Pressure-Resistant MERV 15 V-Bank Filter
Product Overview
Key Specifications
- Efficiency Class
- MERV 15
- Rated Airflow
- 4,250 m³/h（2,500 ft³/min）
- Initial Pressure Drop
- 144.8 Pa
- Dust Holding Capacity
- ASHRAE dust 318.2 g (to 450 Pa); ISO Fine dust 1,181.8 g (a separate sample)
Specifications
- Filter Media
- Glass fiber
- Frame
- ABS engineering plastic
- Separator
- V-Cell deep-pleat V design (4V-Bank)
- Test Standard
- ASHRAE 52.2
- Efficiency Class
- MERV 15
- Filtration Efficiency
- E1 (0.3–1.0 µm) 88.7%; E2 (1.0–3.0 µm) 99.3%; E3 (3.0–10 µm) 99.3%; average arrestance > 99%
- Rated Airflow
- 4,250 m³/h（2,500 ft³/min）
- Initial Pressure Drop
- 144.8 Pa
- Final Pressure Drop
- 450 Pa (set point)
- Dust Holding Capacity
- ASHRAE dust 318.2 g (to 450 Pa); ISO Fine dust 1,181.8 g (a separate sample)
- Standard Dimensions
- 592 × 592 × 292 mm
- Certification
- Burst test at 1,000 Pa with no damage
Detailed Description
Measured data at a glance
The table summarizes the measured results. The first eight rows are from one sample; the last two rows are from another sample of the same model.| Item | Measured value |
|---|---|
| Sample | 4V V-bank, ABS plastic frame, glass-fiber media, 592×592×292 mm |
| Test method | ASHRAE 52.2, KCl aerosol |
| Test airflow | 2500 CFM (4250 m³/h) |
| Temperature, humidity | 25±2°C, 45±5%RH |
| Initial pressure drop | 144.8 Pa |
| Final pressure drop (set point) | 450 Pa |
| Fractional efficiency (composite minimum) | E1 88.7%, E2 99.3%, E3 99.3% (MERV 15) |
| Dust holding capacity (ASHRAE dust, to 450 Pa) | 318.2 g |
| Dust holding capacity (ISO Fine dust, another sample) | 1181.8 g |
| Pressure resistance (another sample) | 1000 Pa, no damage |
More airflow, faster-rising pressure drop
At the rated airflow of 4250 m³/h (2500 CFM), the initial pressure drop is 144.8 Pa. Over the 592×592 mm face, this airflow means a face velocity of about 3.37 m/s.Airflow vs Pressure Drop
Measured values, 592×592×292 mm 4V sample, 50%–125% of rated airflow
Pressure drop does not rise in proportion to airflow: going from 100% to 125% of rated airflow raises initial pressure drop from 144.8 Pa to 205.5 Pa, about 42% more. Higher pressure drop means more fan energy, so keep the operating point within rated airflow.
How is MERV 15 determined?
MERV is the ASHRAE 52.2 rating, based on efficiency in three particle-size ranges: E1 (0.3–1.0 µm), E2 (1.0–3.0 µm) and E3 (3.0–10 µm). During the test, dust is fed in several steps and the efficiency at each particle size is measured again after every step; the rating uses the lowest efficiency over the whole process (the composite minimum efficiency), not the best number from a new filter.Fractional Efficiency Curve (MERV 15)
Measured values: loaded in steps by the ASHRAE 52.2 method; X axis is geometric mean particle size (log scale)
MERV uses the lowest efficiency at each particle size over the whole loading process (composite minimum efficiency), not the best number from a new filter. This filter's E1 of 88.7% falls within MERV 15's 85–94.9%; MERV 14 is 75–84.9%, and the E2 and E3 thresholds are the same for both.
