Not all air purifiers do what they claim

Experts weigh in on how to choose the right product for you 

Delos, a leader in science-backed solutions for healthier indoor spaces,  advises that not all air purifiers perform as well as they claim to.  

According to Delos Australia managing director Anthony Scarff, there are many air purification products on the market sprouting all types of claims however very few provide the high levels of protection and efficacy of air filtration they promise to deliver. 

“The reality is not all air purifiers are created equal and consumers and businesses need to understand the key differences and what to look for when purchasing and installing air purification units,” Scarff said. 

“Thanks to COVID, the need for air purification is now much better understood across the world. Effective air purification products can help to improve the environments in which we live and work by making the quality of the air healthier to breathe.

"We spend the vast majority, about 90 percent, of our time indoors, and the spaces in which we live, work, study and play can influence almost every aspect of our lives, including our health and well-being.

“The risks of airborne diseases like COVID, the common cold and influenza viruses have helped us to become more aware of the importance of indoor air and the role it plays.

“In addition to the risks of airborne infections studies have also shown that poor indoor air quality is associated with a number of cognitive function impairments, including our ability to concentrate and process information.

“However, if you’re looking to invest in your health by purchasing an air purifier, keep in mind that not all air purifiers perform the same. Some of the factors you need to consider include filter efficiency, clean air delivery rate (CADR, which indicates how frequently the air in the space is replaced with clean air), whether the purifier generates potentially harmful byproducts such as ozone, and how much noise it makes while actively cleaning the air.”

Brand and knowledge

“It is important to do the research and make sure that the products you purchase are effective, safe to use, and can actually deliver what they claim to be able to do, particularly when you are investing in something that is going to impact your health,” Scarff said. 

“As Delos is a leader in the global market of wellness technology, we offer the most advanced and effective air purification systems available for indoor environments. We are able to provide advice and solutions around placement, size, and management which is essential when installing systems of this nature.

“My strong advice when looking to invest in an air purification system is to go with a brand and company that has done the research and has the evidence to support their claims.  Not only will they have the knowledge and experience, the advice and service will be excellent as well.

“Delos’ product review process is anchored by Delos Labs, a team of experts in building, behavioural and health sciences. Our process evaluates independent, third-party product testing results, applies evidence-based and data-driven research, and consults industry best-practices to select products that stand up to their claims on performance, safety, efficacy and user experience. Delos has selected the best-in-class air purification technologies after carefully evaluating over 160 similar products.”

Making the right choice

System strength

“It makes sense that if you have a smaller space you will need a smaller air purifier and that in bigger spaces with more traffic you will need a more powerful unit or more units,” Scarff said. 

“Air purifiers must be capable of processing all of the air in a space. It is important to understand the strength of a unit and how much space it can reach. This involves determining the size of an area, air flow and ventilation and the capacity requirements of each air purifier to be installed.”

Air filtration efficacy 

“Single-pass efficiency of a filter is a measure of its ability to reduce the pollutant concentration in the air that passes through it. The most commonly used filter efficiency metric is MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value), which ranges from one to 16, and the higher the MERV rating, the higher the particle removal efficiency,” Scarff added.

“Another air purification standard, HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air), refers to air purification filters that can remove at least 99.97 percent of particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Particles that are larger or smaller than 0.3 microns are captured with an even higher efficiency. Delos Intellipure units feature technology tested to demonstrate 99.99 percent efficiency at capturing and removing particles down to 0.007 microns, which exceeds HEPA filter efficiency requirements.” 

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)

“Another measure of performance for air purifiers is the clean air delivery rate (CADR). A higher CADR value can be used to properly size portable air cleaners for a given space. The higher the CADR, the more particles the system can filter and the larger the area it can serve,” Scarff explained.

“Delos offer air purification units that we call ‘plug and play’. With a range of sizes depending on the area of coverage, the freestanding systems are simply plugged into a nearby power supply. We also have in-duct systems and solutions for any size space.

“We are part of the indoor generation that spend the majority of their days indoors. For the sake of our long-term health, we need to improve the quality of air that we breathe, especially in our homes, schools, public transport and the workplace.”

About Delos

Delos is a wellness real estate and technology company guided by the mission to be the world’s leading catalyst for improving the health and well-being of people around the world by improving the indoor environments where they live, work, sleep, and play. Informed by more than ten years of research and rigorous analysis of environmental health impacts on people, Delos, and its subsidiaries offer an array of evidence-based technology and solutions for residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces. Delos is the founder of the WELL Building Standard™, the premier standard for buildings, interior spaces, and communities seeking to implement, validate, and measure features that support and advance human health and wellness. Its subsidiary, the International WELL Building Institute, administers and continues WELL’s development and drives market adoption. Delos’ advisory board is comprised of leading professionals across real estate, government policy, medicine, and sustainability. For more information about Delos, please visit delos.com.au.