Air quality is a fundamental aspect of safe and effective healthcare delivery. More than a comfort factor, indoor air quality (IAQ) is a life-saving component in healthcare environments that directly influences patient outcomes, staff well-being, infection control and clinical effectiveness.
Optimal IAQ is essential across various healthcare settings, from operating rooms and intensive care units to long-term care and outpatient clinics. The ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities offers a comprehensive framework for ventilation requirements tailored to different healthcare contexts. This standard applies to:
- Inpatient spaces (hospitals, acute care centers, behavioral facilities)
- Residential healthcare spaces (skilled nursing, long-term care facilities)
- Specialized outpatient spaces (surgery centers, dialysis clinics)
- General outpatient spaces (physician offices, dental practices)
By aligning ventilation guidelines with the unique needs of each setting, the framework supports infection prevention, patient safety, operational efficiency and occupant comfort. Despite differing filtration challenges and risk profiles, all healthcare spaces share a critical commonality: the quality of air that patients, staff and visitors breathe directly impacts health outcomes, staff performance and regulatory compliance.
In environments serving vulnerable populations, such as the immunocompromised, elderly or acutely ill, poor air quality can have severe consequences. It increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections, exacerbates chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions and delays recovery. At the same time, healthcare professionals, who often work long hours in enclosed spaces, depend on clean, well-regulated air to remain alert, healthy and effective in their roles.
Achieving and maintaining high IAQ requires a multidisciplinary approach. It demands the coordinated efforts from a cross-functional team that balances clinical needs, engineering solutions, regulatory compliance and operational constraints.
Key stakeholders include facility management teams, infection prevention and control professionals, healthcare administrators and clinical leaders, mechanical engineers and HVAC designers, environmental health and safety industrial hygienists, compliance and quality assurance teams, procurement specialists and authorities having jurisdiction. Effective collaboration among these stakeholders is essential to ensure that healthcare environments deliver clean, healthy air.
This blog article examines air quality challenges in different healthcare areas, reviews regulations and standards, discusses air quality considerations for various facilities and provides effective air filtration solutions tailored for each environment.
Section 1: Air Quality Challenges in Healthcare Settings
Healthcare environments are vulnerable to a wide range of air pollutants originating from both internal and external sources. External sources can include vehicle emissions from ambulances, patient transport vehicles and helicopters on helipads. These exhausts can infiltrate medical settings, introducing particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other hazardous chemicals. Internal sources consist of medical equipment, cleaning agents, building materials and human occupancy, all of which generate different airborne pollutants.
Different Airborne Contaminants
These different airborne contaminants can significantly degrade air quality, affecting patient safety, infection control and staff health. They can be broadly categorized into three main groups based on their nature and health impact:
- Airborne Pathogens
These microorganisms are transmitted into the air via droplets from infected patients, HVAC systems, contaminated surfaces or water sources. For example, bodily fluids like saliva or mucus can get dispersed into the air as tiny droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, remaining suspended for up to 10 minutes. Viruses on surfaces can survive for hours. If inhaled, they can reach the lower respiratory tract, potentially causing serious infections.
Common airborne pathogens include:
- Bacteria – Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), Legionella pneumophila
- Viruses – Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Measles, Varicella-zoster
- Fungi – Aspergillus spp., Candida spp. (spores)
- Spores – Fungal spores that can lead to infections in immunocompromised patients
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are gases released from various solid or liquid sources, including disinfectants, building materials and furnishings, laboratory reagents and medical supplies. Some VOCs, such as formaldehyde and benzene, are known carcinogens.
Short-term exposure to these airborne chemical contaminants can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and nausea, while long-term exposure can lead to liver, kidney and central nervous system damage. Patients with respiratory conditions and the elderly are most vulnerable to the effects of VOCs.
