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HEPA Filters and How They Work
There are times when a simple office cleaning is not enough for
your workplace to be truly considered clean. Clean air inside your premises is
also a must to ensure a healthy and safe space. Today, different businesses and
industries are embracing the use of HEPA filters.
What are HEPA filters in the first place? How do they work? Why
does your office need them?
What HEPA Means
The concept of HEPA or High-Efficiency Particulate Air has
its roots traced back to the 1940s when scientists during World War II invented
while working on the Manhattan Project, or more popularly called the atomic
bomb.
However, back then, the filter was used in a different way,
which was for trapping and preventing the radioactive particles from getting
released into the air. But the basis for how today’s filters are used in modern
filtration systems for cleaning the air, such as air purifiers and ductless
fume cupboards, remains the same.
How Do HEPA Filters Work?
Either synthetic or glass materials can be used for the
production of HEPA filters. Many of the filters right now, however, are made
with the use of randomly interweaved and placed glass fibers similar to a maze.
A lot of people seem to assume that filters function similarly
to a sieve or net. Particles bigger than the holes get caught while smaller ones
pass through the filter. However, this is not how HEPA filters work.
- Diffusion
Diffusion is extremely essential for laboratories, hospitals,
and other healthcare facilities because the process prevents the smallest types
of particles such as viruses from passing through. This kind of ultrafine particle
tends to have a more erratic movement than those from pollen or dust, making
them more likely to get stuck in the filter.
- Impaction
The biggest particulates like pollen or dust move along a straight
path, colliding with and sticking to the fibers.
- Interception
Air is flowing through the filter’s fibers letting it push the
particles around them. With the help of inertia, these particles will continue to
travel along their usual path and stick to the HEPA filter.
Importance and Benefits of HEPA Filters
HEPA filters are currently used for capturing most of the airborne
particles measuring 0.3 microns. While HEPA filters can catch all sizes of particles,
as far as medical-grade filters are concerned, it is a must for them to gather viruses
that scientists categorize as the most penetrative of all particle sizes.
They guarantee reliability and quality when getting rid of
the most microscopic airborne virus and bacteria particles. It is extremely
important to filtrate the air due to the long list of impurities and pollutants
found in indoor air.
With the help of Courtesy Building Services Inc, it is now possible
to keep your offices and commercial spaces cleaner. Through quality janitorial services
Dallas, you can save your HEPA filters from additional work. As a result, your staff
and visitors can take advantage of cleaner and healthier indoor air.