Re: Air Scrubbers versus Air Cleaners

[Guest guest]

Barb,

They are basically the same. " Air Scrubber " is not a high tech

device or in any other way special. It is simply a big HEPA filter

machine. Usually larger, noisier and uglier than consumer HEPA

filters. The focus is on filtering high volumes of dirty air for worker

protection rather than for appearance, quietness or compatibility

with décor.

The remediation industry refers to them generically as Air

Filtration Devices (AFDs). They are large HEPA filters that can be

used for different purposes. The terms " Air Scrubber " and

" Negative Air Machine " (NAM) are used to indicate how the AFD

is being used.

Air Scrubber refers to a large HEPA filter inside a work area to

continuously reduce airborne particles (including mold spores and

fragments) in the air. It is one of several " engineering controls. "

OSHA requires engineering control of exposure in a work area for

worker protection first, and then PPE (Personal Protection

Equipment), such as respirators, if needed.

The same AFD can also be used as a NAM (Negative Air

Machines). This engineering control is to control air flow from the

clean area, through the work area, and then HEPA filtered as it is

exhausted to the outside. It creates lower (negative) pressure in

the work area to prevent dust and mold from flowing back into the

clean areas of the building. Thus, the term " negative air

machine. "

The number and size of Air Scrubbers, in combination with

NAMs, are used to reduce the " dust " in the work area air. You

can achieve exactly the same performance in your house with

any HEPA filter or combination of several.

The key is to pay attention to the exchange rate for a particular

sized room. There is usually a chart on the box that will indicate

something like " 6 air exchanges per hour for 250 sq ft room. " If

you want 12 air exchanges per hour, buy a larger one, for

example, sized for a 500 sq ft room. 6 at 500 sq ft is equivalent to

12 at 250 sq ft.

Think about the HEPAs you have or are familiar with and then

look at the ones at http://www.jondon.com/air-scrubbers.htm I

guarantee you won't want these in your home. As I said at the

start, they are bigger, noisier and uglier than residential HEPAs.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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> Does anyone know the difference between these two items? Person to do

> work here is going to rent an air scrubber to run while working. I

> wonder if people like us with so many air problems would be helped by

> air scrubber rather than room air cleaners, or are they the same

> basically? Anyone know???

>

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> FAIR USE NOTICE:

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[Guest guest]

Carl, I would definately not like an air scrubber in my living room I

see!!! Thanks for clarification!

--- In , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...>

wrote:

>

>Think about the HEPAs you have or are familiar with and then

> look at the ones at http://www.jondon.com/air-scrubbers.htm I

> guarantee you won't want these in your home. As I said at the

> start, they are bigger, noisier and uglier than residential HEPAs.

>