- Particulate Matter (PM)
PM refers to the combination of solid particles and liquid particles suspended in the air, which can pose serious health risks in medical settings. PM is generated from sources such as dust, textile fibers and droplets as well as very fine particles like smoke and combustion byproducts. Finer particles, particularly PM2.5 and those even smaller, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
When inhaled, PM can negatively impact respiratory health, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, airway irritation and the exacerbation of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Vulnerable populations, like immunocompromised patients, the elderly, infants and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions, are especially vulnerable to PM exposure in healthcare environments.
Maintaining proper ventilation and employing high-efficiency particulate air filtration are essential steps to reducing exposure and protecting health in medical settings. Effective air quality management in healthcare facilities must address a broad range of airborne pollutants from both external and internal sources
Infection Control Implications
Poor air quality presents serious infection control risks in healthcare settings. In inadequately ventilated areas, airborne particles and pathogens can remain suspended for extended periods, easily spreading to other areas and increasing the likelihood of exposure to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and influenza. In sterile and controlled environments such as operating theaters and isolation rooms, compromised air quality can lead to surgical site infections or hospital-acquired infections.
Additionally, excess humidity and poor ventilation promote mold and fungi growth, which pose particular dangers to immunocompromised patients. When ventilation systems fail to maintain predictable airflow patterns, contact tracing becomes more difficult, reducing the effectiveness of infection containment and control measures.
Costly Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
HAIs are costly, representing a significant and growing economic burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Approximately 1 in every 25 patients in U.S. hospitals is affected by an HAI. (This figure does not include all healthcare settings.) Over the past two decades, the overall incidence of HAIs has increased by 36%, making them the fifth leading cause of death in acute-care hospitals.
The direct costs of HAIs to hospitals are estimated at U.S. $28 to 45 billion. These costs are driven by prolonged hospital stays, which can add up to 10 additional days per patient, additional medical interventions, extensive laboratories and diagnostics, and increased use of isolation resources and personal protective equipment (PPE). Indirect costs further contribute to the economic burden through lost productivity due to extended recovery times, legal and compensation claims, patient out-of-pocket costs, and the emotional and financial stress on caregivers and families.
Beyond these measurable costs, there are significant reputational and operational impacts. Hospitals with high HAI rates risk reduced Medicare payments, accreditation risks from failed infection control audits, and declines in patient trust and satisfaction. On a broader scale, HAIs strain the healthcare workforce, contribute to higher insurance premiums for high-risk facilities, and accelerate antimicrobial resistance due to the overuse of antibiotics in treatment.
A significant portion of HAIs can be prevented through robust infection control practices, including improved hygiene, better antibiotic management and more thorough patient monitoring. A key preventive strategy is infection control through air quality management. Proper ventilation design, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration and routine system maintenance play crucial roles in preventing the spread of airborne pathogens in healthcare settings.
Population Vulnerabilities
Poor IAQ in hospitals can have detrimental effects on patients and healthcare workers. Different populations have unique vulnerabilities to air quality. Understanding these differences is important for delivering effective care and implementing targeted air quality management strategies.
Immunocompromised Patients. Cancer patients, transplant recipients, HIV/AID patients are highly susceptible to airborne infections due to weakened immune systems. Even low-level contaminants, such as fungi, bacteria and viruses, can lead to serious health implications. Clean, properly ventilated air can reduce respiratory complications, minimize allergy or asthma triggers and improve environments.
Patients with Respiratory Conditions. Individuals suffering from asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis are very sensitive to fine particulate matter, allergens and chemical irritants. Exposure can cause flare-ups, inflammation and long-term decline in lung function.
Elderly patients. Seniors often have decreased lung capacity and immune response, making them more vulnerable to the cardiovascular and cognitive effects of air pollution.
Pediatric patients. The developing lungs and immune systems of infants and children, especially those with asthma or allergies, make them more susceptible to pollutants, allergens and toxins. Exposure can lead to respiratory issues and developmental concerns.
Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Individuals with heart failure, hypertension or a history of cardiac events are more vulnerable to air pollution that can increase blood pressure, trigger inflammation and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Healthcare Workers. Nurses, clinicians and other healthcare workers can experience respiratory problems, headaches, fatigue and other symptoms due to daily exposure to indoor air pollutants. Poor health among staff can lead to decreased productivity and increased sick leave, which affects facility operations. Ensuring safe air environments supports sustained productivity and staff retention.
In addition to posing health risks, poor IAQ can affect patient recovery. Studies indicate that exposure to air pollutants, such as particulate matter and VOCs, can delay wound healing and increase the risk of post-operative complications.
Creating environments with clean, well-ventilated air is crucial for minimizing health risks and improving patient outcomes. Hospitals and clinics should make it a priority to use the right air filtration systems and proper ventilation to improve IAQ.
Section 2: Regulatory Framework and Industry Standards
Critical healthcare air quality regulations are established to ensure that air within healthcare facilities is safe for patients, staff and visitors. These regulations are particularly stringent due to the vulnerability of patients and the risk of airborne transmission of infectious diseases. Their primary objectives are to prevent the spread of airborne infections, maintain sterile environments and ensure overall environmental health.
Below are key regulatory frameworks and standards.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021
This engineering design standard, developed jointly by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers), ASHE (American Society for Health Care Engineering) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute), establishes comprehensive environmental control guidelines for the construction of health care facilities.
The standard prioritizes patient and staff safety, infection control and comfort by establishing ventilation rates, filtration efficiency, temperature and humidity and pressure relationships. It applies to new constructions, additions to existing buildings, renovations of existing buildings and infrastructure upgrades across three healthcare settings.
- Inpatient spaces (hospitals, ORs, ICUs and patient rooms)
Inpatient spaces accommodate the most vulnerable and critically-ill patients, delivering the highest level of care through inpatient services, surgical suites, trauma centers, intensive care units and isolation rooms. Due to the elevated risk of infection transmission in these settings, ventilation standards are the most stringent of all healthcare facility types.
High air changes per hour (ACH) and filtration requirements are critical in these areas. For example, operating rooms require a minimum of 20 total air changes per hour, with at least four outdoor air changes per hour. Additionally, standard operating rooms must have a minimum filtration efficiency of MERV 16, with room temperatures maintained between 68°F and 75°F. Patient rooms and nursing units require a lower minimum of 2 ACH to maintain comfort and control odors and be equipped with a minimum of MERV 8 filters for general ventilation.
- Outpatient Spaces (ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic imaging centers, clinics, urgent care centers, medical office buildings)
While outpatient spaces do not typically handle the same level of medical acuity as hospitals, they are still required to maintain specific ventilation, filtration, temperature and humidity standards.
Facilities that perform invasive procedures or support critical diagnostics must adhere to the same ventilation standards as inpatient hospital settings. Lower-acuity outpatient settings such as physician offices and general clinics, vary based on the use of space and patient risk levels. These areas may follow ASHRAE 170 requirements if part of a healthcare campus or use ASHRAE 62.1, typically used for commercial and office buildings. Typical ventilation rates might require a minimum of 4 ACH for exam rooms and 2 ACH for consult rooms, with minimum MERV 8 filters for general outpatient facilities.
- Residential Healthcare Spaces (long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, group homes, behavioral health centers, assisted living, hospice facilities and residential facilities)
These spaces typically deliver low-intensity medical care. As a result, their ventilation design prioritizes thermal comfort, basic IAQ and general health rather than the stringent infection control standards in acute care or surgical environments.
Resident spaces typically require a minimum of 2 ACH, while toilet and bathing spaces require a minimum of 10 ACH. Ventilation systems in these facilities should be equipped with a minimum of MERV 8 filters for general ventilation, although MERV 16 filters may be used in specific spaces, such as airborne infection isolation rooms.
The ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2021 is used by The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state regulators to evaluate hospital compliance. Additionally, it influences HVAC design in building codes and federal healthcare standards.
