility to a whole host of other problems, including: 

• False Security: Untested filters may give the impression that patients and staff are protected when, in reality, dangerous particles are circulating in the air.
• Degraded Performance: Without regular testing, filters may lose efficiency over time, increasing the likelihood of spreading disease.
• Legal and Financial Exposure: Healthcare facilities can face fines, litigation, or even damage to their reputation if ineffective air filtration is proven to contribute to patient harm or regulatory non-compliance.

Consider this scenario: A construction project in a hospital involves above-ceiling work, releasing dust and spores trapped in the ceiling and walls. If the dust containment equipment uses an untested HEPA filter, contaminants could enter patient care areas. This not only risks patient health but also potential penalties from regulatory organizations like The Joint Commission.

Healthcare leaders cannot afford to gamble with air safety. By continually testing and confirming that HEPA filters are tested and functioning properly, you’re able to protect not just patients but also the entire facility’s reputation and bottom line.

How to Maintain Your HEPA Filters to Minimize Air Contamination

Healthcare leaders can avoid the dangers and resulting stress of untested filters by investing the time and effort to create protocols and systems that will prevent underperforming filters from the start. 

Consider implementing these 8 steps into your maintenance routine: 

1. Perform Regular In-Service Testing: Schedule testing every 6 to 12 months to confirm filter performance. This proactive approach minimizes risks and ensures compliance.
2. Replace Filters Promptly: Use clean HEPA filter air purifiers and replace filters on-time according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to maintain peak efficiency.
3. Partner with Certified Testing Companies: Certified testing assures that your filtration system meets the highest standards. Choose reputable partners to help you confidently verify filtration performance.
4. Document the Testing Process: Maintain transparency by keeping detailed records of all tests and maintenance activities. 
5. Inspect Seals and Housing Regularly: Ensure the filter is securely installed with no gaps or leaks around the edges. Poor sealing can render even the best filters ineffective.
6. Monitor Differential Pressure: Use pressure gauges to track changes in airflow resistance across the filter, which can indicate when replacement is needed.
7. Establish a Contingency Plan for Emergencies: Have a plan in place to respond to unexpected filter failures or breaches, minimizing downtime and contamination risks.
8. Stay Updated on Standards and Technology: Regularly review updates to air quality regulations and advancements in filtration technology to ensure your system stays compliant and effective.

Look for These 3 Features in Your HEPA Filtration Equipment

The best way to ensure that you’re getting the highest levels of HEPA filtration starts with the filter and/or equipment that you purchase. Testing can help to make sure that your filter efficacy doesn’t decline, but this only helps you maintain the level of filtration that you start with. Start at the highest possible level of filtration by choosing your equipment carefully. 

When choosing a HEPA filtration solution, look for:

1. Systems that have been rigorously tested at both the manufacturing and installation stages.
2. Equipment designed for the unique demands of healthcare environments.
3. Transparent, well-documented testing protocols that can be easily reviewed and audited. 

Protect Patients and Staff With Rigorous HEPA Filtration Testing

For healthcare leaders balancing strict infection control standards with tight budgets and timelines, reliable HEPA filtration systems are a non-negotiable investment. Adopting robust testing protocols, creating detailed maintenance routines, and selecting equipment built for healthcare demands empower you to confidently minimize risks and maximize air safety.

The question is no longer, “Do we have HEPA filtration?” Instead, ask yourself: “Can I trust that our HEPA systems are working exactly as they should?” With rigorous testing and proper care, the answer can always be yes. 

Take proactive steps to protect your patients, staff, and facility today. Download our HEPA vs. ULPA guide to learn more about achieving the highest air safety standards against air contamination today.