Meeting Air Filtration Requirements for Commercial Buildings: A Focus on the WELL Standard
In today’s health-conscious era, maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ) in commercial buildings is of paramount importance. Enhanced IAQ contributes to healthier, more comfortable indoor environments, leading to improved productivity and well-being of building occupants. One effective method of ensuring good IAQ is through air filtration in the building’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system.
The WELL Building Standard, a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, sets specific requirements for air filtration in commercial buildings. This blog post focuses on these requirements, specifically regarding media filters used to filter outdoor air supplied to the space.
WELL Air Filtration Requirements
WELL’s air filtration requirements are based on the annual average outdoor PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers) concentration. The efficiency of the media filters used in the HVAC system should meet or exceed the thresholds specified in the following table:
| Annual Average Outdoor PM2.5 | Average Air Filtration Efficiency (particles 0.3-1 μm) |
|---|---|
| 23 μg/m³ or less | ≥ 35% (e.g., MERV 12 or M6) |
| 24–39 μg/m³ | ≥ 75% (e.g., MERV 14 or F8) |
| 40 μg/m³ or greater | ≥ 95% (e.g., MERV 16 or E10) |
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is a standard that rates the overall effectiveness of air filters. Higher value MERV rating equates to finer filtration, meaning fewer dust particles and other airborne contaminants can pass through the filter.
The Role of Air Filtration in Maintaining Indoor Air Quality
Air filtration is a critical component in maintaining indoor air quality. It helps to remove pollutants from the air, including dust, pollen, mold spores, and other particulates. In particular, efficient filtration of PM2.5 is important as these fine particles can be easily inhaled into the lungs, causing health problems over time.
By adhering to WELL’s air filtration requirements, commercial buildings can mitigate the risk of outdoor pollutants entering indoor spaces. This contributes significantly to the health and well-being of building occupants, a goal that lies at the core of the WELL Building Standard.
In conclusion, WELL’s stringent requirements on air filtration underscore its commitment to prioritizing human health in the built environment. Meeting these requirements is not only about achieving certification, it is also about creating a healthier and more productive workspace. As we spend a substantial portion of our lives indoors, ensuring the quality of the air we breathe within these spaces is undeniably important.