The Joint Commission (TJC)
The TJC is one of the most prominent accrediting organizations for healthcare facilities in the United States. Although it does not create its own air quality standards, it plays a critical role in regulatory oversight by ensuring compliance with established codes and best practices related to air quality and ventilation. The primary standards and guidelines referenced include:
- ASHRAE Standard 170 – ventilation design
- CDC guidelines – airborne ventilation control
- NFPA 99 & 101 – for health facility safety, including HVAC performance
- State/local building codes
- Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines
TJC enforces adherence to these national standards through direct inspections, documentation reviews and interviews concerning infection control and engineering practices. During inspection, TJC typically reviews compliance documentation with ASHRAE 170, maintenance logs for air handling units and filters, records of temperature and humidity monitoring in ORs, downtime protocols for HVAC facilities and emergency ventilation capabilities in disaster preparedness plans.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
While OSHA does not have specific regulations governing IAQ in healthcare, it enforces several aspects of air quality through chemical exposure limits, ventilation standards and the General Duty Clause.
Under the General Duty Clause, OSHA requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. If poor IAQ is deemed a health risk, OSHA has the authority to cite a healthcare facility under this clause.
OSHA also establishes Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for hazardous substances in the air. In healthcare environments, this includes substances like formaldehyde, anesthetic gases and ethylene oxide. For ventilation standards, OSHA refers to ANSI/ASHRAE standards, particularly Standard 170.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC provides comprehensive guidelines and recommendations related to air quality in healthcare settings, primarily focused on ventilation, airborne infection control, and environment cleanliness. The goal is to reduce exposures to airborne pathogens and other harmful contaminants.
Recommended practices include ventilation standards and HEPA filtration systems designed to control airborne pathogens in various healthcare settings. Regular maintenance of HVAC systems and adherence to infection control practices in the environment are critical strategies for ensuring safety.
Facility Guidelines Institute
FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of HealthCare Facilities provides standards for the planning, designing and construction of healthcare facilities. These standards emphasize ensuring patient safety, minimizing the spread of infections and promoting environmental sustainability. They provide detailed recommendations on crucial aspects of healthcare facility design, including ventilation systems, air quality and control of airborne pathogens.
ASHRAE 170 is a key reference point used in FGI Guidelines regarding ventilation systems for healthcare environments. The CDC guidelines on infection control are also incorporated into FGIGuidelines.
Air quality standards outlined by ASHRAE 170-2021, Centers for Disease Control, and Joint Commission guidelines are mandatory in many jurisdictions. Non-compliance with these standards can lead to legal liabilities, accreditation issues, operational shutdowns, patient lawsuits or reputational damage.
Section 3: Risks and Impacts on Different Healthcare Spaces
Each healthcare space has distinct functions, occupancy levels and risk profiles, presenting unique air quality challenges.
Operating Rooms/Intensive Care Units: These high-risk, controlled spaces require ultra-clean air to minimize the risk of surgical site infections. Key concerns include PM from equipment and personnel, airborne pathogens and VOCs from surgical smoke, sterilants and anesthetic gases. HEPA filtration is crucial for removing airborne particles in maintaining ultra-clean environments, minimizing infection risks and ensuring patient safety during critical surgical procedures.
Waiting Areas: These high-traffic public spaces have unpredictable levels of occupancy and a diverse population, often including symptomatic patients. They are affected by PM from foot traffic and textiles, VOCs from furnishings and airborne viruses and respiratory pathogens from ill individuals. While not classified as critical for infection control, waiting rooms are the first point of contact for individuals with undiagnosed illness. Effective air filtration serves as an initial safeguard for both staff and visitors. Many waiting areas use HEPA or higher MERV-rated filters to improve air quality.
