EN779:2012 approved as the new standard for general ventilation air filters

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has established a new standard for general ventilation air filters, EN779:2012. Official publication is expected before summer 2012 and each individual European country will then have 6 months to integrate the new standard. This means that the effective date of the EN779:2012 can differ per country.

Where the existing EN779:2002 was already widely accepted as a standard for testing and classifying coarse and fine filters based on average efficiency, the revised standard is an important step forward. The main changes can be summarized as follows:

• Implementation of minimum efficiency (ME) requirements for fine filter classes F7 to F9
• ME as the lowest value of initial efficiency, efficiency throughout the test's loading procedure and discharged efficiency
• Fine filter classes F5 and F6 are renamed to M5 and M6 and are part of new medium filter category

Those air filters that do not meet the ME requirements will lose their original efficiency classification and will automatically drop one or more classes. With this revised methodology, the new EN779 will address the negative effects on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) caused by underperforming air filters that are currently sold in the market. Although often demonstrating compliant average efficiencies, it is well known that some air filters lose their particulate collection functionality over time and therewith become a gateway for airborne contamination in buildings. The new ME requirements of EN779:2012 will stimulate the development of higher quality fine filters for contributing to people breathing in purer air for improved health and comfort. Fine filters rated as F5 or F6 to EN779:2002 are not required to meet an ME value in the new situation. To clearly differentiate these from those that do, filter classes F5 and F6 have been renamed to M5 and M6 as part of a new medium filter category.

AAF supports the new EN779 as it enables customers to better select the air filtration solution that complies with their actual air quality demands.

In the table below, the revised air filter classification to EN779:2012 has been summarized. The final pressure drop, average arrestance and average efficiency requirements remain unchanged.

Class Final Pressure Drop
Pa		 Average arrestance (Am)
of synthetic dust %		 Average efficiency (Em)
of 0,4 µm particles %		    Minimum Efficiency
  for 0.4 μm particles %
G1 250 50 < Am < 65 -  -
G2 250 65 < Am < 80 -  -
G3 250 80 < Am < 90 -  -
G4 250  90 < Am - -
M5 450 - 40 < Em < 60  - 
M6 450 - 60 < Em < 80  - 
F7 450 - 80 < Em < 90 35 
F8 450 - 90 < Em < 95 55
F9 450  -  95 < Em 70
Note: The characteristics of atmospheric dust vary widely compared to those of the synthetic dust used in the EN779 tests. Because of this, the test results do not provide a completely accurate basis for predicting either operational performance or service life. Loss of media charge or shedding of particles or fibers can also adversely affect efficiency.

More information: Download leaflet about the new EN779 standard.