Medical Grade Air Purifier: Everything You Need to Know

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, medical-grade air purifiers have been recommended by government bodies around the world as an effective way to combat disease spread in public spaces. These devices are utilised in healthcare and medical institutions like hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies and help protect the most vulnerable members of society (especially children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals).

But what, exactly, is a medical-grade air purifier? These advanced air purifiers are designed to meet strict standards for filtration efficiency, typically falling under the H13 and H14 filtration categories. They target a wide range of airborne pollutants, removing airborne germs (including viruses), bacteria, fungal spores, allergens (pollen, pet hair and dander, dust and dust mites). Medical-grade air purifiers often combine multiple technologies to ensure comprehensive air purification. Discover more about how you can use a medical-grade air purifier in your home and workplace to reduce the risk of air pollution-related illness below.

How does HEPA filtration work? H13 and H14 technologies

Superior filtration efficiency

Medical-grade air purifiers are renowned for their superior filtration standards, particularly in their HEPA filters. Air purifiers containing H13 or H14-grade filters are classified as medical-grade, offering a filtration technology that guarantees the removal of harmful particles down to 0.3 microns. However, in reality, these filters are even more effective, capturing particles as small as 0.1 or even 0.01 microns.

These types of air purifiers are ideal for:

• Healthcare settings, where they help prevent the spread of infectious diseases

• Homes and offices for individuals with severe allergies, asthma, or immune system disorders

By removing airborne particles like pollen, dust mites, pet hair and dander, and mold spores, me significantly reduce triggers for allergies, asthma, and respiratory conditions.

The 0.3 micron myth

You may have encountered claims that HEPA filters cannot remove particles smaller than 0.3 microns. This is known as the "0.3 micron myth." The European HEPA standard uses 0.3-micron particles for testing because they are the most challenging to capture (referred to as the "Most Penetrating Particle Size" or MPPS). Yes, particles of 0.3 microns – or 300 times smaller than the diameter of a strand of human hair – are even more difficult to remove from the air than particles less than 0.3 microns.

However, a 2016 NASA study confirmed that true HEPA and HyperHEPA filters are highly effective at capturing particles of all sizes, down to 0.1 microns. So, how does a HEPA-certified air purifier work? It relies on mechanical HEPA filtration, where particles are physically trapped in the filter fibers, ensuring clean air regardless of particle size.

Enhanced protection against pathogens

Medical-grade air purifiers provide an extra layer of protection against harmful pathogens, safeguarding individuals and professionals from illness. High-quality medical-grade air purifiers come equipped with an ultraviolet (UVC) light technology that works to either kill or deactivate bacteria and viruses.

Not only are high-end, medical-grade air purifiers like Eoleaf’s effective against pathogens, but they also contain other air filtration technologies that remove allergens (including dust, dust mites, mold spores, pet hair and danger, mold and its spores) and other dangerous contaminants like chemical pollution (like VOCs).

Improved air quality for healthier living

Medical-grade air purifiers help improve overall well-being by removing airborne pollutants. For those with respiratory conditions, breathing clean, pure indoor air leads to an improvement in respiratory health, enhanced sleep quality, and a healthy immune system, to name a few.

Investment in long-term health

According to a 2020 figure, indoor air pollution leads to 3.2 million deaths per year (237,000 of which are children under the age of 5). The harmful effects of indoor pollution and ambient (outdoor) air pollution combined cause 6.7 million premature deaths per year¹. This, naturally, leads to a massive burden on worldwide health systems, with premature death and the loss of quality of life accounting for 90% of public monetary costs².

Investing in and using a medical-grade air purifier contributes to long-term health benefits. Reducing one’s exposure to harmful pollutants helps not only ward off but alleviate chronic respiratory conditions including allergies, asthma, COPD, and pulmonary embolism. This ultimately reduces medical expenses and increases quality of life.

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Benefits of medical-grade air purifiers

Reduction of airborne diseases

Capturing and eliminating airborne bacteria and viruses with a medical-grade air purifier helps reduce the risk of airborne diseases. This is particularly helpful during periods of seasonal epidemics (cold and flu season) or pandemics (viral outbreaks like COVID-19 or SARS). Medical-grade air purifiers provide a layer of protection to limit contracting illnesses that are spread through the air.

Odour and VOC removal

Unpleasant odours in the home and office are often caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They have a variety of sources but are generally caused by everyday household products like paints, new furniture (which may release formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, for up to two years!), cleaning supplies, and cooking. With a medical-grade air purifier that is properly equipped with an activated carbon filter in addition to its other technologies, odours are effectively removed. Reducing smells in your indoor environment improves your daily well-being but also protects you from long-term health effects caused by exposure to VOCs.