Long-Term Care Facilities: These residential spaces house a vulnerable population with chronic health conditions and typically lack the robust air systems found in acute care facilities. They often experience higher levels of bioaerosols from routine care activities, cross-contamination in shared spaces and airborne transmission of infections among elderly residents. While MERV filters are often used for overall filtration, HEPA filters may be required, such as in isolation rooms and for residents who are immunocompromised.
Patient Rooms: In these spaces, patients and visitors are in close contact, allowing airborne pathogens from coughing and sneezing to easily spread bacteria and viruses. The configuration of patient rooms and design of the ventilation system play a critical role in controlling air quality. A well-designed room layout that promotes good airflow combined with efficient ventilation can reduce the risk of airborne infections and improve overall patient comfort and recovery.
Nurseries: Newborns and infants with developing lungs and immune systems are especially susceptible to airborne contaminants. Nursery spaces require high standards of air purity to protect against potential airborne pathogens. HEPA filters are typically the best choice for hospital nurseries, as they can filter out 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. MERV 13 to 16 filters are also used for general filtration in nursery HVAC systems. In some cases, activated carbon filters are employed to remove odors, VOCs and gases.
Pharmacies: Exposure to hazardous drugs, solvents, aerosols and particulate contaminants during compounding can pose risks to pharmacists, nurses and technicians. Quality air filtration is crucial for protecting occupants from potential hazards. HEPA filters are essential in sterile drug preparation rooms, while general pharmacy areas can use MERV 13 or higher in their HVAC system. Pharmacies that handle chemicals may also use activated carbon filters to absorb and neutralize harmful gases and odors.
IVF Labs: Maintaining process cleanliness and air quality are critical in invitro fertilization labs, where procedures are extremely sensitive to airborne contaminants such as VOCs and particulates. Studies show a direct correlation between clean air and the success of embryo development and overall health of the culture. IVF labs, often classified as cleanrooms, must use HEPA filters to remove dust, pollen and other particles from the air. Some labs use UV light or ozone to sterilize the air along with HEPA filters to remove harmful microorganisms.
Outpatient Clinics. Frequent patient movement, short visit durations and diverse populations increase the risk of airborne pathogen transmission. Many clinics are located near roadways and industrial areas that generate outdoor pollutants, which can infiltrate and compromise indoor air quality. As a result, there is a greater potential for spreading respiratory infections in waiting areas, exam rooms and triage spaces.
HEPA filters can be installed in areas requiring higher levels of clean air, such as waiting, examination and treatment rooms. MERV filters are typically used in general areas, while activated carbon filters can help remove gases and unpleasant smells.
Maintaining excellent air quality in these environments is not only a regulatory requirement but also essential for optimizing outcomes and ensuring safety for patients and staff. Each of these facility types has specific ventilation requirements set forth in ASHRAE 170-2021, depending on the infection control risks, procedure types, and occupancy patterns.
Section 4: Key Parameters for Air Filtration System Selection
Proper air filtration is vital in healthcare facilities to support patient outcomes, reduce the spread of airborne pathogens and maintain regulatory compliance. Critical healthcare areas require carefully selected air filtration systems that align with ASHRAE Standard 170-2-21 and CDC guidelines.
- MERV Filters
Air filters are used as part of HVAC systems to trap particles to ensure highest IAQ. To compare filters, ASHRAE developed Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings that measure the effectiveness of air filters based on their ability to capture particles of specific sizes.
Filters with MERV ratings of 14 and above are recommended by ASHRAE for critical spaces of a hospital to prevent the transfer of bacteria, viruses and infectious diseases. These filters capture particles between 0.3 micron to 1 micron in helping to prevent the spread of bacteria and infectious diseases in hospitals, cleanrooms and surgical suites. While operating rooms have recommended minimum MERV ratings of 16 to control airborne contaminants during surgery, general hospital ventilation may have a two-stage filtration system that includes a MERV 13 prefilter and a MERV 14 final filter.
