To start the next part of our series on air purifiers (AP) that is appropriate for grooming salon use, let me say that to date, the heating and air conditioning systems (HVAC) sometimes found in private and commercial buildings filter outside air to be circulated indoors and are mostly suited for filtering larger-sized pollutants and should not be confused with filtration of indoor air. Even when equipped with a HEPA filter, the efficiency of the HVAC system to remove the smallest pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) should not be considered substantial enough for animal care indoor purposes.

If one is to rely on such a system, a detailed knowledge as to its operation and makeup should be known and understood. In addition, overall effectiveness at filtering the smallest particles utilizing a HEPA filter without a practical way to determine whether the filter requires changing and is easily accessible for servicing must be called into doubt as HEPA filters do requires periodic replacement at a frequency dictated by the site’s outdoor pollution levels.

Since the effectiveness and efficiency of the air purifier system is the primary rationale in selecting the right unit to use in a high particulate matter (PM) environment that also captures larger pollutants such as found in animal care facilities that offer grooming services, our search must turn to portable, well-engineered air purifier units with multiple filter types included. These units must also include motor types that are sufficiently powerful enough to provide the recommended 3-6 per hour turnover rate of a room’s air to meet particulate matter (PM) safety levels, especially in the most dangerous lung-invasive-sized particles below 2.5 microns (µm).

Most air purifier units which meet the above criteria will be equipped with more than one filter type, with quick and easy access for inspection and replacement as well as easy cleaning maintenance when appropriate. As stated before, these passive manual capture filters trap different-sized pollutants at various efficiencies by design to maximize system airflow rates that allow the overall system to function within the tested and certified cubic feet per minute (CFM) parameters. The captured pollutants, especially the dangerous 2.5 micron (µm) ones, are held in this relatively dry state generally until the HEPA filter is replaced.

In this state, without live cell tissue to grow on, this will render the bacteria and virus material mostly inert and unable to spread. Some “kill” technology marketing suggest that somehow this captured material is more active than present science supports. This is especially significant when the study of and understanding of a system containing a HEPA (capture) filter is fully appreciated.

Much of today’s marketing is rather loose in identifying the significant threats found in indoor pollutants. These omissions make it most difficult for the average consumer to make an educated choice. Some even minimize the need for HEPA filtration for high particulate matter (PM) indoor areas with particulate matter (PM) below 2.5 microns in size, and yet the scientific data has not developed to counter this phenomenon. The HEPA’s proven and universally-recognized leadership in removing these most dangerous pollutants is well-proven, as well as the particulate matter’s (PM’s) ability to not only transport bacteria and virus material, but also penetrate the respiratory system and beyond.

With the occurrences of so many new infectious threats by airborne transmittal faced every year, now is not the time to use fuzzy science or unproven opinion to influence the public simply to make a sale. And yet sadly, when one reviews today’s marketing of air purifiers, the vast majority of information required to make a system selection is either absent or slanted to influence the least-knowledgeable of the buying public. This was most evident during the height of the COVID-19 scare, when lockdowns had institutional buyers scrambling for airborne solutions. A lot of poor, cheap air purifiers were sold. Later on follow-up contacts to these buyers indicated their purchase hadn’t made a difference in COVID transmittal, and some commented that these units were now most useful as paperweights.

Next we will discuss filters as well as their interaction with the motor and housing and why that matters.

Till Next Time,
-The Professor