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Understanding the Operation and Efficiency of HEPA Filters

Author: Lisa Frank

Published: | Updated:


HEPA filters use a multifaceted approach to ensure that particles are effectively captured. These filters increase your indoor air quality while catching unwanted contaminants, making them the ideal solution for your filtration equipment.

💡 Key Takeaway
HEPA filters are designed to capture at least 99.97% of airborne particles at 0.3 microns, helping facilities control fine contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria while maintaining cleaner indoor air.

What Is a HEPA Filter?

HEPA Filtration at a Glance
99.97%
Particle Capture
At 0.3 microns
0.3
Microns
Standard HEPA test particle size
80+
Years
Of HEPA filtration technology

HEPA dates back to the 1940s when scientists were looking to develop a filter for removing radioactive materials from the air. These scientists were successful, although the HEPA filters created at the time were much larger than the ones used today. As for HEPA’s meaning, it stands for “high efficiency particulate air,” with systems being designed to trap harmful particles and boost facility safety.

Despite being introduced over 80 years ago, HEPA filter technology still plays a key role today in protecting workers from harmful contaminants, as filters are known to remove 99.97% of airborne particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. This can include removing mold, dust, pollen, or bacteria. 

How Do HEPA Filters Work?

what is a HEPA filter?

When it comes to how HEPA filters work, they function quite differently than the filters you’d find in your home. HEPA filters are pleated mechanical filters that have a thickness designed to capture unwanted particulates. The pleats create a mat of fibers that are randomly arranged and that arrangement helps capture a range of particle sizes.

These systems are tested using air particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter as these are the most difficult for a HEPA filter to catch. As these particles pass through the filter, they are caught by three different mechanisms: diffusion, interception, and impaction.

How HEPA Filters Capture Particles
Mechanism 01
Diffusion
Very small particles move irregularly through the air, increasing the likelihood that they will contact filter fibers.
Mechanism 02
Interception
Particles following the airflow pass close enough to a filter fiber to make contact and become trapped.
Mechanism 03
Impaction
Larger particles cannot follow the airflow around the fibers and instead collide directly with them.
Why Are HEPA Filters Tested at 0.3 Microns?
Particles around 0.3 microns are especially challenging for HEPA filters to capture. Testing at this particle size helps demonstrate filtration performance under demanding conditions.

Diffusion takes place when gas molecules smaller than 0.1 microns merge together and become delayed in passing through. This delay makes it more likely for the subsequent mechanisms to take place. Interception occurs when particles moving through the air adhere to a fiber, while impaction occurs when the larger air particles become embedded directly into the fiber.

By incorporating HEPA filters into your workplace, you’ll reap benefits such as:

✓ Cleaner Air
Captures harmful airborne particles and contaminants.
✓ Odor Control
Helps limit the spread of unwanted airborne odors.
✓ Employee Comfort
Reduces exposure to airborne allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold.
✓ Energy Efficiency
Supports efficient filtration when filters are properly selected and maintained.
✓ Health & Safety
Helps reduce exposure to certain airborne contaminants within the workplace.

How Our HEPA Filters at AirMax Stand Out

We are an industrial filter distributor, carrying products that help you create a cleaner, safer, and more efficient workplace. We offer a wide selection of HEPA filters to accommodate various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, HVAC, and more.

By choosing us for your HEPA filters, you’ll gain access to:

Why Choose AirMax for HEPA Filters?
Expert Support
Our experienced team can help answer questions about filter applications, compatibility, and product selection.
Quick Shipping
Our large stocked inventory allows many products to ship the same day they are ordered.
Local Pickup
Customers near Cleveland can take advantage of local pickup for faster access to the filters they need.

Contact Us for Expert Advice on the Efficiency of HEPA Filters

If you’re looking to benefit from the efficiency of HEPA filters, be sure to check out our selection and order online today! You can also contact our team if you want to discuss the benefits further or have any questions.

Request a Quote Today

Contact us using the form below or call us at 216-716-8200.