Eurovent 4/23-2022: Selection of air filter classes according to EN ISO 16890 for general ventilation applications – Fourth edition published

The Eurovent Product Group "Air Filters" has published an updated version of Guideline 4/23 "Selection of Air Filter Classes according to EN ISO 16890 for General Ventilation Applications". (Source: Eurovent, 2022)

The leading air filter manufacturer Camfil welcomes the fourth edition of the Eurovent 4/23 guideline. The new edition takes into account the 2021 updated global air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), which set stricter standards for air quality. The threshold levels at which air pollutants such as ozone, fine dust (PM2.5), and nitrogen dioxide are classified as harmful to health have been lowered compared to the previous WHO guideline from 2005.

The main objective of this Eurovent guideline is to raise awareness of healthy air quality and to provide comprehensive guidance for selecting air filters according to EN ISO 16890 for general ventilation applications, depending on the local outdoor air quality.

People spend an average of up to 90 percent of their time indoors, whether at home, in offices, schools, restaurants, shopping centers, or cinemas. In conjunction with the ongoing global pandemic and the continuously rising outdoor air pollution, maintaining high indoor air quality is a central issue for people at workplaces, schools, and public buildings. It is a scientific fact that a high concentration of fine dust (Particulate Matter - PM) in the air affects more people than any other pollutant and is associated with serious illnesses such as asthma, allergies, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and others.

The combined burden of such health issues and the need to protect human health has led to a higher demand for air filtration in most European countries. Authorities, industry, and companies require information and action recommendations provided by the Eurovent 4/23 guidelines, as they are aimed at all HVAC professionals, especially planners, building managers, and manufacturers of equipment containing air filters.

“The recommendation of air filter classes, which depend on both the local outdoor air quality and specific applications, provides important insights for many industries as well as for our customers who want to improve indoor air quality for health and well-being, and reduce energy consumption of general ventilation systems as well as CO2 emissions,” says Tobias Zimmer, VP of Global Product Management and International Standards at Camfil.

“With these updated guidelines, which align with the latest WHO air quality guidelines, we can support the industry in addressing the challenges related to protecting people, indoor air quality, and energy consumption,” Zimmer continues.

The contribution of the Eurovent 4/23 guideline lies in integrating both theoretical and practical aspects of designing indoor air quality concerning air filtration in spaces supplied by mechanical ventilation systems, providing practical and effective advice for HVAC planners and manufacturers of ventilation systems to ensure proper air filtration design.