How to Calculate CADR for an Air Purifier

Air purifiers are designed to make living spaces more comfortable and healthy because they reduce the amount of airborne particles that can contribute to poor indoor air quality. In addition, air purifiers are excellent at trapping common allergens such as dust and pollen, therefore making them invaluable to those who suffer from asthma, allergies, or other respiratory disorders.

In order to standardize air purifier specifications and to provide consumers with a method of comparing air cleaners, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the independent industry organization that represents the manufacturers of home appliances, has developed a system for rating air purifiers. Although air purifier manufacturers are not required to submit their units for testing, many do, and every quarter, the AHAM publishes its directory of Certified Room Air Cleaners to the public.

An air purifier with the AHAM seal (usually found on the box of the unit's box) will list three CADR numbers: one for pollen, one for dust, and one for tobacco smoke (some very highly rated models include the Blueair 601 air purifier and the Airgle 750). The CADR indicates the volume of filtered air delivered by the air purifier (measured in cubic feet per minute), and the higher the CADR numbers, the faster and more efficiently the unit filters the air. To determine the CADR appropriate for your space, simple multiply the room's square footage by 0.75. For example, if you are trying to clean the air in a room that measures 15 feet by 15 feet, your calculations would look like this:

CADR = Square Footage x 0.75

15'x 15'= 225 square feet

225 x 0.75 = 168.75

CADR Required = 168.75

Therefore, for a 225 square foot room, you would need an air purifier with at least CADR. In addition, if your room has ceilings higher than 8 feet, move up to the next level CADR for a larger room. Moreover, if you have an open floor plan, purchase two small units because they can be moved to different areas in the room and will clean the air more efficiently than one unit alone.

Air Purifier Q & A Part II

When it comes to maintaining an allergen-free home, using an air purifier is absolutely essential. Effective at eliminating pollutants such as dust, animal dander, odors, gasses, and chemicals, an air purifier is one of the first steps you should take in ensuring a healthy home. However, consumers often have questions when it comes to what type of air purifier they should purchase, as well as how to operate and maintain one. To address these concerns, here are a few frequently asked air purifier questions:

Question: Where should an air purifier be placed?
Answer: Ideally, an air purifier should be placed either in a room where you spend the most time or in highly-polluted area. Moreover, an air purifier should be located near a vent or fan to help with air circulation. Dens and living rooms are a great place to start, as are bedrooms, seeing as we spend up to 8 hours a day sleeping. Furthermore, if you have pets, placing the air purifier near a kennel, crate, or play area in order to reduce pet dander is a good idea.

In terms of positioning, for smaller rooms, place the unit at least 4 inches away from the wall or corner, but in larger areas, you will get the most benefit out of your air purifier if it is positioned in the middle of the room. Nonetheless, regardless of where you place your air purifier, always remember to ensure its intake or exhaust vents aren't obstructed by household objects and furniture.

Question: How often should HEPA filters be replaced?
Answer: The life of a HEPA filter will depend upon your air purifier manufacturer's instructions and the pollutant levels in your home. For heavily polluted areas, expect to replace the HEPA filter every few months. However, with normal use, a HEPA filter should last about a year, and if frequent HEPA replacement is inconvenient, look for HEPA filter with an extra-large surface area, such as those utilized by Airpura. Many Airpura models such as the R600 have HEPA filters that can last as long as 5 years.

Question: How often should pre-filters be cleaned?
Answer: Again, the length of time in between filter maintenance will greatly depend on manufacturer's directions and the amount of pollutants in your home. If your air purifier utilizes a washable pre-filter, washing the pre-filter once a month will maximize your unit's cleaning efficiency.

Addressing Air Quality Issues in Commercial Settings

Because humans take over 20,000 breaths a day on average and air is something we can't go without for more than a few minutes, the importance of breathing in fresh, clean air can't be stressed enough. Indoor air quality is important to human health because individuals spend a large fraction of their time indoors at their residences, schools, and workplaces, and breathing in polluted air can result in health problems such as respiratory disorders and even cancer.

