EPA, HEPA & ULPA Filters

AAF’s High Purity solutions include high-performing EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters engineered to play a crucial role in eliminating airborne particles, contaminants and microorganisms to meet stringent cleanliness standards required in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics manufacturing and healthcare. Our innovative filtration technologies include an ultrafine fiber membrane media that’s less delicate and vulnerable than glass media for longer life and easier use. Additionally, this media provides unbeatable energy efficiency values. A variety of housing and filter types allows a fully integrated solution for minimizing risk and potential failure points. Finally, each AAF HEPA filter is tested for quality. The result is high quality filtration that’s also designed to reduce your total cost of ownership.

Types of EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters

AAF has a large range of EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters, which comply with EN1822 standards and are also available in different filter classes:

• EPA classes E10 to E12: These filters are designed to filter very fine particles of 0.3 microns or larger and can remove up to 99,5% of particles from the air.
• HEPA classes H13 and H14: These filters offer high levels of air purification for various industrial and commercial applications. Efficiencies of 99.95% to 99.995% are available.
• ULPA classes U15 to U17: For situations where an even higher degree of filtration is required, we offer ULPA filters that can remove particles more than 99.9995%.

Our HEPA filters are available with various filter frames, such as aluminum, MDF, plastic, galvanized steel or stainless steel. Each filter comes with a certificate and labelling, and is carefully tested and packaged to ensure the highest quality.

Our EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters comply with EN1822 / ISO 29463 standards.

About EPA filters (Efficient Particulate Air)

Air filtration technology is essential in mitigating airborne contaminants in environments ranging from residential buildings to high-sensitivity industrial facilities. Among various filter types, EPA filters serve as intermediate solutions, offering high efficiency in particulate removal without the high pressure drop associated with more advanced filters like HEPA and ULPA filters. 

EPA filters represent a critical component in modern air purification systems. Positioned between ISO 16890 rated filters and HEPA filters in terms of performance, EPA filters offer a balance of filtration efficiency and energy consumption. 

EPA filters are classified under the EN1822 standard (Europe), which define particulate filter efficiency based on the Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS), typically between 0.1 and 0.3 micrometers. The EPA classification spans from E10 to E12:

• E10: ≥85% MPPS filtration efficiency
• E11: ≥95%
• E12: ≥99.5%

Due to their high filtration performance and relatively lower energy consumption compared to HEPA filters, EPA filters are used in:

• HVAC systems in commercial and residential buildings
• Cleanrooms with moderate contamination control requirements
• Automotive cabin air filters
• Industrial environments, such as pharmaceutical and food processing industries

They are especially useful where cost, airflow, and energy balance must be optimized without compromising indoor air quality.

About HEPA filters (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)

HEPA filters are critical components in air purification systems, designed to capture airborne particles with high efficiency. According to the European standard EN1822, a true HEPA filter must remove at least 99.95% of airborne particles. Testing is performed at the "most penetrating particle size" (MPPS), which guarantees the minimum performance of each filter.

HEPA filters are highly effective against particulates, including bacteria, pollen and spores. To romove gases or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, HEPA filters are combined with activated carbon or other adsorbent materials.

HEPA filters are classified under the EN1822 standard, which defines particulate filter efficiency based on the Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS), typically between 0.1 and 0.3 micrometers. The HEPA classification spans from H13 to H14:

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filters:

• H13: ≥ 99.95% efficiency
• H14: ≥ 99.995% efficiency

HEPA filters undergo two main types of tests:

• Factory Testing: Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to classify the filter type based on MPPS (EN1822 / ISO 29463).
• In-situ (Field) Testing: Performed after installation using aerosol challenges to check for leaks or performance degradation (ISO 14644).

Testing instruments include:

• Laser particle counters
• Scanning aerosol photometers
• Aerosol generators

HEPA filters are used in various settings requiring high air quality:

• Healthcare – In hospitals, HEPA filters are employed in isolation rooms, operating theaters, and ventilators to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens.
• Cleanrooms – Industries like pharmaceuticals rely on HEPA filters to maintain contaminant-free environments.
• Microelectronics  - HEPA filters are are often installed in laminar flow units and clean benches to ensure unidirectional airflow. This minimizes particle deposition on wafers during photolithography, etching, doping, and deposition processes.

About ULPA filters (Ultra-Low Penetration Air)

ULPA filters play a vital role in maintaining ultra-clean environments across a range of high-tech and healthcare sectors. Their advanced filtration capabilities make them indispensable where air purity is non-negotiable. As technology progresses, continued innovations in filter media and design aim to balance performance with energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

ULPA filters represent a critical advancement in air filtration technology, designed to remove airborne particulates with exceptional efficiency. Widely used in environments that demand stringent air purity, such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and high-grade cleanrooms, ULPA filters offer filtration performance that exceeds the performance of HEPA filters. Airborne particles, including dust, microorganisms, and aerosols, pose significant challenges in environments requiring contamination control. ULPA filters provide a high level of filtration efficiency, capturing particles as small as 0.1–0.2 micrometers in diameter with a minimum efficiency of 99.9995%.

