HEPA Filters
Filtration
The filters can be upgraded to filter out smaller particles to lower the contaminant concentrations
Viruses in particular are 1/400th the thickness of a human hair and require extremely fine filters to catch them effectively. HEPA filters (used in surgical operating rooms) would be required to achieve effectiveness of 99%+ capture rate at 0.3 micron size range. These filters are very expensive (first cost and replacement costs), and unfortunately place a very large strain on the performance of the equipment. The standard commercial HVAC equipment is designed to operate like “drinking a soda through a standard straw”… but changing to HEPAs would be the equivalent of “changing that straw to a coffee straw”… the amount of flow through the filter will be drastically reduced which can lead to temperature issues, maintenance issues, operation issues, and increase utility costs.
| wdt_ID | MERV Rating | Capture Percentage | Micron Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-4 | 20% | 10+ Microns |
| 2 | 5 | 20-35% | 3-10 Microns |
| 3 | 6 | 35-50% | 3-10 Microns |
| 4 | 7 | 50-70% | 3-10 Microns |
| 5 | 8 | 70% | 3-10 Microns |
| 6 | 9 | Up to 50% | 1-3 Microns |
| 7 | 10 | 50-65% | 1-3 Microns |
| 8 | 11 | 65-80% | 1-3 Microns |
| 9 | 12 | 80% | 1-3 Microns |
| 10 | 13 | Up to 75% | 0.3-1 Microns |
TOTAL Mechanical is Southeastern Wisconsin’s premier commercial, industrial and residential HVAC, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractor.