Air conditioning filters past and present
The first electrical air conditioning system was invented in Brooklyn New York in 1902 by Willis Haviland and was driven by his desire to improve the manufacturing process at a printing plant by controlling the temperature of the surrounding air.
Today air conditioning filters are used in their millions across all industries – creating cleaner, safer and more comfortable working environments. Many have been developed to cater for the specific environments so, for example, box or panel air conditioning filters are used extensively in general air conditioning, while carbon air conditioning filters are commonly found in commercial kitchens and High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are used in highly regulated sectors like pharmaceutical and healthcare.
How they work
Air conditioning filters are made from paper, cloth or synthetic materials held in a rigid frame. As air is directed through it, the filters trap particulates and contaminants that can affect production processes as well as the health, wellbeing and comfort of employees. These particulates – measured in microns – include:
- Dust and dirt
- Mould and mould spores
- Fibres and lint
- Metal, plaster or wood particles
- Bacteria and microorganisms
Choosing an air conditioning filter
With such a wide choice of filters available you need to balance a range of considerations including:
- price
- performance – Eurovent certification is a good guide for the size of particle an air conditioning filter will remove
- energy efficiency
- application / activities being undertaken in the building
- disposal
- space available
- humidity of the environment
- regulatory requirements
Air conditioning filter replacement
Once an air conditioning filter has been installed it’s important to make sure it’s are replaced at recommended intervals as dirty air filters are not only less effective, they can reduce AHU service and require the HVAC system to use more energy too.
At CFP we supply a comprehensive range of air con filters and accessories for all applications and budgets. To find out more, call our friendly team on 0161 406 5050.