- HEPA filters
These filters provide the highest level of air filtration, capturing 99.97% of microscopic airborne particles in the range of 0.3 microns, including bacteria, viruses, fungal spores and allergens. In infection control, they help prevent the circulation of airborne particulates, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
HEPA filters maintain sterile conditions in operating rooms during surgery, prevent pathogen spread in airborne infection isolation rooms, shield immunocompromised patients in protective environment rooms and provide ultra-clean environments for sterile drug prep.
- Molecular Air Filters
Known as chemical or gas phase filters, molecular air filters are used in specialized filtration systems to remove gaseous contaminants from the air, such as VOCs, odors and chemical pollutants. They trap airborne chemical molecules that are 1,000 to 10,000 times tinier than those caught by conventional HEPA or ultra-low particle filters.
Often used in multi-stage filtration systems, they can remove odors and gases that HEPA filters cannot for comprehensive air purification. Molecular filters are used in various healthcare spaces:
- Operating rooms to eliminate surgical smoke VOCs and anesthesia gases.
- Pharmacy cleanrooms to control hazardous drug vapors.
- Laboratories to remove fumes and chemicals.
- Isolation rooms to supplement HEPA filtration in removing odors and chemical agents.
- Waiting areas or public zones to improve overall air freshness and reduce odor-related discomfort.
Energy Efficiency Considerations
When selecting air filters for healthcare facilities, it’s important to strike a balance between energy efficiency, infection control and air quality requirements. While higher efficiency filters such as MERV 13- 16 and HEPA are essential in preventing the spread of airborne contaminants, they introduce a higher pressure drop, which directly increases HVAC energy consumption.
Pressure drop refers to the resistance to airflow as it passes through the filter. High-efficiency filters use dense or intricately structured media to trap fine particles, which impedes airflow. As filters load with particulate matter over time, pressure drop increases, requiring fans to work harder and consume more energy to maintain adequate ventilation rates.
To minimize operational costs without compromising safety and air quality, MERV 8 – 11 prefilters can capture larger particles, reducing the load on final-stage filters like HEPA or MERV 16. This strategy extends the life of expensive final filters and lowers replacement frequency.
Maintenance Requirements and Lifecycle Costs
Air filters are not just a material cost, but also labor and energy expenditures over time. Proactive maintenance and smart filter selection are key to optimizing the total cost of ownership. Filters should be regularly inspected and serviced based on pressure drop readings or manufacturing guidelines. Service life varies tremendously based upon each application, but MERV 13 – 16 filters are often serviced every six to 12 months while HEPA filters with proper prefiltration can remain in service several years. Both filter types should not be cleaned and reused, especially in healthcare settings. They are designed for disposal after a single use.
Prefilter use can extend the life of final filters by 25 – 50%, lowering replacement and disposal costs. Tools like Camfil’s Life-Cycle Costing Software can model scenarios based on energy use, filter lifespan and IAQ impacts.
Section 5: Camfil Air Filtration Solutions for Healthcare
Camfil provides a comprehensive portfolio of air filtration solutions tailored to meet the demanding needs for healthcare facilities. These systems are engineered to optimize IAQ, energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and ensure compliance with industry standards such as ASHRAE, CDC and Joint Commission guidelines.
Camfil’s solutions address the full spectrum of healthcare spaces from general areas like offices and waiting rooms to critical zones like operating theatres and isolation rooms.
General Ventilation Filters
General ventilation filters play a crucial role across hospital environments by ensuring clean, safe air for patients, visitors and staff while helping to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants. These filters can be used as second filters in the air supply systems and second prefilter stages for cleanroom and HEPA-filtered environments.
- CityCarb I
This compact V-bank air filter combines particulate and molecular media to remove solid and gaseous pollutants in a single filter stage. Suitable for both new installations and upgrades to existing systems, it achieves MERV 15 (14A) and ePM170% efficiency, ensuring the removal of fine particles and a broad spectrum of gases. It is ideal for various healthcare spaces including hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental offices, laboratories, and cleanroom-adjacent areas where both particulate control and odor mitigation are critical.