Improved overall health, immune system, and quality of life for sensitive populations

Breathing clean indoor air and removing harmful pollutants with a medical-grade air purifier mitigates the risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases, protecting your health. Studies have also shown that purifying indoor air and reducing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants leads to a myriad of other health benefits including:

• Enhanced cognitive function (improved concentration, working memory, and test scores)^3,4
• Improved sleep quality in bedrooms by reducing the risk of developing air pollution-caused sleep apnoea⁵ and nasal congestion, eye and throat irritation, coughing, and sneezing⁶
• Reduction of allergens that severely impact daily quality of life for those suffering from severe allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions, symptoms of which are aggravated by the presence of air pollution⁷

Medical-grade air purifiers improve quality of life by providing a cleaner breathing environment, reducing respiratory disease symptoms and improving daily comfort. Regular exposure to pollutants and allergens weaken your immune system, making it more difficult to fight off illnesses. Clean indoor air supports the immune system and decreases the likelihood of sickness, contributing to improved overall health.

Enhanced comfort, well-being, and peace of mind

Ridding indoor air of pollutants provides significant psychological benefits. Breathing clean air provides peace of mind and a sense of well-being and comfort in both homes and the workplace. For those with family members that are especially vulnerable – like young children, pregnant women, elderly family members, and/or those with compromised immune systems – a healthy environment with clean air promotes health, hygiene, and peace of mind. The highest standard of air purification found in medical-grade air purifiers also encourages a contaminant-free, safe, and healthy indoor working environment by removing pollutants from the air.

Best medical-grade air purifiers for home air pruification

HEPA filtration and activated carbon filtration

The best air purifiers that are medical-grade should be equipped with HEPA-certified filtration and activated carbon filtration, two of the most tried-and-true air filtration technologies available on today’s air purification market. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) certification means that an air purifier removes 99.97% of all air pollutants down to a size of 0.01 microns in a single pass. Medical-grade air purifiers are either H13 or H14 standard, removing dust, pollen, mold spores, pathogens, and fine and nano particle pollution. This level of filtration ensures clean and healthy indoor environments.

Activated carbon is another highly useful form of air filtration in a medical-grade air purifier. Extremely efficient at absorbing gases and odors (including volatile organic compounds or VOCs) found in the air, activated carbon is an important air purification feature that eliminates indoor pollutants that HEPA filters cannot. Activated carbon filters help to protect the body from health issues caused by formaldehyde and chemicals found in everyday items like furniture, carpets, paint, and other DIY products

UVC sterilisation technologies

It is also ideal for medical-grade air purifiers to contain UVC light technologies. This allows them to kill or deactivate bacteria and viruses, rendering airborne pathogens harmless by damaging their DNA and making them incapable of replication. This feature adds an extra, effective layer of protection against airborne diseases, further contributing to a healthy indoor environment.

Room size, noise level, and energy efficiency

When purchasing a medical-grade air purifier, the size of the room (coverage area) in which you plan to install your air purifier is crucial to consider in order to achieve effective air purification. For small rooms, a more compact unit is best adapted; conversely, for large rooms, a more powerful unit is required in order to cover the entire surface area of your space. A useful comparative chart of Eoleaf’s models as well as their main characteristics can be found below: 

Another consideration to keep in mind is your air purifier’s noise level. When installing a device in a bedroom, office, or other quiet environment, it is important to seek out high-quality air purifiers that operate quietly but effectively in order to clean the air. This is for your comfort as a quiet air purifier causes minimal disturbances to your daily life.

Typically, an air purifier that operates quietly means that it is well-designed. Well-designed, durable air purifiers reduce operating costs and environmental impact with energy-efficient features like Automatic mode and Night mode. An energy-efficient air purifier is also cost-efficient as it leads to lower energy usage.

Smart features

More modern air purifiers contain smart features that ease the management and tracking of your indoor air quality. Some smart features include high-quality air quality sensors, automatic adjustment settings (Automatic mode), remote control using smartphone apps, and voice and/or gesture control that simplify touch-free management of your device, particularly useful in places with high foot traffic and ill individuals like hospitals. These features have been developed for both convenience and real-time air quality monitoring and control, further encouraging an optimised indoor air quality.

Ease of maintenance, durability, and warranty

It is essential to invest in a medical-grade air purifier that is built to last. Be sure to purchase a device that has a comprehensive warranty (Eoleaf’s devices are covered under warranty for three years!), providing you with peace of mind that your investment is protected. A lengthy warranty shows that your manufacturer trusts the quality of its products, guaranteeing you high-quality air purification for years to come. Your device should have easy-to-replace filters with clear and efficient maintenance guidelines. It is always encouraged to follow your manufacturer’s regular maintenance recommendations, especially regarding filter replacements. This will help support user satisfaction and continued overall effectiveness of your device.