The 318.2 g dust holding capacity is measured with ASHRAE dust
Dust holding capacity is how much dust a filter can take between its initial and final pressure drop. Fed with ASHRAE dust in steps, this filter went from 144.8 Pa to 450 Pa and held 318.2 g in total.Pressure Rise During Dust Loading
Measured values: ASHRAE dust fed in steps until pressure drop reaches the 450 Pa final value
Between 144.8 Pa and 450 Pa the filter held 318.2 g of ASHRAE dust. ASHRAE dust contains 23% carbon black and 5% cotton linters, which clog the media faster than plain ISO Fine dust, so this capacity cannot be compared directly with figures measured using other dusts.
1000 Pa pressure resistance, compared with common tender specs
Pressure resistance means the frame and media do not break or blow through when a large differential pressure acts across the filter. Another sample of the same model showed no damage at 1000 Pa, more than twice the 450 Pa final pressure drop set point; if the filter becomes badly clogged and the differential pressure rises abnormally, the filter will not rupture first and let unfiltered air straight through to downstream equipment.
Some tenders put efficiency, pressure drop, dust capacity and pressure resistance into one specification. The table compares common tender requirements with this filter's measured values:| Item | Common tender spec | This filter (measured) |
|---|---|---|
| Filter class | MERV 14 or higher | MERV 15 |
| E1 (0.3–1.0 µm) | ≥75% | 88.7% |
| E2 (1.0–3.0 µm) | ≥90% | 99.3% |
| E3 (3.0–10 µm) | ≥95% | 99.3% |
| Rated airflow | 4250 m³/h | 4250 m³/h |
| Initial pressure drop | ≤175 Pa | 144.8 Pa |
| Dust holding (capture) capacity | ≥1000 g | 1181.8 g (ISO Fine dust) |
| Pressure resistance (burst) | ≥1000 Pa | 1000 Pa, no damage |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our tender asks for MERV 14 or higher, initial resistance ≤175 Pa, capture ≥1000 g and burst ≥1000 Pa. Does this filter meet it?
Item by item, yes. Measured MERV 15 (E1 88.7%, E2 99.3%, E3 99.3%), above MERV 14; initial pressure drop 144.8 Pa at the rated 4250 m³/h, below 175 Pa; a sample of the same model held 1181.8 g of ISO Fine dust and showed no damage at 1000 Pa. Note which dust the capture figure refers to: measured with ASHRAE dust to 450 Pa it is 318.2 g, and the two figures are not interchangeable, so please check if the tender does not say.
What does "pressure-resistant to 1000 Pa" mean? Is it the same as explosion-proof?
No. Pressure-resistant to 1000 Pa means the frame and media did not break or blow through with 1000 Pa of differential pressure across the filter — more than twice the 450 Pa final pressure drop, so the filter will not rupture first if it clogs and the pressure rises abnormally. Explosion-proof generally means equipment will not become an ignition source in flammable gas or dust atmospheres, which is a different requirement; this filter's pressure rating does not mean it is explosion-proof.
What is the difference between MERV 14 and MERV 15?
The difference is in the 0.3–1.0 µm range (E1). ASHRAE 52.2 sets E1 at 75–84.9% for MERV 14 and 85–94.9% for MERV 15, while the E2 and E3 thresholds are the same for both. In other words, the minimum E1 rises from 75% to 85%, so the share of the finest particles that can get through drops from at most 25% to at most 15%. This filter measured E1 88.7%, so it is MERV 15.
Why is the ASHRAE dust capacity (318.2 g) so different from the ISO Fine capacity (1181.8 g)?
Mainly because the dust is different. ASHRAE 52.2 loading dust is 72% ISO A2 fine plus 23% carbon black and 5% cotton linters; the carbon black and linters clog the media faster, so the pressure drop reaches the final value sooner and less dust is held. ISO Fine is a plain test dust. The two figures also come from two different samples of the same model, so they cannot be used to estimate change-out intervals. To compare dust holding capacity, use the same dust and the same final pressure drop.
Selection References
Before ordering, verify the efficiency grade, media type, and whether the operating environment fits your requirements.