- Durafil ES3
This high capacity, high-efficiency V-bank style air filter is well-suited for healthcare spaces including hospitals, clinics and pharmaceutical environments due to its high filtration efficiency, energy efficiency and durability. Offering MERV 13A, 14A and 16A ratings, it ensures sustained particle capture efficiency throughout its service life. Designed to operate with low pressure drop, it minimizes energy usage in 24/7 HVAC systems common in hospitals. The filter can serve as a final filter in general hospital air systems or as a prefilter for HEPA filtration in cleanroom or surgical suites.
- Durafil Compac
Featuring a 6-inch deep V-bank configuration, the Durafil is engineered for AHUs with limited space, offering a 50% footprint reduction to traditional 12-inch filters. This compact design makes it ideal for healthcare settings where space is at a premium. Available in MERV 13/13A, 14/14A and 15/15A ratings, Durafil delivers superior particle capture efficiency, enhancing IAQ and helping reduce airborne contamination in general healthcare spaces.
Specialized Filters
- Absolute VG
This compact, box-type HEPA filter features a robust V-bank design engineered for maximum performance in demanding applications. Available in both gasket and gel seal configurations, each unit is certified to a minimum efficiency of 99.99% at 0.3 microns. As the world’s lightest V-bank HEPA air filter, the Absolute VG weighs 50% less than conventional models, significantly improving handling and installation. Its low-pressure drop design provides energy savings and a lower cost of ownership. Filters are particularly suited for ORs, ICUs, and isolation wards due to their high efficiency and reliability.
- CamCarb VG/XG
Both of these molecular filters are designed to remove corrosive, odorous, and irritant gases from the air in sensitive environments. Each filter can be filled with Camfil activated alumina or activated carbon, allowing customization based on specific contaminants. Activated carbon media is ideal for the removal of VOCs, odors, fumes and hydrocarbons in emergency rooms, waiting areas and pharmacies where odor control is a priority.
Activated alumina media targets acidic gases, ammonia and formaldehyde, making it the preferred choice for surgical suites, ICUs and other spaces where chemical containment control is critical. While the CamCarb VG features a V-cell configuration suitable for supply, recirculation and exhaust air systems, the CamCarb XG has a conical shape for enhanced airflow dynamics, offering the highest removal efficiency with the lowest pressure drop.
- Hi-Flo ES
This high-efficiency, ASHRAE-grade pocket air filter is designed for superior particle capture, lower energy consumption and long service life, making it ideal for demanding HVAC systems in healthcare facilities. Available in MERV 11 to 15 ratings, it can be used for general air filtration for patient rooms and waiting areas, pre-filtration for HEPA filters in operating rooms and ICUs and for high-volume HVAC systems.
Filters for Use in Terminal Housings
- Megalam Panel Filters
This high-efficiency mini-pleat HEPA/ULPA filter is designed for terminal filtration in panel configurations at the final point of air delivery into critical healthcare spaces such as operating rooms and cleanrooms. Filtration efficiency of these filters ranges from 95% at 0.3 microns to 99.99995% at the most penetrating particle size.
Maintaining IAQ is critical in healthcare environments. Advanced air filtration reduces the risk of airborne infections, safeguards healthcare workers and protects patients and visitors, which ultimately lowers hospital stays, healthcare costs and mortality rates.
Improved IAQ also contributes to better patient outcomes, including reduced infection rates, faster recovery and better overall health. As healthcare systems increasingly focus on infection control and patient well-being, clean air becomes an essential part of delivering safe, effective, and efficient care.
Facility managers and decision-makers must understand the unique air quality requirements of different healthcare spaces and select the right air filtration solutions to meet those needs. Camfil offers expert guidance and high-performance air filtration solutions tailored to the stringent demands of healthcare facilities. Schedule a consultation with our experts today.
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