Some HVAC companies are offering range ventilation systems that omit HEPA filters by using 100% outside air.  They claim that they can exhaust 100% of air and they suggest that HEPA filters are not needed. Instead, their system relies entirely on pre-filters.  The system description may mention a “high-efficiency filter” that is somehow not a HEPA filter, and a “final filter exchange.”  But these terms are not explained on their website or in their literature.

A range owner skips the HEPA filter at their peril!  This type of system can exhaust contaminated air into the environment.  You may save money in the short run, but you’ll transform your neighborhood into a brownfield and risk ruinous fines from the U.S. EPA. 

There’s no such thing as a cheap substitute for a HEPA filter.  Pre-filters alone won’t do the job.  The experts are unequivocal on the subject:

• From the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF): “All air being exhausted from the range should be passed through a High Efficiency Particulate Filter (HEPA) or equivalent to insure that state or federal regulations for airborne lead are not violated.”

• From the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA): “Exhaust or re-circulated air must be filtered at the point of removal with a minimum of 99.97% High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, per the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) recommended practice for HEPA/ULPA filters.”

 

HEPA filters used in Carey’s RV systems meet rigorous standards for quality.  We use only products manufactured by leading specialists in air filtration that are designed specifically for shooting ranges.  Our manufacturers test each individual filter and certify that it meets IEST HEPA filtration standards for removal of 99.97% particulate matter. 

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More on Range Filtration
For more answers Range Filtration see...
 
Answer Book #1, The HEPA Filter Book 
Answer Book #2, The Range Maintenance Book 
 

Carey’s is happy to provide free advice on Range Filtration and all other important
aspects of range ventilation for your existing or planned shooting range.  Talk to us!