EME Newsletter MEssage #01/2023

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE ARTICLE
building syndrome, saving between
USD 10 and 100 billion US dollars;
8 to 25% fewer asthma-related
absences, saving USD 1 to 4 billion;
23 to 76% reduction in respiratory
diseases, saving USD 6 to 14 billion
and productivity increases of 0.5 to
5% for office workers, generating
gains of USD 20 to 200 billion.
A valuable yet underutilised tool
Given the holistic benefits of
quality air filters, consultants and
project owners must choose the
most optimum filters for their
respective facilities. This may not
always be straightforward, given
that each project is different, and
many solutions are available in the
market. “Filters look the same
from the outside, but the way they
behave from one to another can
present many differences,” says
Ruiz. “It is crucial for consultants to
understand the effect and benefits
of the filters on the HVAC system,
and its impact on sustainability,
energy use, waste disposal and
occupant health.”
Eurovent offers excellent guidance
for consultants and project owners
to navigate the thin line between
energy efficiency and filtration
requirements. The ‘Eurovent
Recommendation 4/23 – 2022:
Selection of EN ISO 16890 rated air
filter classes’ provides clarity on
implementing the newest global
standard on air filtration, while ‘The
Energy Efficiency Evaluation of Air
Filters for General Ventilation’ gives
a good understanding of how the
filters perform but also will point out
some technical differences between
several filters.” says Ruiz.
Eurovent Certification tests and
certifies air filters according to their
filtration and energy consumption
characteristics and provides an
energy label that helps consumers
make the best choice. It is based on
ISO 16890-1:2016 and is a third-party
certification providing information
such as pressure drop, ePM
efficiency, energy rating and annual
energy consumption. This is crucial
to understand the saving potential of
filters without reducing the filtration
efficiencies.
Providing an example, Ruiz says,
“If we look at a standard ePM1 60%
filter that is B rated, with an energy
consumption of 1054kWh/a and
compare it to the same efficiency
filter that is A+ rated with an energy
consumption of 811kWh/a. By simply
switching filters, a company can save
over 240kWh/a per filter.” Compared
to lower classes, the energy saving
outnumbers the higher investment
costs, usually within few months,
significantly reducing operational
costs.
What the guideline has to offer
Akaydin adds that the tool is
especially valuable considering the
standard testing procedure for large
and fine dust filters has changed.
“Filter performance is now no
longer assessed based solely on a
laboratory test method but on real
application conditions,” he says.
“Previously, in accordance with EN
779, a synthetic aerosol was used
for testing, with a standard particle
size of 0.4µm. The new ISO 16890
standard is based on a range of
particle fractions, and tests are
conducted using DEHS and KCl test
aerosols.”
Under the evaluation, Akaydin
explains that filters are divided into
four groups:
• ISO Coarse (rated
containment capacity against ISO A2
dust)
• ISO PM10: Fine dust
particles ≤ 10 µm
• ISO PM2.5: Fine dust
particles ≤ 2.5 µm
• ISO PM1: Fine dust particles
≤ 1 µm
• Filter performance is now
measured with three different
particle fractions (PM1, PM2.5,
PM10).
“This test scenario allows the
tester to examine the local fine
dust pollution more closely, based
on data from official measuring
stations, for example, and to select
a filter appropriate for the quality of
the supply air,” he says.
Akaydin adds that alongside
the filter performance, another
important aspect to consider is the
energy performance of the filter in
day-to-day use. “The outdoor air
(ODA) quality requirements have
also been redefined,” he says. “The
categories ODA 1 to ODA 3 must now
be determined based on loading
with O-zone, NO2, SO2 and PM10,
in accordance with the revised
regulations published by the WHO
in 2005 (superseding 1999 version).
These categories are important in
determining which air filter should
be fitted in the AHU. The definition of
supply air (SUP) quality, divided into
five categories, has also been added
to the standard.”
Akaydin also says the New Energy
Efficiency Classification table from
Eurovent, which shows kWh's
annual energy consumption (AEC)
based on standard test conditions,
is very beneficial for projects. “Air
filters of the lowest energy efficiency
Class E consume more than twice
as much energy as the best Class A+
filters,” he says.
Providing an example, filter of
category ePM1 > 50% (previously
F7) could give both results
below depending on the different
efficiencies:
• One piece Class A+ filter that
consumes up to 800 kWh incurs
energy costs of AED 328 per
year.
• One piece Class D filter that
consumes up to 2,000 kWh
incurs energy costs of AED
820 per year. (Considered
commercial rate per kWh of
AED 0.41 in the UAE)
The difference in energy costs,
therefore, is AED 492 at a volume
flow rate of 3,400 m3/h, ensuring
60% is saved per year per filter.
“Filters are more than just an
investment in room air quality –
they‘re an investment in efficiency,
too,” he adds.
A critical tool for the Middle East
While an effective and advantageous
tool, experts believe the guideline
remains underutilised in the Middle
East. “We are living in a beautiful
region which is close to the desert,
but, unfortunately, this brings its
challenges, such as a cocktail of
sand and wind, which is not so good
for our lungs,” says Ruiz. “Indoor
air quality can even be worse than
the outside air quality, and looking
at the outdoor dust concentration
values in UAE, we can imagine why
efficient air filters are so important.”
However, Ruiz says, quite often
in the region, the selection and
procurement of air filters are made
on the acquisition cost and not based
on a Total Cost of Ownership vision
and strategy, “Projects driven by
multinationals usually involve strong
requirements when it comes to the
air filtration part, mainly because
these companies refer to their
internal guidelines and processes,”
he says. “For them, Energy Efficient
Filters have many benefits for their
facilities, processes, and people, and
they understood this principle a long
time ago.”
Akaydin is optimistic that awareness
on the importance of investing in
quality filters will grow as the world
becomes more conscientious of
energy use. “Indeed, high-quality,
efficient filters are not being used as
they should be,” he says. “However,
we expect an increase in demand
as energy efficiency initiatives
are becoming an essential part of
government strategies worldwide
as part of efforts to promote
sustainability. The UAE's vision to be
a global hub and a successful model
of the new green economy is just
one such example.”
The silent killer
Ruiz adds that even among
consultants and property developers
in the regions, efficient air filters,
in terms of both energy and
particulate matter, should be
considered the key to sustainability.
“Protecting people’s health and the
next generation, making energy
savings and generating less waste
should be one of their priorities,”
he says. “The COVID situation
reminds us also how important it is
to protect ourselves from airborne
contamination.”
As a final word, Ruiz offers a crucial
reminder of air quality's massive
impact on human health. “According
to World Health Organization
(WHO), more than 6.5 million people
worldwide are dying prematurely
each year due to air quality,” he
says. “It is one of the major human
threats, which was classified in 2013
as carcinogenic by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer, and
unfortunately, we are not focusing
enough on it. I think it isn't easy to
understand and speak of something
we cannot see. Air contamination is
a silent killer that needs to be higher
up on decision-makers agenda
today. “
www.eurovent.me SEPTEMBER JUNE 2023 2022 VOL. 09 01