IAQ in the Commercial Setting
Those working in industrial settings are particularly at risk due to the high levels of pollution that exist in such areas. In addition, there are numerous sources of airborne toxic pollutants in these indoor environments, and outdoor air ventilation often provides the only primary means to dilute pollutant concentrations.

Dust Masks: Are They Enough?
Many industrial workers make use of filter masks which are aimed to providing protection to the wearer from harmful airborne substances, and these usually cover only the mouth and nose. They work by limiting the course of air so that it flows through a filter that removes harmful particulates, and these types of masks range from single-use, disposable types to reusable models with replaceable cartridges. Because of their simple design, these masks are commonly used for filtering out tiny solid or even liquid particles through dense, fine mesh. Some types of dust masks even utilize mesh that is coated with substances to enhance filtration.

While these masks may be suitable less demanding applications, they are only designed to trap large particles such as sawdust, and generally will not protect lungs from fine particles such as smoke, gases, chemicals, or VOC's. As such, in industrial or commercial situations where there are high levels of indoor air pollution, one of the most effective methods of combating such contamination is through the use of a high-quality, commercial-grade air purifier.

Why Commercial-Grade Air Purifiers?
Commercial air purifiers are essential for any work environment because they are often capable of eliminating the most difficult to remove pollutants, including smoke and toxic chemicals. Some of the best commercial air purifiers utilize a combination of filtration methods, but HEPA filters are usually the most common and effective.

With that in mind, one of the advanced HEPA commercial air purifiers is the IQAir VOC GCX ($1895.00). Engineered to provide maximum control of gaseous chemicals and working just like a professional gas mask, this air purifier relies on an interchangeable cartridge design for optimized gaseous pollutant control. The HEPA filter first eliminates micro- and nano-sized particles such as allergens, bacteria, smoke, and viruses; then the four specialized GCX cartridges filters down the molecular level; and finally, the micro-charged post filter removes any particles left over from the filtration process, therefore ensuring clean, fresh air.

How to Alleviate Hay Fever Symptoms

Springtime conjures up memories of warmer weather, clear skies, and blooming flowers, but the season can be miserable for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. Pollen is one of the most common and prevalent allergens, and in the spring, the amount of pollen floating in the air can be up to four times greater than in any other season. According to Gillian Shepherd, M.D., an allergy specialist, "On windy days or for days after high winds, pollen counts are high because the pollen has been spread through the air. After it rains, counts drop as the rain washes the pollen away."
Therefore, allergy sufferers are all too familiar with the perils of high pollen count, and high pollen counts can affect numerous types of allergies, from conjunctivitis to skin reactions such as dermatitis. However, the most common spring allergy is allergic rhinitis.

Commonly called hay fever, seasonal allergic rhinitis affects 35 million people in the U.S. and is commonly triggered by allergens such as pollens and molds. When allergic rhinitis sufferers inhale these allergens, they are combined with an allergic antibody called immunoglobulin (IgE), and in those who have allergies, IgE is found at especially high concentrations.

To alleviate hay fever symptoms, your doctor may prescribe oral medication, nasal sprays, or eye drops, but perhaps one of the best ways at combating hay fever is to avoid substances such as pollen altogether. Here are some preventative steps you can take to keep pollen and dust out of your home:

Turn on Your Air Conditioner
Did you know that your air conditioner can actually help control allergens? Air conditioners allow windows and doors to stay closed, which keep some pollen and mold spores outside. Moreover, this keeps indoor humidity levels down, and the less moisture there is in the air, the less chance of mold growth.

Use Furnace Filters
Even though staying indoors is one way to avoid high levels of pollen, this may not be enough. Even if the windows or doors within a room remain closed, pollen can still seep n. Quality allergy furnace filters can solve this problem, and the ones from AllergyZone are great for this purpose. Be sure to change the filter regularly during hay fever season.

Wear Dust Masks
When performing housework, many common dusting and vacuum devices can actually shuffle as much dust and pollen back into the air as they take out. Therefore, a dust mask can prevent you from breathing in debris while cleaning. Also consider purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter if this is truly a concern.