According to the EN1822 standard, ULPA filters are typically rated as U15 to U17, where:

• U15 filters capture ≥ 99.9995% of particles ≥0.12 µm,
• U16 captures ≥ 99.99995%,
• U17 captures ≥ 99.999995%.

ULPA filters are essential in environments where even the slightest airborne contamination can lead to significant product or process failure:

• Cleanrooms (ISO Class 1–5): For microelectronics and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Medical Facilities: Operating rooms and isolation chambers.
• Aerospace and Defense: Protection of sensitive instrumentation.
• Laboratory Environments: Particularly in biosafety cabinets and laminar flow hoods.

Available media options for our EPA, HEPA, ULPA filters

HEPA and ULPA filters made with microglass media have stood the test of time for over 75 years. However, aside from the development of “low boron” microglass media for the microelectronics industry, the technology has seen very little innovation since its inception. While its filtration performance has been proven throughout its long history, unfortunately so has its fragility. Despite its well documented filtration performance, the delicate nature of glass fiber media continues to present a potential risk for damage that should be considered when selecting the ideal media for a given application. 

Conversely, membrane media technologies have seen and experienced continuous innovation and adoption across many industries and applications over the past 30 years. In the early 1990’s, increased demand from the booming microelectronics industry for HEPA and ULPA grade air filters with reduced offgassing properties and improved energy efficiency created an opportunity for innovation in HEPA and ULPA grade medias. Within that same time period, Daikin Industries discovered an ultrafine fiber structure that would enable a revolutionary change in air filter membrane media development. 

Proven Alternatives to Glass Fiber Media 

The development of Daikin’s unique ultrafine fiber ePTFE membrane media offered an alternative option to glass fiber filters for the microelectronics industry that provided the lowest offgassing properties, lowest energy consumption, and far superior tensile strength and durability. This technological advancement enabled the industry to dramatically reduce operating costs, while also improving production yield. Since that time, ePTFE media has become the media of choice for the microelectronics industry. 

Expanded Portfolio of Membrane Technologies 

Membrane technologies have evolved since the discovery of the ultrafine fibers by Daikin Industries in 1988. The main benefits remain the same: excellent pressure drop, no boron emissions, and superior durability when compared to glass fiber media. However, the portfolio of available media types for specific applications has expanded. 

Evolution Meets Revolution: Introducing the Fluororesin Membrane 

Expanded Fluororesin Membrane, or eFRM, is the next generation of membrane medi a technology, designed specifically for applications where high concentrations of oil-based test aerosols (i.e. PAO) and fine particulate (i.e. Hydrocarbons) are present. This unique recipe of ultra-fine membrane layers and support structures now enables these demanding environments to take advantage of the same benefits of membrane media performance that other applications have enjoyed for decades.

Microglass Media: 
Wetlaid media made from borosilicate glass fibers and adhesive binders. 
• Available in E10 –U17 
• Compatible with Discrete Particle Counters (DPC) testing and photometric test methods
Product with Microglass Media: AstroCel II

ePTFE Membrane Media: 
Single layer of expanded PTFE supported by a layer of spun bonded synthetic media on the upstream and downstream side. 
• Available in H13 –U17 
• Standard for Microelectronic and Tool Market 
• Compatible with Discrete Particle Counters (DPC) testing
Product with ePTFE media: MEGAcel II ME

eFRM Membrane Media: 
Dual layers of expanded Fluororesin membrane supported by a layer of spun bonded synthetic media on the upstream and downstream side. 
• Available in H13 –H14 
• Designed for high particulate loading, including oil-based test aerosols 
• Compatible with photometric test methods
Product with eFRM media: MEGAcel II

What to Look for in EPA, HEPA and ULPA Filters

Media Integrity
• Highest level of mechanical strength for resistance to damage, leaking, or failure
• Chemically inert, which reduces media degradation in highly corrosive environments
• Hydrophobic (water resistant)

Economy and Testing
• Lowest available pressure drop to reduce energy consumption and changeout cycles
• Lowest off-gassing of chemical components to minimize risk of contamination
• Ability to perform local field testing per standards for your environment

Total Cost of Ownership
• Clearly quantify all potential operational risks associated with your filter selection
• Invest in technology that improves operational performance and reduces the effort required for maintenance and repair
• Partner with a supplier that can provide professional guidance and a fully integrated system solution

Need help or advice on a filter choice?

At AAF and Dinair, we have more than 100 years of experience in the production filters and different application areas. Our EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters comply with the EN1822 standard and are available in many different configurations and efficiency classes. Contact us for help and advice from our EPA, HEPA, ULPA and High Purity specialists.