Air Purifiers, Fans, and Filters: A COVID-19 Explainer for Schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, office building employers, owners and managers, and operations specialists can take the following steps to create a safe and healthy workplace for workers and clients. "This is going to be a crisis," says one manufacturer of MERV-13 filters, which can prevent the coronavirus from moving through building climate control systems. The Filter Is Only Half The Battle This means that the MERV-13 filter mild hold a chance in filtering viruses out of the air, dependent on the specific virus. Further, malls must submit such documentation to DOH for review and approval to operate at a lesser filtration rating of MERV-11 or MERV-12 with additional ventilation and air filtration mitigation protocols. However, it is important to keep in mind that a MERV-13 filter is only capable of removing 50% of those particles from the air, and therefore, is not a foolproof method for killing coronavirus. ASHRAE recommends upgrading air filters to MERV-13, or higher if possible. Consider the filters contaminated, protect personnel changing them, and seal them in plastic bags for disposal. Upgrade filters to MERV-13 (or higher) and ensure effective air seals. Subscribe Reset Search ... Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers also recommends schools use a MERV-13 filter … Inspect filter housing and racks to ensure appropriate filter fit and check for ways to minimize filter bypass. A more restrictive option, the HEPA filter, catches 99.97 percent of 0.3 micrometer particles. MERV-13 Is approximately equivalent to F7, a rating used in the EU. ASHRAE recommends that building operators use a filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13, but the group suggests that a MERV 14 (or better) filter is preferred. Highly-efficient filtration can help reduce the airborne load of infectious particles. 2 And while doing so, ensure effective air sealing around the filter media. What kind of filter should I use in my home HVAC system to help protect my family from COVID-19? Cognizant authorities such as the CDC and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommend an air MERV-16 filters out more than 95% of the particles in all three of those ranges. Caution: Your HVAC system may not be able to handle a MERV-13 filter. Offices, schools and restaurants may opt to install these filters in ventilation systems. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses. The MERV scale (with values from 1 to 16) measures the effectiveness of filters. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter's ability to capture particles. In comparison, an N95 mask goes a step further and must filter out at least 95% of particles smaller than 0.3 µm. More effective filters with reasonable pressure drop are available, and some increased pressure drop often results in an acceptably small effect on system performance. the COVID-19 public health emergency if such a high degree of filtration (i.e., MERV-13 or greater) was installed. While a filter with a higher One variety called a MERV-13 filter takes on the majority of particles between 0.3 and 1 micrometers in size.