What to consider when buying: are there hidden dangers?

Generally speaking, air purifiers are a very safe investment. They work by using a powerful fan to pull in polluted air, passing it through one or more filters or other air purification technologies, and then using their powerful fans once more to circulate the purified air back into your space. High-performance air purifiers treat all types of indoor air pollution including smoke, pollen, mold spores, dust and dust mites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful gases, and more.

The only safety precaution that a consumer must consider when buying a medical-grade air purifier is in regards to air purifiers that also serve as ionizers (like all Eoleaf purifiers which are 2-in-1 air purifiers/ionizers). Ionizers that use corona discharge ionization technologies emit ozone, a harmful respiratory irritant. Exposure to ozone may lead to negative health effects like throat irritation, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Ozone emissions may also produce fine particles which aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions.

This is why it is absolutely essential to verify that your potential new air purifier is certified ozone-free. Eoleaf air purifiers, for example, use bipolar needle ionization technologies with a voltage of 6.0 kV, an innovative design that uses eight separate conduction filaments, a feature that generates more than 20 million ions per cm3. This ensures that our devices are certified ozone-free. For more information on this and other considerations to keep in mind before purchasing your air purifier, refer to our extensive buying guide.

Clinical applications: protecting hospitals, businesses, and pharmacies

Purchasing a medical-grade air purifier for clinical uses is an essential step in protecting our most vulnerable populations from the dangers of indoor air pollution. The elderly, children and infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are the groups that are the most at risk, and improving indoor air quality with a medical-grade air purification system is a small gesture in protecting their health. In public spaces, especially medical spaces, most types of indoor air pollution run rampant: germs (bacteria and viruses), VOCs, fine particle pollution, and allergens, just to name a few. This is why a medical-grade air purifier is important, especially when it is equipped with multiple air purification technologies that target all types of indoor air pollution, even down to micro- and nano-particles.

Medical-grade air purifiers greatly benefit medical institutions, but the list does not stop there! Countless other businesses, health- and non-health-related alike, benefit from medical-grade air purifiers as seen below:

• Medical practices

• Dental practices

• Hospital waiting rooms and patient rooms

• Pharmacies

• Nursery schools/preschools/daycares

• Schools

• Office buildings

• Industrial settings

• Care homes/nursing homes

• Restaurants

• Hotels

• Gyms and fitness centers

• Hair and nail salons

• Coworking spaces

Are air purifiers worth it? Benefit analysis

This is a question we in the air purification industry face regularly: are air purifiers worth it? Do I really need an air purifier? Considering that 99% of the world breathes air that exceeds safety limits, the answer is an unequivocal yes.

According to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "Air pollution is the new tobacco. It’s the single biggest environmental health risk of our time." Outdoor air pollution claims the lives of 4.2 million people annually, whereas indoor air pollution is responsible for 3.8 million. Respiratory diseases (like COPD and asthma), cardiovascular diseases, lower respiratory infections, and other conditions (diabetes mellitus, neurological and psychological conditions, and more) are all directly linked to air pollution exposure and are responsible for the vast majority of these aforementioned deaths.

Installing a medical-grade air purifier in your indoor spaces is an easy way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of indoor air pollution. However, it is important to make an informed decision! A few of the most crucial factors to consider before purchasing an air purifier can be found below.

Air purification technologies

Ensure that the air purifier is equipped with multiple technologies including at least a HEPA-certified (certification is key!) and a heavy-duty activated carbon filter (ask for the weight of the activated carbon filter - the heavier, the better). UVC sterilization technologies are also essential because they not only protect you from airborne pathogens but also sterilize your filter, making it safe for handling during filter changes and reducing the risk of recontamination. Eoleaf air purifiers offer the following technologies, making them some of the most comprehensive air purifiers on the market:

1. Pre-filter

2. Bamboo filter equipped with

3. an antibacterial coating

4. Medical-grade HEPA H13-certified filter

5. Heavy-duty, durable activated carbon filter

6. Photocatalysis technologies

7. UVC sterilization technologies

8. Ionization technologies

Budget

Prices of air purifiers vary significantly, as do their air purification quality and capabilities. Budgeting for an air purifier usually consists of three costs to consider including the upfront cost of the device itself, maintenance costs (replacement filters), and the energy costs associated with running the device. The value of medical-grade air purifiers is typically higher than those with a lower HEPA rating, but their filtration quality is far superior. Filters are also a bit more expensive, but this is for good reason: they last longer, saving you money in the long term, and they remove the most dangerous types of indoor air pollution (such as PM2.5 and PM0.1).

