When it comes to air filtration, the MPR rating is an important factor to consider. MPR stands for Microparticle Performance Rating and is a patented system created by 3M to measure the effectiveness of their Filtrete filter product line. It is important to note that MPR is only used for 3M Filtrete filters, while MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) is an industry-wide standard used to measure the effectiveness of all HVAC filters. A good starting point for air filtration is an MPR 600 rating.
This rating provides a good balance between filtration efficiency and air flow. If you are particularly sensitive to allergens such as dust or pollen, then you may want to switch to an MPR 1000 filter. The MERV rating system ranges from 1 to 16, with 1 being the lowest quality filter and 16 being close to hospital-level filtration. The MPR rating system ranges from 100 (equivalent to MERV) to 2800 (equivalent to MERV 1).
Depending on your household needs, such as whether or not you have indoor smokers, you may need different HVAC air filters in order to achieve the same level of indoor air quality. The higher the MPR value, the better the filter medium is at capturing particles smaller than 1 micron in diameter. HVAC air filters with an FPR (Filter Performance Rating) of 4 are considered “good filters”, while those with an FPR of 10 are considered “premium filters”. The FPR classification was developed by The Home Depot and is used for brands of HVAC air filters sold in their stores.
MERV 8 filters can generally filter 90% of particles in the air, MERV 11 can remove about 95%, and MERV 13 can block approximately 98%. HVAC air filters with a MERV rating between 9 and 12 capture particles between 1.0 and 3.0 microns. It is important to remember that while MERV is an industry-wide standard, this does not guarantee consistent quality in all air filters. MPR 1500 HVAC air filters capture larger and smaller allergens, odors, and even viruses.
Two things that contractors should keep in mind when it comes to air filters are that if you want to increase filter efficiency, you must increase the physical size of the filter without adversely affecting the fan, and that the purpose of HVAC filters is to protect the HVAC system. Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning is the only Diamond-certified provider for Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
