If you're in the market for a vacuum, you've probably heard the word HEPA at least once, if not two or over five times. HEPA stands for "High Efficiency Particulate Air" or "High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance." At a bare minimum, a filter can only earn the U.S.-issued HEPA distinction when it can capture 99.97% of dirt and debris 0.3 microns in size or larger. When speaking of the new European standards, things are even stricter with their filters needing to remove 99.98% of particles that are 0.2 microns or larger.
But did you know that there are different grades of HEPA filters? It's a mere myth that all HEPA filters are equal, and it's this common misconception that drove us to create this blog post.
H12 HEPA Filters are composed of tightly constructed microscopic glass fibers that create a composite paper-like surface for dust and allergens to pass through. They have an overall efficiency of 99.5% and can trap particulate matter down to 0.5 microns in size. As you upgrade to H13 HEPA Filters, the overall efficiency rate increases by 0.45% to 99.95%. Particles get caught via one of the following three mechanisms: interception, impact, or diffusion. Impact is when a particle crashes head-on with HEPA fibers and gets trapped by the filter. Interception is when a particle moves too close to a HEPA fiber while moving through the airflow and hence gets trapped that way. Diffusion is when particles crash into one another and some ricochet to the fibers of the HEPA filter.
The Electrolux EL012B is an H12 filter, and can be found in many Electrolux canister vacuums like the Electrolux ErgoSpace or Electrolux EL7063B UltraSilencer Vacuum. The washable version is considered an H13 HEPA filter and can be substituted in the same vacuums.
ULPA, which stands for "Ultra Low Penetration Air", is a close competitor to HEPA's filtration system thanks to its overall efficiency percentage of 99.999 for particles that are 0.12 microns or larger in diameter. They mirror HEPA filters in both construction and in how they go about trapping dust molecules.
Micro-filters are designed to retain 99.5% of particulate matter down to 2 microns in size. Made out of polypropylene melt-blown filter media, they act as a barrier that separates unfiltered particles from the motor, and they are oftenused to create an additional 2nd ply layer for vacuum bags. This added layer helps to improve indoor air quality by capturing dust molecules as opposing to allowing them to go through the bag and emit themselves back into your home or office.
If you've considered purchasing a SEBO vacuum, you may have heard the word "hospital grade" used to describe its filtration system. S-Class hospital grade filtration removes 99.99% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. The relatively loose mesh allows for smoother airflow to increase suction power, but still maintains high-efficiency thanks to its electrostatic properties. By having a slight electrical charge, the mesh is able to attract and capture microscopic particles.
| Grade | Overall Efficiency | Size | US Standard | European Standard |
| H11 |
95%
|
0.5 microns or larger | NO | YES |
| H12 |
99.5% |
0.5 microns or larger | NO | YES |
| H13 |
99.95% |
0.5 microns or larger | NO | YES |
| H14 |
99.995% |
0.5 microns or larger | NO | YES |
| Micro-Filtration |
99.5% |
2 microns | Yes | NO |
| Hospital Filtration |
99.99% |
0.3 microns or larger | Yes | NO |
| ULPA |
99.999% |
0.12 microns or larger | Yes | NO |
