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Merv

MERV is a measure of the efficiency of particulate filters in removing particles from an air stream, with higher MERV levels indicating better removal of smaller particles. MERV levels are determined using ASHRAE testing standards and range from 1 to 16, with levels 17-20 covering HEPA and ULPA filters. The table provided shows the particle size removal efficiencies associated with each MERV level and the typical contaminants and applications controlled.

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57 views

Merv

MERV is a measure of the efficiency of particulate filters in removing particles from an air stream, with higher MERV levels indicating better removal of smaller particles. MERV levels are determined using ASHRAE testing standards and range from 1 to 16, with levels 17-20 covering HEPA and ULPA filters. The table provided shows the particle size removal efficiencies associated with each MERV level and the typical contaminants and applications controlled.

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Abdullah.N FAAli
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)

MERV is a measure used to describe the efficiency with which particulate filters remove particles of a specified size from an air
stream.54 The higher the MERV designation, the better the efficiency of removal, particularly for smaller particles (Table 1). MERV
levels 1 through 16 are determined using the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2007 test method by the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).54 Standard 52.2-2007 does not address high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters or ultra low penetration air (ULPA) filters (MERV 17 – 20). HEPA/ULPA filters are assigned MERVs based on their
performance in accordance with standards published by the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST).51

Table 1: MERV Parameters


Composite Average Particle Size Removal Efficiency
(%) in Size Range (μm) - ANSI/ASHRAE Standard
52.2-2007
Contaminants Typically
MERV 0.3–1.0 1.0–3.0 3.0–10.0 Controlled Typical Applications
1 — — <20 Particles >10.0 μm: pollens, Minimum filtration; residential
dust mites, textile/carpet fibers buildings
2 — — <20
3 — — <20
4 — — <20
5 — — 20–35 Particles 3 - 10.0 μm: mold, Most commercial and better
spores, cement dust residential buildings
6* — — 35–50
7 — — 50–70
8 — — >70
9 — <50 >85 Particles 1.0 - 3.0 μm: Superior residential and
Legionella, lead dust, coal better commercial buildings
10 — 50–65 >85 dust, auto emmissons
11 — 65–80 >85
12 — >80 >90
13 <75 >90 >90 Particles 0.3 - 1.0 μm: all Hospital inpatient and general
bacteria, most tobacco smoke, surgery; superior commercial
14 75–85 >90 >90 droplet nuclei, most smoke buildings
15 85–95 >90 >90
16 >95 >95 >95
IEST Standards
17 >99.97 on 0.30 μm particles, IEST Type A Particles <0.3 μm (viruses, Cleanrooms and
radon progeny, carbon dust) pharmaceutical manufacturing
18 >99.99 on 0.30 μm particles, IEST Type C
19 >99.999 on 0.30 μm particles, IEST Type D
20 >99.9999 on 0.10–0.20 μm particles, IEST Type F
* Mimimum requirement under ASHRAE standard 62.1 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality)
Source: Adapted with permission from ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2007: Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning
Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineeers, Inc. 2007 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., www.ashrae.org

For more information see:

• Guidance for Filtration and Air-Cleaning Systems to Protect Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or
Radiological Attacks (April 2003)
• Risk Management Guidance for Health, Safety and Environmental Security under Extraordinary Incidents. American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (January 2003)
• Kowalski, W, Bahnfleth, W. Airborne-microbe filtration in indoor environments. HPAC Engineering 74(1); 2002: 57-69.

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