Choosing the right filtration solution for building
EN 16798-3 is a European standard designed around specifying the right filtration solution for buildings. Although the standard is focused around new builds and refurbished buildings, the standard is also seen as a best practice for all commercial and industrial buildings. In this standard it outlines the considerations you should make when choosing the right filtration solution for your building.
Outdoor contaminants can be categorised into two different types of contaminants - Particulate or Molecular contaminants.
The quality of the air outside of your building has a big impact on the levels of air filtration required to protect your people, products and processes from potentially harmful pollutants. The outdoor air classification system is divided into three categories and are all based in correlation to the World Health Organisations guidelines for safe outdoor air levels. There are many NGO websites that allow you to find your local ODA value or air pollution levels.
The function of your building is also included in the new EN 16798-3. In this standard they give 5 different classifications to where your building fits between. These classifications are divided between SUP1 to SUP5. A key not from the EN 16798 standard shows us that any commercial building that has people in the building will require a minimum ePM1 filter no matter where the location is.
The In the recent update to WHO air quality guidelines, the requirement for a reduction in molecular contaminant such as NO2, SO2 and O3 were identified. This new standard allows us to now classify our outdoor air, based on gaseous/ molecular pollutants.
When it comes to determining how polluted is the air in your building with gaseous contaminants the EN 16798-3 standard allows us to classify based on levels that are entering your building. Understanding the levels of contaminants will help you categorise your building.
Similar to the selection of particulate filters the EN 16798-3 standards provides recommended filtration efficiencies for Molecular filters based off the ISO 10121 standard. Depending on how polluted your outdoor air is and how much is getting into your building, a minimum filtration efficiency should be used according to the below table.
A new Annex to the EN 16798 standard focuses around recirculation air requirements for buildings. Due to the threat of viruses and bacteria that are more commonly spread through recirculation air systems, a new classification of these systems has been established. Now all recirculation air systems are graded according to their effectiveness against the spread of airborne contaminants such as viruses and Bacteria. This classification grades the recirculation air systems from RCA1 (Very effective against viruses and Bacteria) to RCA 6 (no effect)
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