Airliner cabin filtration.

[Teddy Lop]

What's it like? What grade of filtration is used when its recirculated? Would an airborne virus pass straight through? Are more modern designs better, if you had to travel today is there a jet worth aiming for?

I've always assumed its pretty low grade, particularly given peanut bans if there's a allergy on board.

[Evanivitch]

The answer is, it depends...

B787 Flightglobal said:

“So with the suppliers we’ve developed a gaseous air purification system to scrub out VOCs. It’s not new, but we’ve got a system that is around 99% efficient and integrated with a HEPA [high efficiency particulate air] filter; the cabin will have some of the cleanest air in the world,” says Sinnett. The new system, provided by Minnesota-based Donaldson, will filter out gaseous irritants and odours as well as allergens, bacteria and viruses.

Edited by Evanivitch on Sunday 8th March 15:06

[mickyh7]

Thats ok then.
You would only be 1% Dead !

[anonymous-user]

Teddy Lop said:

What's it like? What grade of filtration is used when its recirculated? Would an airborne virus pass straight through? Are more modern designs better, if you had to travel today is there a jet worth aiming for?

I've always assumed its pretty low grade, particularly given peanut bans if there's a allergy on board.

It depends massively on the aircraft. Older aircraft I’ve flown like the B757 had pretty poor filters but newer ones are better. Also the amounts of air that is recirculated vs the amount of outside air that it mixes with differs from aircraft to aircraft. Newer aircraft have less recirculated air.

I expect it’s impossible to tell also you might catch the virus directly through someone sneezing or breathing or touching a surface with it on also.

I know in the past with SARS if someone was seen to have had it on the aircraft it was only the passengers in the nearby seats who were contacted, not the whole aircraft.

[Simpo Two]

mickyh7 said:

Thats ok then.
You would only be 1% Dead !

It's a simple matter of particle size. If the virus is smaller than the holes in the filter, it won't be stopped.

If the holes are so small they can filter out specific gaseous molecules then they will stop viruses, because viruses are a heck sight bigger.

But when people begin answers with 'So' I do question their literacy.

[mickyh7]

These filters can only be of help if we breathe the air AFTER its been filtered!
If, as said, the holes are small enough to catch the Virus.
As already said, we are sitting amonst the Coughs and Sneezes before filtration takes place.
Poor Odds in my book !

[Ayahuasca]

Just had an email from my local airline that says

All their planes have HEPA air filters, whatever they are
They remove up to 99.7% of impurities
All the cabin air is renewed every three minutes

This is Boeing 737 NG.

[Hifly130]

When the air conditioning is on the air quality in your modern airliner A320/B737 is a lot better than your standard office block / bus/ underground or shop. Inflight air in cabin is usually fully replaced every 5 minutes.

I believe the filters used are same standard as in an operating theatre.

[phil squares]

HEPA filters are graded according to their ability to remove various sizes of particles. Boeing and Airbus use the highest filter rating (MERV rating 17). That will remove 99.99% of particles in the .3-1.0 micron range. They are the highest rated filters. Any rating of 14 or above will remove particles in that micron range with varying results.

[dvs_dave]

As mentioned modern aircraft have pretty high grade air filtration systems. However to maximise the benefit of that, make sure that when you’re in your seat, you have the air from the nozzle blowing at your face. Not only are you then breathing the cleanest air possible, any other contaminants that are lingering around will be blown away from you also.