Purify the Air
Air purifiers are great for those suffering from respiratory disorders such as hay fever. When choosing an air purifier, select a unit with HEPA filters and all-metal construction. True HEPA filters have the ability to remove up to 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger, and all-metal or steel gaskets prevent off-gassing of chemicals into the air.

Austin Air has also designed an air purifier specially designed for allergy sufferers. With the ability to clean large areas up to 1500 square and utilizing both medical-grade, True HEPA and HEGA filters, this air purifier is perfect for keeping hay fever symptoms at bay.

Air Purifier Q & A

The fact that our indoor air is oftentimes much more polluted than the air outside is generally accepted, and scientific studies have repeatedly shown us that the content of interior air can affect the health of building inhabitants.

The air in an average home contains billions of tiny pollution particles such as dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, viruses, and other airborne irritants. To eliminate these pollutants, using an air purifier can help create a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment, for those with allergies or asthma, air purifiers can provide instant relief of symptoms.

However, with so many different types of air purifiers on the market, many customers are often confused as to which models are most suitable for their individual purification requirements, and questions often arise. To address these concerns, Air Purifier Home will now regularly pick and answer some consumer questions commonly asked in regards to air purifiers every week. Here are this week's questions:

Question: Do I need to leave my air purifier running continuously, or can I just have it on a few hours a day?
Answer: Many people believe that cleaning the air is much like vacuuming or dusting in that it is a chore that only needs to be performed periodically. Unfortunately, the air within an indoor space is in a state of constant change, with particles, microorganisms, and gases continuously being added back into an area. Therefore, the air quality in a room is anything buy static. With that in mind, if you are looking to breathe cleaner air, leaving the purifier on for at least 12 hours a day will be more beneficial and effective, as air will be constantly filtered. If you are concerned about energy usage, keep in mind that most air purifiers cost just pennies a day to operate.

Question: Does fan speed contribute to an air purifier's effectiveness?
Answer: Generally speaking, the higher the fan speed, the more air is drawn into the air purifier. This results in more clean air being distributed per hour back into a particular space. For those suffering from respiratory disorders such as asthma or allergies, the highest amount of clean air is best.

Question: There's a lot of controversy surrounding ozone air purifiers lately. Are these safe?
Answer: Ozone is only dangerous in especially high concentrations - much higher than what an ozone air purifier is capable of producing. In moderate concentrations, ozone is harmless, useful, and very effective at eliminating airborne contaminants. However, those with sensitive lungs or respiratory problems may not want to utilize ozone in their home, as it has been known to exacerbate symptoms in those people. Instead, HEPA air purifiers are better choices.

Air Purifier Reviews: NQ Air Purifiers - Innovative Solutions for Pure, Safe Air

Although studies have repeatedly shown us how outdoor air pollution can be a major health problem, air pollution can also exist in areas where you least expect it and even in the place you thought was the safest: your home. Even seemingly ordinary activities such as cleaning, cooking, heating, and cooling can release and spread indoor pollutants, and because we often spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors, breathing in polluted air can have a severe impact on our health. Certain people, particularly infants, young children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses are especially at risk.

Biological pollutants, or those that are living, are especially harmful, as they are microscopic, travel through the air, and can stem from sources commonly found in homes, such as animal dander; dust mites and roach parts; pollen; and infectious agents such as viruses or bacteria. While there is no simple way to address the problem of biological pollutants, independent tests have shown that UV light has an immense effect on these types of contaminants.

UV light is part of the electromagnetic energy generated by the sun and is one of the most effective ways to reduce and control airborne microbiological pathogens because it damages the DNA of such microorganisms and renders them harmless and unable to reproduce. It is for this reason that UV air purifiers are widely used in hospitals, and they also a requirement in most U.S. Government facilities.

NQ Industries has designed a range of high quality air purification systems utilizing a range of recognized technologies such as HEPA and Activated Carbon, but the mainstay of their air purifiers is UVGI light.

NQ air purifiers, such as the Clarifier Standard, use much more concentrated levels of ultraviolet energy than found in natural sunlight, and UVC radiation at 254 nm has an intense germicidal effect. Therefore, within seconds, NQ air purifiers can effectively destroy microorganisms such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria without the use of harmful chemicals or ozone.