Room coverage

Frequently asked questions

Can a medical grade air purifier remove viruses from the air?

If your medical-grade air purifier contains both a HEPA-certified filter and UVC sterilisation technologies, absolutely! These technologies are designed to remove harmful germs (bacteria and viruses) from the air.

Are medical grade air purifiers effective against allergens like pollen and pet dander?

Air purifiers that contain HEPA-certified filters work very effectively in removing allergens like pollen and pet dander. HEPA-certified filters remove 99.97% of all pollutants down to a size of 0.01 microns in a single pass, including allergens.

How do I choose the right size air purifier for my room, home, or office?

Before making your purchase of an air purifier, ensure that it is properly sized. Devices usually include a size guide enabling you to choose the right device for your space’s size. To provide an example, Eoleaf’s devices come in three sizes:

• NeoPur 400: 0 to 40 m2
• TeraPur 600: 0 to 80 m2
• AltaPur 700: 0 to 120 m2

Can medical grade air purifiers eliminate odours and VOCs?

Not all air purifiers are capable of eliminating odours and VOCs. Only air purifiers that are equipped with activated carbon filters are able to eliminate odours and harmful chemical pollution including VOCs. 

What maintenance does a medical grade air purifier require?

All air purifiers require regular filter replacements. It cannot be understated how important this is for both your health and the longevity of your device! Eoleaf devices require filter changes once every year.

Are there any smart features available in medical grade air purifiers?

This depends upon the model of medical-grade air purifier. Eoleaf air purifiers are modern, offering smart features like app compatibility, gesture and voice controls, Automatic and Night modes, and real-time air quality monitoring directly from your smartphone, to name a few.

How much noise does a medical grade air purifier make?

An air purifier should be near-silent in lower fan speeds and never loud enough to disturb users of the space in which they are installed at faster fan speeds. Eoleaf devices never exceed 60 dB even at their fastest fan speeds.

Is it worth investing in an air purifier with UV-C light technology?

If you are planning to install an air purifier in a place that regularly accepts members of the public, especially those who are ill, an air purifier equipped with UVC sterilisation technology is absolutely recommended. This may include places like healthcare and medical institutions (hospitals, clinics, dental practices, pharmacies), schools, hotels, and restaurants. This list is not exhaustive, however. 

Can using a medical grade air purifier help with asthma or respiratory conditions?

Absolutely! This is one of the main purposes for purchasing a medical-grade air purifier. By removing harmful indoor air pollutants that aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma, allergies, and/or COPD, symptoms of these conditions may be significantly alleviated.

Resources

¹ World Health Organization. (2023, December 15). Household air pollution. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health 

² Boulanger, G., Bayeux, T., Mandin, C., Kirchner, S., Vergriette, B., Pernelet-Joly, V., & Kopp, P. (2017). Socio-economic costs of Indoor Air Pollution: A tentative estimation for some pollutants of health interest in France. Environment International, 104, 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.03.025 

³ Lu W, Hackman DA, Schwartz J. Ambient air pollution associated with lower academic achievement among US children: A nationwide panel study of school districts. Environ Epidemiol. 2021 Nov 3;5(6):e174. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000174. Erratum in: Environ Epidemiol. 2022 Feb 25;6(2):e202. PMID: 34909554; PMCID: PMC8663889.

⁴ Gartland N, Aljofi HE, Dienes K, Munford LA, Theakston AL, van Tongeren M. The Effects of Traffic Air Pollution in and around Schools on Executive Function and Academic Performance in Children: A Rapid Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 10;19(2):749. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020749. PMID: 35055570; PMCID: PMC8776123.

⁵ Billings, M. E., Gold, D., Szpiro, A., Aaron, C. P., Jorgensen, N., Gassett, A., Leary, P. J., Kaufman, J. D., & Redline, S. R. (2018). The association of ambient air pollution with sleep apnea: The multi-ethnic study of Atherosclerosis. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201804-248OC

⁶ Donald E. Stull, Laurie Roberts, Lori Frank & Kim Heithoff (2007) Relationship of nasal congestion with sleep, mood, and productivity, Current Medical Research and Opinion, 23:4, 811-819, DOI: 10.1185/030079907X178793.

⁷ Takizawa H. Impact of air pollution on allergic diseases. Korean J Intern Med. 2011 Sep;26(3):262-73. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2011.26.3.262. Epub 2011 Sep 13. PMID: 22016586; PMCID: PMC3192198.