HEPA 14 filter for air purifier and vacuum cleaners | Kärcher

HEPA 14 Filter: Cleaner Air, Better Business

Almost invisible, but always there: viruses, bacteria, fine dust and allergens circulate in indoor air in offices, hotels, hospitals, doctors' practices, schools, as well as in our houses and apartments, of course. Respiratory ailments are often the long-term consequence. But it is the current situation with the pandemic, rather than this knowledge, that is suddenly forcing us to engage intensively with this topic.

Hepa Filter

What is a HEPA filter?

"High Efficiency Particulate Air filter" – or HEPA for short – refers to highly efficient filters which remove and trap even the smallest particles and suspended matter from the air, such as germs, bacteria, viruses, spores, pollen and mites. They are classified in accordance with the EN 1822:2019 standard for particle filters and are built into Kärcher dry vacuum cleaners and air filters. Thanks to their fine filter structure, they significantly improve air quality in offices and living spaces.

What HEPA filter classes are there?

HEPA filters are divided into two filter classes with different fine separation degrees:

  • HEPA 13 filters absorb over 99.95% of suspended matter from indoor air
  • HEPA 14 filters in fact absorb over 99.995% of particles
HEPA filter Detail view

The functional principle of a HEPA 14 filter

Clean air thanks to the forces of physics: how a HEPA 14 filter works

HEPA 14 filters use basic principles of physics, such as adhesive force and Brownian motion, to filter out even the smallest particles reliably from the air flow. To this end, its close-meshed net of fibres is designed to have an irregular structure, in contrast to a sieve. The resulting differently sized gaps between the fibres do not "sieve out" the particles, but rather allow them to adhere directly to the fibres as the air flows past.

HEPA filter Detail view

The action modes of a HEPA 14 filter

From the largest to the smallest particles: how a HEPA 14 filter works

Inertia effect:
The larger a particle, the greater its mass and therefore its inertia. According to fluid dynamics, when the air flow changes direction due to an obstacle (fibre), the inertia of the heavy particle ensures that the particle maintains its trajectory, hits the fibre and sticks to it.

Blocking effect:
The smaller a particle, the lower its mass and therefore its inertia. A small particle therefore follows the air flow as it moves around the obstacle (fibre). If it moves too close to the fibre, it is attracted by the fibre's adhesive forces and sticks to it.

Diffusion effect:
In accordance with Brownian motion, the smallest particles in the air flow constantly collide with other gas molecules and constantly change direction, much like the ball in a pinball machine. They stick to the filter material as soon as they touch it.

Hepa Filter

HEPA 14 filter: the hygiene solution for clean indoor air

We come into contact with viruses, bacteria, fine dust and allergens every day, which circulate in indoor air in offices, hotels, hospitals, doctors' practices, schools, as well as in our houses and apartments, of course. Respiratory ailments are often the long-term consequence.

The Kärcher HEPA 14 filter provides lasting assistance to filter aerosols from the air in enclosed spaces and remove harmful particles. Built into Kärcher air filtration devices and dry vacuum cleaners, they clean indoor air efficiently and reliably.