In fact, hospitals worldwide utilize NQ air purification systems as a method of controlling infectious diseases and viruses. According to a July 2006 test conducted by the Fleming Clinic in France, the NQ Clarifier Standard, Clarifier Medical, and Clarifier Medical Plus air purifiers were all able to reduce 87% of harmful contaminants in just 24 hours, and researchers involved in the study declared that NQ air purifiers performed very well in "real hospitals and clinics."

As outstanding air purification systems, the NQ Clarifier line of air purifiers offers four comprehensive levels of filtration in addition to an intense UV purification zone. Its compact size, weight, and mobility also make these air purifiers suitable for any type of situation, whether for residential, commercial, medical, industrial, or military applications. The efficacy of these air purifiers have also been proven in real conditions for over 10 years, and they are continued to be used in hospitals, the U.S. Army, U.S. Customs, and even the U.S. Navy. With that in mind, for complete particle and microbiological contaminant abatement, NQ air purifiers truly offer unparalleled protection.

Activated Carbon: The Natural Air Purifier

If odors, chemicals, or gases are a problem in your home or workplace, using an air purifier with an activated carbon filter can be your best line of defense.

Carbon has been known to man as a highly effective means to purify air and water since antiquity. In fact, the use of carbon dates so far back into history that its exact origin has been difficult to pinpoint. However, historians have found that the ancient Egyptians were using carbon to adsorb odors from wounds and from within the intestinal track. Hindus used it to purify their water supply, and in 17th century London, crude carbon filters were used to remove gases and vapors from sewage systems. Nonetheless, it wasn't until the 20th century that activated carbon filters were beginning to be widely used in military gas masks, and post-war expansion in commercial production of activated carbon lead to its utilization among consumers.

What is Activated Carbon?
Activated carbon, or activated charcoal, includes carbon material that is mostly derived from charcoal. The material is considered "activated" when it undergoes a process which opens up millions of tiny fissures and pores to enhance its adsorption properties, and regardless of the name, it consists of high adsorbent material with an exceptionally high surface area. Due to this high surface area, its micro porosity, and its high degree of surface reactivity, activated carbon is very effective in the adsorption of both organic and inorganic pollutants from airborne and aqueous sources. In fact, only one pound of activated carbon has a surface area equivalent to 125 acres.

How Does Activated Carbon Work?
When chemicals, odors, and gases pass through an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, these pollutants become permanently trapped in the millions of pores that are opened by the activation process. Subsequently, due to the large surface area of the activated carbon, it can usually adsorb up to 60 percent of its own weight in pollutants. As well, high-quality activated carbon filters, depending on the environment in which they are used and the level of contaminants in the air, can last up to five years before the pores become full and before the filter needs to be replaced.

Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon Filters
In activated carbon air purifiers, the carbon media is often combined with minerals such as zeolite, which has the ability to adsorb ions and molecules and act as a sort of chemical and gas sieve. For those suffering from respiratory disorders such as allergies, asthma, or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), air purifiers with carbon filters are especially useful because they can clean the air naturally without the use of chemicals or ozone, and without off-gassing other pollutants into the air.

Recommend Activated Carbon Air Purifiers:

Austin Air

Austin Air has been a trusted name in the air purification industry for years, and the basic scientific principle involved in all of their air purifier filters, including those used in the Austin Air Allergy Machine, is rooted in the use of medical-grade HEPA and of course, activated carbon. By forcing contaminated air through these filters, up to 99.97% of contaminants are eliminated, as well as over 3000 different types of toxic gases, odors, and chemicals.

AllerAir


Instead of just using a standard HEPA filter to clean the air, AllerAir makes use of a combination HEPA and activated carbon filter to remove particles and the most harmful of indoor contaminants - chemicals and gases. AllerAir air purifiers, such as the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb, use several pounds of activated carbon to ensure complete removal of indoor contaminants. Moreover, AllerAir also manufacturers a product called the EasyPur Odor Catcher. This compact tub includes the same odor-fighting activated carbon used in AllerAir air purifiers, and can be placed anywhere where odors may be a problem, such as refrigerators, freezers, trash cans, and lockers.