January 2020

Spring is in the air and it’s time to enjoy the turning of the winter weather into the blooming of spring. This time of year is generally viewed as a positive for some – green leaves, lush grass and pretty flowers means lovely hiking weather for nature lovers. For others, it means horrible hay fever, the most common form of non-infectious allergic rhinitis, which affects between 10-30% of adults and 40% of children. For employers, using the right industrial air filters become a critical choice in keeping your employees healthy and happy.

In general, all age groups in the U.S. are all becoming more ‘allergic’. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, which is the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. For those of us susceptible to airborne allergens, or suffering from a condition exacerbated by poor air quality, creating a clean, pollution-free environment once we’re indoors alleviates some of the discomfort.

It is important to know that during the spring season, pollen from trees, grasses and weeds are released into the air, traveling for many miles. In the nose of a hay fever sufferer, the immune system mistakenly sees this pollen as a danger, triggering antibodies that attack the allergens and histamines which are responsible for the runny noses and itchy eyes.

Over 50% of adults with hay fever suffer from sleep problems. Pollen aside, your building can be a hotbed of allergens, including chemicals released from cleaning products, carpets and even paint. If you already have a respiratory complaint, such as asthma, this airborne debris can exacerbate the issue.

What Is Allergic Respiratory Disease?

Allergic respiratory disease includes both rhinitis and asthma resulting from allergen exposure. Allergic respiratory disease includes symptoms associated with bronchial asthma and/or rhino conjunctivitis. Typical symptoms include nasal and sinus irritation, itching, congestion, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulty. A person with a chronic cough may be experiencing allergic rhinitis or asthma, and the cough can be a symptom of allergic respiratory disease. Respiratory allergy can include symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and irritated eyes, nose, and throat.

Some people may exhibit rhinitis symptoms, while others might only have asthmatic symptoms, and still others may have both. Asthma is an obstructive lung disease that occurs from a hyper-reaction to some sort of stimulus, such as dust or pet dander. Asthma symptoms include inflammation of the bronchial lining, which causes airflow obstruction, wheezing, shortness of breath, and air trapped in the chest.

These symptoms may occur persistently or only intermittently depending on the allergen and the control measures used. Indoor and outdoor pollutants in the air are a significant cause of respiratory problems, and these irritants can cause lung inflammation and damage. Eliminating allergens from the workplace, performing deep cleaning, and using proper commerical air filtration can be helpful for people with this disease.

Air Filters for Allergies

Regular HVAC filters are intended to protect your equipment, not your lungs and sinuses. Many people mistakenly believe that the air filters in furnaces and air conditioners keep dust and allergens out of the air. In reality, that’s not what HVAC filters are designed to do. Their purpose is actually to keep dust out of the equipment to prevent damage to the system and keep it running efficiently.

While ordinary furnace and AC filters do help to remove some dust from the air, they do little to trap the microscopic particles that cause the sneezing and wheezing. To prevent this, you need special industrial air filters for allergies that are designed to stop those tiny particles.

Proper use of industrial filters such as HEPA portable air cleaning units combined with high-efficiency HVAC filtration can be an important first line of defense for allergy and asthma sufferers, reducing triggers by sifting out airborne contaminants to provide cleaner indoor air quality (IAQ).

The MERV Scale

All HEPA filters are not created equal. To get the best results, you need to check the MERV ratings of all industrial air filters. HVAC HEPA filters for allergies are rated on how well they block particles of different sizes. The rating system is called the minimum efficiency reporting system, or MERV.

The ratings range from MERV 1 to MERV 12, with the higher number indicating filters that are capable of removing the smallest particles. Ideally you want to choose a MERV rating of 10 or higher, which are most effective at blocking the particles that cause allergy symptoms.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined the most common uses for filters of varying MERV ratings. These guidelines will help you identify the most appropriate filter for your needs:

● MERV rating between 13 and 16: Typically used for hospital inpatient care facilities, general surgery facilities and other commercial buildings that require superior filtration.
● MERV rating between 9 and 12: Usually chosen for hospital laboratories, better commercial buildings and superior residential buildings.
● MERV rating between 5 and 8: Used for better residential buildings, standard commercial facilities and industrial workplaces.
● MERV rating between 1 and 4: Commonly used in residential window air filters for minimum filtration.

Choosing the Right Filter

If your workers suffer from serious allergies, a HEPA filter is the best choice as it eliminates more airborne allergens than any other option. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are the best option for removing allergens from the air. This type of mechanical air filter has a very fine mesh which captures most particulate matter and surpasses traditional MERV ratings. It’s important to note that while HEPA filters are extremely efficient for filtering particles out of the air, they will not filter gaseous substances out.

Combine an activated carbon filter with your HEPA filter to eliminate both particle and gaseous pollutants. HEPA filters are much more expensive than other options and your HVAC system may need to be modified to accommodate them. If you’re concerned about the cost-effectiveness of the product, a HEPA filter may not be the best option. In this case, choose a filter with the highest MERV rating you can afford for effective allergen filtration.

To Remain Effective, Filters Must Be Changed Regularly

You need to change your HEPA filters more frequently than you think, especially during high pollen season. HEPA air filters for allergies need to be changed more frequently than ordinary paper HVAC filters, which means changing them at least every other month, and possibly more often depending on your location. An HVAC expert such as EFS can advise you on what is recommended for your equipment and your area.