UW Study Emphasizes the Need for MERV-13 Filters in Public Transportation Buses
A recent University of Washington study detected trace amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine present in the air and on surfaces in the 5 public transit fleets tested.
To improve the air quality on public transit fleets the study recommends upgrading filtration to MERV-13 rating. However, upgrading to MERV-13 filtration in transit buses has its challenges:
Challenge: Bus HVAC systems may not be able to handle MERV-13 filters. The higher efficiency filters may be too restrictive, limiting airflow, freezing coils and causing damage to the HVAC system.
Solution: Lumin-Air Transit electrostatic filters are permanently charged, capturing particles in a 360 degree manner, allowing for maximum dust holding capacity and excellent airflow.
Challenge: Bus HVAC systems may not be designed for MERV-13 filters to fit, requiring custom filter frames to be designed and filter media to be sized and cut to fit.
Solution: Lumin-Air Transit filters have been custom designed to fit all bus HVAC systems including Gillig, New Flyer, MCI, Nova, etc. Lumin-Air replacement media is in stock and delivered pre-cut and sized to fit.
Challenge: Some filters labeled MERV-13 may actually be MERV-8A, with a temporary electrostatic charge added at the factory that wears off in service, reverting to MERV-8 or MERV-9 efficiency. See https://lumin-air.com/merv-13-filters-for-transit/
Solution: Lumin-Air Transit filters are permanently charged, not temporarily charged, which means they maintain MERV-13 equivalence, allowing for maximum airflow and lasting up to 3 times as long as traditional filters
Challenge: Temporarily charged MERV-13 filters are costly and require frequent media replacement.
Solution: Lumin-Air Transit filters are less expensive than traditional filters and last up to 3 times as long. For example, a transit fleet with 300 buses would save approximately $100,000 in filter and labor costs in one year.
Challenge: Traditional, temporarily charged MERV-13 filters need to be changed frequently, resulting in excess labor and landfill disposal.
Solution: Lumin-Air Transit filters last up to 3 times as long as traditional filters, requiring less maintenance and less replacement filter media, resulting in 301.3 ft3/year reduction in landfill disposal for a 300 bus fleet. Lumin-Air’s continuous MERV-13 equivalence also keeps the HVAC system and coils clean, resulting in reduced motor and fan energy and a more sustainable solution.
Lumin-Air specializes in MERV-13 filtration for public transportation vehicles including fixed route buses, paratransit and mobility vehicles. Our filters are continuously charged, not temporarily charged, which means they maintain MERV-13 equivalence, allow for maximum airflow and last up to 3 times as long as traditional filters. https://lumin-air.com/improving-air-quality-in-public-transportation/