Kimberly-Clark Filtration has introduced a new filtration media that delivers MERV 13 performance for LEED Certified buildings.  The media was developed in response to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) standards for ASHRAE 52.2, MERV 13 filtration performance in LEED new construction and major renovation projects.
           
The new media, Intrepid 513H, can be used in two- and four-inch pleated filters that are suited for virtually any commercial HVAC system.  Before this new media was introduced, most two- and four-inch pleated filters were limited to MERV 8 or MERV 11 performance, which provides less efficient capture of airborne particles than MERV 13 filters.  Moreover, MERV 13 could only be achieved by pocket or rigid pleat-type filters, which were designated to run at high airflow pressures, beyond the capability of many existing air handling systems.
           
“With the rapid expansion of the green building movement, we are seeing many new facilities being built to LEED standards and many existing buildings, including our own offices, being upgraded to meet LEED criteria,” explained Ron Cox, market manager, Kimberly-Clark Filtration.  “Our customers have asked for a media to meet this need in a pleated filter form.  With the introduction of Intrepid 513H, we have the solution commercially available.  Now, it is easier than ever to specify MERV 13 filters, giving facility managers the latest technology to operate their facility and deliver superior indoor air quality in the most environmentally conscious way.”
           
Kimberly-Clark’s Intrepid Filtration Media product line features low resistance to airflow, which means that HVAC system fans do not need to work as hard to deliver the required airflow to operate the system.  This helps to reduce energy expenditures and cut greenhouse gas emissions, two key tenets of the LEED program.  Careful selection of the right HVAC air filter can actually reduce costs in the long run, demonstrating that green buildings can be more cost-effective.