New MERV 8 Filter Slashes Change-out
Frequency, Energy Costs, and
Waste Burdens

New technology is ideal for overall facility filtration
in offices, processing plants, schools and offices.

Background: Every facility manager faces 3 critical challenges. 
#1 is better IAQ.  Bad air due to pollen, pollution, and other
contaminants can no longer be ignored.  Health and productivity
issues are “front and center,” thanks to studies such as the one
published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2-07) and
summarized in The Wall Street Journal (2-1-07) which conclusively
links heart risk to air pollutants.  And because the frequency of
litigation over poor IAQ and “sick buildings” is rising, insurance
carriers are now involved, too. 

Challenge #2 is the push for greener buildings.  Green is good,
but often, the more efficient the air filter, the higher the energy
costs, due to higher air resistance.  Energy conservation is a
major part of “green,” and companies can find themselves
improving on one front while losing ground on another. 
“Tight” buildings, popular in the 70s, have also aggravated
t he quest for clean air.  Outside ventilation is reduced in these
facilities, and a common “fix” has been more frequent
air exchanges.  

Challenge #3 is operations costs.  The pressure to reduce the
cost of consumables such as filters - also utilities and labor –  
limits options for many FMs and building engineers.

Camfil-Farr, a world leader in commercial filtration products,
has introduced the first true MERV 8* (ASHRAE 52.2-2007)
“30/30” air filter.

The 30/30® is a high-efficiency pleated panel filter that is ideal
as the first phase of filtration in large AHUs.   It is also an excellent
pre-filter for laboratories, quality inspection, and other areas
where HEPAs or other higher efficiency filters are used.   
It provides a significant performance upgrade from traditional
pleated filters. 

For FMs, the greatest advantages of the 30/30 are a high dust
holding capacity (30% greater than conventional MERV 8s),
and low airflow resistance at all stages of dust loading, These
features reduce the frequency of changeouts, and the labor
required for replacement.  This new filter has the lowest average
pressure drop of any MERV 8 filter. This produces immediate savings
on heating and cooling costs - typically 25% and greater.  This is
one reason it has earned five stars on the Energy Cost Index+ –
the highest performance ranking.   

The MERV 8 30/30 was designed to deliver the greatest overall
value in commercial filtration.  Its distinctive radial pleat design
provides full use of the media.  This, too, contributes to its longer
service life.  The media for the 30/30 filter is a proprietary blend
of cotton and synthetic fibers which loads with exceptional uniformity. 
The media is all-mechanical, rather than electrostatic, and maintains
consistent, high removal efficiency for dusts, molds and pollen –
3 major causes of respiratory distress - throughout the filter’s life. 
In contrast, other MERV 8s are made with electrostatically charged
media, whose efficiency drops as dust loads. 

The Camfil Farr Performance Guarantee Program guarantees that
the 30/30 will maintain its efficiency over time, and will last longer
than any pleated panel filter. A case study (attached) details how
the extended life of the 30/30 saved one of the world’s largest
computer hardware manufacturers $34,786 annually, while also
reducing labor costs. 

Its radial media pleats are secured by a welded wire grid, spot-welded
on one-inch centers.  The grid is treated for extended corrosion
protection and is bonded to the media to prevent oscillation. 

High structural integrity is another advantage of the 30/30. 
A high wet strength beverage board frame creates a stable,
non-yielding media pack.  The media pack is bonded to the frame
and diagonal support members are bonded to each pleat to enhance
rigidity through bridge-style engineering.  Filter bypass is virtually
eliminated. The 30/30 is guaranteed to 2.0” w.g. without media
pack failure.

The MERV 8 30/30 is rated by Underwriteres Laboratories as a
Class 2 or 1 filter and is available in configurations for virtually
any filter bank.   Its unique combination of performance, energy
savings and applications flexibility makes it ideal for the broadest
range of commercial and institutional facilities. 

* MERV, Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a number from 1 to 16 that is
relative to an air filter’s efficiency, according to a universal filtration standard. 
The higher the MERV, the more efficient the air filter is at removing particles.