ISO 16890

A guide to the
new air filtration
standard.

Leadership in Filtration
ISO 16890
The new standard for
classifying air filters.

Particulate comes in all different sizes—

much of it invisible to the eye. The new ISO
standard tests a filter’s ability to capture
particulate from across the range.

EN 779 has been the most widely-used method of classifying air filters for over
20 years. But from the beginning of 2017, a new standard comes into force that
completely changes the way that filters are tested and categorised.

Most countries will have a transition period—typically 18 months—as EN 779

makes way for ISO 16890. But after this time, the familiar filter classes from G1
to F9 will no longer apply.

The good news is that ISO 16890 brings a number of benefits over the existing
standard. It uses a number of new approaches and mechanisms that make the
testing process more indicative of the conditions that the filter will operate
within once installed. And the new rating system centres on the ultimate aim of
an air filter—removing particulate matter—so it’s easier to find a product that’s
matched to your needs.

As this is such a fundamental change to the air filtration industry, there’s much
to understand to ensure that you, as a filter buyer, know what to look for. This
guide is intended to help you get up to speed with the new ISO 16890.

ISO 16890 is valid from

the beginning of 2017,
so now is the time to act.

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Technical Data

PARTICULATE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE HEALTH IMPACT OF PM

When public bodies such as the World Health Organization discuss According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is the
air pollution they typically talk in terms of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1— greatest environmental risk to human health—causing more than
that is, particulate matter smaller than 10 µm, 2.5 µm and 1 µm three million premature deaths across the world every year. And the
respectively. And there’s good reason for this. Humans are adept at list of health complaints attributed to PM is constantly growing—
stopping particles larger than 10 µm from entering our bodies, but from cardiovascular and lung disease to cancer and childhood
particulate smaller than this gets past our defences—and how far it respiratory diseases.
travels depends on its size.
Our bodies have built-in defences to protect against particulate
matter larger than 10 µm. Below this, it’s the job of filters to provide
protection against the particles our bodies can’t stop.

That’s why the new ISO 16890 standard focuses on a filter’s ability
100 µm
to capture particulate around or below 10 µm. It classifies a filter
Caught in the nose
dependent on its ability to capture coarse dust (particulate larger
than 10 µm), PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. And these make up the four
10 µm
filter groups under the new standard.
Trapped in the throat

2.5 µm
Lines the lungs

1 µm
Enters the bloodstream

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Real life in the lab.
Making testing more
realistic.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH EN 779?

Since its launch in 1993, EN 779 has done much for the air filtration industry. Chief among
which was introducing a uniform way to classify air filters that helped to drive up quality
standards and simplify the process of selecting a filter. Unfortunately, it’s this uniformity that
is also EN 779 greatest weakness.

The air we breathe is a cocktail of countless types of particulate—of all shapes and sizes, and
from all manner of sources. But EN 779 is based entirely on a filter’s ability to capture one
size of particulate—0.4 µm. It doesn’t take into account all the different particle sizes that
are present in outside air. And that’s why the testing procedure has been criticised for not
reflecting the conditions in which a filter will be expected to operate. The results from the
lab are not indicative of the real world.

ISO 16890 is different. Under testing in the new standard, a filter is challenged with a variety
of different sized particulate—just as it would be if it was installed in your air handling unit.
And this particulate stretches from 0.3 µm all the way up to 10 µm in a series of 12 tests.

EN 779 – Test particulate size ISO 16890 – Test particulate size

Test 1 0.4 µm Test 1 0.3 – 0.4 µm

2 0.4 – 0.55 µm

3 0.55 – 0.7 µm

4 0.70 – 1.0 µm

5 1.0 – 1.3 µm

6 1.3 – 1.6 µm

Testing to these different 7 1.6 – 2.2 µm

particle sizes needs all
8 2.2 – 3.0 µm
new equipment capable
of splitting particulate into 9 3.0 – 4.0 µm
12 channels dependent
on its size. The latest test 10 4.0 – 5.5 µm
rigs do this with incredible
accuracy—giving an even 11 5.5 – 7.0 µm
more detailed view of a
12 7.0 – 10.0 µm
filter’s performance.

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Four ISO filter groups.
One aim—simplicity.

REPLACING G AND F CLASS

Four new filter groups are introduced under ISO 16890: Coarse, ePM10, ePM2.5 and ePM1.
The ‘e’ prefix simply stands for efficiency. To fall into each category, a filter must be capable
of capturing at least 50% of the particulate in that size range. Filters capturing less than 50%
of PM10 dust go into the Coarse group.

ISO 16890 filter group efficiencies

Coarse < 50% of PM10

ePM10 ≥ 50% of PM10

ePM2.5 ≥ 50% of PM2.5

ePM1 ≥ 50% of PM1

But not all products in a filter group will be the same. In product literature and test reports,
the efficiency of the filter will be detailed alongside the group. So you are likely to see
terms such as ePM2.5 60% or ePM1 95%. This simply means that the first filter provides 60%
efficiency at PM2.5 and the second filter is 95% efficient at PM1.

The efficiency is rounded to the nearest 5%, so you should not come across any products
listed as ePM10 89%, for example.

PARTICLE SIZE ILLUSTRATION

PM10

PM2.5

PM1 Human hair – 70 µm

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What does this mean
for you?
Choosing an ISO filter.
MATCH YOUR NEEDS TO YOUR ENVIRONMENT USE THE INFORMATION THAT’S OUT THERE

With such a fundamental change, the way you select and Most countries now make air quality levels within their
configure an air filter is going to be completely different borders readily available on the internet. That means with just
under ISO 16890. But one of the main advantages of the new a few clicks, you can view the current and historic PM levels in
standard is that it makes it significantly easier to choose an your local environment. Armed with this information, you can
air filter that will provide the protection you need. It’s simply a determine what level of filtration you require to achieve safe
case of matching a product to your desired level of air quality levels of particulate in your building.
and your local environment.
DO SOME SIMPLE SUMS
DEFINE THE AIR QUALITY YOU NEED
For example, If the PM concentrations outside your building
The World Health Organization prescribe safe levels for PM10 are 48 µg/m3 for PM10 and 33 µg/m3 for PM2.5. It’s a
and PM2.5 as 20 µg/m3 and 10 µg/m3 respectively, so we straightforward calculation to determine what filtration
recommend using these figures as a baseline. PM1 filters are efficiency you need...
slightly different as they’re typically employed to protect a
particular process, so set the air quality level according to the
needs of that application.

CALCULATING YOUR FILTER REQUIREMENT

Incoming air Desired air quality

Reduction
required:
58%
PM10: Min. filter: PM10:
48 µg/m3 ePM10 60% 20 µg/m3

Reduction
required:
PM2.5: PM2.5:
69%
33 µg/m3 Min. filter: 10 µg/m3
ePM2.5 70%

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We have been involved in the development of ISO
16890 from the start. That’s why we’re ready with
all new test equipment for the all new standard.

FINDING THE OPTIMUM FILTER SELECTION

We have been promoting outcome-based filtration for several With an eco16 survey, we measure and analyse the precise
years through our patented eco16 filter selection programme. conditions at your facility, and then provide the exact filter
ISO 16890 brings the main themes of this system to the specification that’s best suited to your needs. Best of all, this
wider industry, but air pollution can vary greatly across small filter configuration will guarantee a set level of air quality at
distances depending on activities such as construction or the cheapest possible cost of ownership. Your energy costs
industrial processes. What’s more, PM data is not always will be minimised and air quality will be perfectly suited to
complete and up to date in every location around the world. your needs.

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