Frequently Asked Questions About Neg- Air Machines;

Why is negative pressure important to mold abatement, disaster restoration and renovation projects?

A negative pressure environment will help to contain the mold, dust, particles and odors within the workspace containment barrier. Air always flows from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. Creating and maintaining negative pressure creates inward airflow direction through any leaks or openings in the containment barrier. This prevents airborne contaminants from escaping into and contaminating other parts of the building.

How do I create a negative pressure environment using HEPA Filtered Portable Air Scrubbers?

In order to create a negative pressure environment, more air must leave the space than enters it. First of all, the project area must be walled off with permanent or temporary construction barriers. Secondly, the Abatement Portable Air Scrubber(s) must be placed inside the construction area. Ductwork should be run from the system to somewhere outside of the project area, preferably to the outside of the building. Since the air is HEPA filtered, it is not mandatory to exhaust air to the outdoors.

What is a HEPA filter?

A filter is a device that traps and blocks small particles from going back into the air. A HEPA filter traps and blocks very small particles from getting back into the air. A certified HEPA filter is required and tested to trap particles as small as .3 microns with 99.97 % efficiency. One micron is 1/1,000,000 of a meter. A 0.3-micron particle is 300 times smaller than a human hair and 30 to 50 times smaller than the human eye can see.

Where is a HEPA filter used?

In medical research centers, Atomic research centers, nuclear power plants, hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, HAZMAT service contractor (lead paint, asbestos, Anthrax, mold clean up).

Which particulates can HEPA filtered Portable Air Scrubbers capture?

HEPA filtered Portable Air Scrubbers are designed to capture a wide range of particles, including a HEPA filter tested and certified to remove 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns and larger, to provide "operating room clean" filtered air.

Why is HEPA filtration required during mold abatement, disaster restoration and renovation projects?

HEPA filters are the only type of filter recognized by USEPA, CDC and other government agencies, and by environmental health professionals as effective for capturing these invisible particles and microbial spores that can potentially cause fungal infections.

How often do Abatement HEPA filters need to be changed?

Typical average filter life with continuous operation:
Primary filter: 1 day
Secondary filters: 3-7 days
HEPA filter: 800 hours
However, actual life can vary based on the size and concentration of airborne contaminants, temperature, humidity conditions and duration of use.

Will Air Scrubbers remove odors?

Yes, when equipped with special 2-inch deep Vapor-Lock carbon filters. These high-performance filters provide substantially more odor adsorption (not absorption) capacity than most other carbon filters, and are effective against a wide array of commonly encountered odors.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

How to Determine How Many Negative Air Machines for a Certain Size Room or Building.

"CFM" 
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) a measurement of air flow.

1.  Figure out the total square footage of the home, times the height of the ceiling to get the total cubic footage of the home or building. ( L * W * H )
     Example: A 2,500 sq. ft home with a 10 foot      ceiling 
     will have a total cubic foot measurement of 
     25,000 cubic feet.

2. Take the total cubic foot measurement of the home and divide it by the c.f.m. ability of the Neg-Air machine.
     Example: 25,000 cubic home divided by a
     2,000 c.f.m.  Neg-Air = 12.5.   It will take 1 (one) 
     2,000 c.f.m.  Neg-Air machine 12.5 minutes to 
     change the air in the area 1 time.

* It is the Industry Standard to change the air in a   room 6 times per hour !

3. Divide 60 minutes (1 hour) by the 12.5 minutes it      takes to change the air in a room 1 time.
     Example: 60/12.5 = 4.8. This is the number 
     of times this 2000 c.f.m. Neg-Air machine will 
     change the air in this size building in one hour.
   
     In this case more c.f.m. will be needed to meet      the standard of 6 times per hour.