EN 1822 Filter Classification for EPA, HEPA & ULPA filters

Post date: December 26th, 2011

EN 1822 filter classification

The European Norm EN 1822 filter classification for EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters is the standard used within the European Union. It has more detailed specifications than those set by the United States Department Of Energy.

The different classifications for EN 1822 are displayed in the table below:

European Norm 1822 specifications for HEPA filters

EN 1822 Filter Classification: Testing Process

The USA standard for HEPA is always that 99.97% of all particles down to the size of 0.3 microns are captured. In the European system the first part of testing the filter is to determine the size of particle which most easily penetrates the filter. This is referred to as the most penetrating particle.

In the second part of the European test, only the most penetrating particles are used and the percentage which are captured is determined.

For HEPA filters, in the EN 1822 filter classification, the first level is labelled H13 which means that 99.95% of the most penetrating particles are captured. In the USA test all the particles are counted to get the 99.97% which is obviously not as high a standard.

The second level is labelled H14 which means that 99.995% of the most penetrating particles are captured. With the European system, the test should specify the percentage and also the size of penetrating particle.

HEPA filters are generally the type of filter used in home air purifiers. HEPA stands for “High-Efficiency Particulate Air”. There are also the less efficient EPA (Efficiency Particulate Air) and the more efficient ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air).

You should be aware that HEPA-type or HEPA-like doesn’t really mean anything because there is no specification for it. You can be sure that it is less efficient than a genuine HEPA filter. Quite often they filter 95% of all particles down to a size of 2 microns.

Whether the filter has been tested according to EN 1822 filter classification or to the US Department Of Energy, you should read carefully what exactly the filtering efficiency is. The filter may have a higher efficiency than the standard.