‘Air filter acquisition is important in achieving good IAQ’

Dubai, UAE, 28 August 2018: Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has a direct relationship with maintaining good health and a key component is air filters, the acquisition of which, is a crucial stage in determining whether an end-user will achieve the desired result, said Dr Iyad Al-Attar, an independent air filtration consultant, while highlighting the importance of air filter acquisition.

Iyad Al-Attar

Elaborating on the need for an air filtration expert or consultant, Al-Attar said that air filtration is influenced by several factors pertaining to the surroundings and end-user needs. He said, factors like energy-efficiency demands and requirements that deal with climatic conditions where dust proves to be a challenge, are all influencers when it comes to air filtration, which only a consultant can identify and provide guidance on. Giving an example, he said: “Aerodynamic HEPA filters conserve energy by lowering the pressure drop directly, hence enhancing power generation and reducing fuel consumption. In places like the Sahara Desert, for instance, or the Arabian Peninsula, sandstorms are frequent and suspend higher particle concentrations in the air. An elevated particle concentration can cause bridging of particles forming dendrites on the surface of the filters, hence impairing them from working.”

Al-Attar said, “Today, the advances in filter media and cartridge design have brought better answers to the aspect of enhancing air quality.” However, he said, today one thing that needs specific attention is air filter acquisition. Highlighting the two essential aspects of air filter acquisition, he said,“Acquiring filters without consulting with a professional filtration expert is like skipping a step to save money, where a person asks the pharmacist directly for medication to avoid the cost of consulting a doctor.” On the other hand, he said, “A person who selects a filter for various processes must be certified by the government and must be held responsible for his or her selection. This is a matter that needs to be taken very seriously.”

Ranjana Konatt is Features Writer at Climate Control Middle East magazine. She may be contacted at ranjana@cpi-industry.com