TYPICAL PARTICLE SIZES
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
1000
Diameter in μm
Higher Risk Respirable Particles
Visible to human Eye
The Swiss IAQ Specialists
human hair ~50 μm
Spores
Mold
Pollen
Carbon Black
Viruses
Human Skin Cells
Bacteria
Droplet Nuclei
Coal Dust
Cement Dust
Asbestos
Paint Pigments
Tobacco Smoke
Auto Emissions
Oil Smoke
Fly Ash
Rating range for
conventional filters.
Stays suspended from 6
minutes to 18 days
MERV-10
MERV-11
MERV-12
MERV-13
≥ 85
50 - 65
≥ 85
65 - 80
≥ 90
≥ 80
≥ 90
≥ 90
≥ 75