Today’s competitive air filtration market has manufacturers scrambling to promote unique concepts so they can distinguish their products from other manufacturers. Additionally, pricing pressures have forced manufacturers to look at ways to cut costs. Coarse fiber (synthetic) media is cheaper than fine fiber (microfiber glass) media. In some cases the cost differential may be as high as 20%, sometimes passed on in more competitive pricing to the user. But should cost be ‘the factor’ when users are so concerned about indoor air quality? Shouldn't the prime consideration be the life cycle cost of the product with an emphasis on the desired end result, improved indoor air quality?
|
|
 Tested Fine Fiber Filter |
Included in this analysis is a discharging step that simulates loading of media during normal HVAC service. This discharging step is already in place in European filter testing standards and is under consideration for addition to current ASHRAE filter testing Standards.
Note that the fine fiber media products (shades of green) have an efficiency of around 70% in three different product configurations. Note the coarse fiber medias charged (initial) efficiency (shades of orange) and the same media in a discharged state (shades of blue). The end user is expecting 70% removal efficiency in this critical respirable particle range, with historical performance increasing over the life of the filter. How many end users would purchase this product knowing that performance will actually decrease over the life of the product? Which type of filter would you want if you were the patient or a family member or friend of a patient on the operating room table?