With the misery of hay fever in full swing, John Grenville from ECEX looks at whether buildings’ filtration systems equipped to deal with the season’s ‘pollen bomb’.
Changes in the weather are behind this ‘pollen bomb’ caused by the simultaneous release from millions of birch, plane and oak trees. These wind-pollinated species make vast amounts of pollen — one birch or hazel catkin makes five million grains and a tree has thousands of catkins. We are surrounded by invisible clouds of pollen.
With around 40% of the UK population suffering from hay fever, any means of protection is to be welcomed, not to mention the effect this airborne debris can have on HVAC efficiency.
One method for reducing the negative impact of high pollen counts is the ECEX Air Intake Screen. Comprising a long-lasting mesh filter with low impact on airflow and static pressure, this weather-resistant pre-filter is designed specifically for high velocity airflow applications such as chillers, dry air coolers, air handling units, cooling towers and air conditioning units.
As well as allowing pollen to enter a building, fouling caused by airborne debris restricts the movement of air, which means that plant has to work harder to achieve design airflow, costing more money to run and increasing the risk of breakdown and downtime.
ECEX Air Intake Screens prevent airborne debris such as pollen, leaves, insects and litter from clogging internal coil fins, perishable filters and other components.
