EPA Guidance and The National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House both recently issued statements stressing the importance of air quality in regard to COVID-19 safety.
According to the EPA, in order to select an air cleaner that effectively filters viruses from the air, you must choose a unit that is designated a HEPA unit. The EPA also states that in order for an air cleaner to be effective in removing viruses from the air, it must be able to remove small airborne particles in the size range of 0.1-1 micron.
Airmega uses multiple layers of filtration, including a Green True HEPA™ filter, that can capture and remove over 99.98%³ of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and more than 99.999%¹ of all airborne contaminants down to 0.01 microns, exceeding the EPA’s recommendation.
The statement from the EPA came as part of a Clean Air in Buildings Checklist, which was issued by the White House to encourage the improvement of indoor ventilation. The Checklist was published keeping in mind that while ventilation systems and equipment vary widely across building types, they play an important role in keeping building occupants safe regardless. Strong ventilation practices can reduce the number of virus particles and contaminants in the air, and thereby reduce the risk of virus or disease transmission.
The National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, released by the White House in March 2022, states:
The Checklist will include steps such as increasing outdoor air coming into buildings (e.g., through safely opening windows, doors, dampers, and other air openings; enabling cross-ventilation; and installing window/box fans); improving air filtration (e.g., through proper installation and maintenance of MERV-13 air filters; operating HVAC systems with increased introduction of outdoor air; investing in HVAC infrastructure and improvements); supplementing air handling with portable air cleaners (e.g., through assessment of current ventilation and filtration levels; and deploying portable air-cleaning devices with HEPA filters).
What constitutes a HEPA filter?
Most modern HEPA filters consist of interlaced glass fibers that are twisted turned and woven into a fibrous maze. As particles pass through this web through forced air, they’re taken out of circulation in the following ways:
- Direct Impaction: Large contaminants, such as certain types of dust, mold, and pollen, travel in a straight path, collide with fiber and stick to it.
- Sieving: The air stream carries a particle between two fibers, but the particle is larger than the gap, so it becomes ensnared.
- Interception: Airflow is nimble enough to reroute around fibers, but, thanks to inertia, particles continue on their path and stick to the sides of fibers.
- Diffusion: Small, ultrafine particles move more erratically than larger ones, so they’re more likely to hit and stick to fibers.
Coway Green True HEPA™ Filter Technology
Although HEPA filters are expected to trap 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size, some particles will inevitably get through. Activated carbon filters like those found in Airmega’s Max2 filters use small pores to capture the chemicals, odors, and smoke that a HEPA filter might not catch.
Coway Airmega 400 features Max2 filters are all-in-one HEPA filter systems that combine Green True HEPA™ filter technology with an activated carbon filter to remove up to 99.999%¹ of nano-sized particles down to 0.01 micron. That’s smaller than most allergens, bacteria, mold and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Learn more about Airmega and create a healthier, safer environment for you and your loved ones today by visiting cowaymega.com/airmega.
³Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
¹Coway air purifiers has been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2018 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum fan speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
