What Does Fpr Mean For Air Filters

The Difference Between MERV, MPR, and FPR Air Filter Ratings

At that place are iii popular filter rating systems that are used to rate the filtration capacity of dwelling house and commercial air filters: MERV, MPR, and FPR.

These 3 acronyms tin make the air filter shopping experience much more difficult than it actually needs to exist.

If looking to purchase a adept replacement air filter and y'all're trying to make sense of how MERV, MPR, and FPR ratings compare, we have put together a simple guide below.

shop MERV 13 air filters at Filterbuy

Why Are Air Filters Rated?

The quality of an air filter is assessed by its rating, which tells you what capacity the filter has in blocking our particulates in the air. The college the rating (for MERV, FPR, and MPR), the smaller the air and dust particles your habitation air conditioning air filter can capture.

Without a standardized air filter rating method, homeowners and other HVAC enthusiasts are left in the dark on how well their air filter works against a wide range of airborne particles, including:

Dust
Pollen
Smoke
Pet dander
Hair
Odors
Bacteria
Airborne viruses

When it comes to assessing air filter filtration capacity, we employ a term "micron" which allows us to know how the smallest size of particle that an air filter tin can block.

Micron sizes can range anywhere from microscopic to visible to the homo eye. Here'southward a handy chart to requite you an idea of the range of micron sizes:

different micron sizes for air particulates - filterbuy

It's important to note that annihilation in the size range between .001 microns and x microns can reach deep into the lungs past being inhaled. Whatever particulates nether around 100 microns tin can actually be inhaled into the nose.

The MERV, MPR, and FPR rating systems each consist of a range of numbers that represent the filtration effectiveness based on the micron size that information technology tin can filter out. Below, we'll pause downwards where the rating systems come from and how to use them when shopping for your next filter.

MERV Air Filter Ratings

MERV stands for "Minimum Efficiency Rating Value."

Every air or furnace filter in the Usa carries a MERV rating, which is the only nationally regulated rating arrangement for air filters. Established by the ASHRAE (American Guild of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Workout Engineers), the MERV rating system specifies a filter'southward ability to capture air particles and pollutants.

MERV ratings run on a 1-20 scale that designates the effectiveness of filters to capture sure particle sizes. The higher the MERV rating, the more than particles it captures.

If the MERV rating is also loftier (above MERV xiii), however, it can increase organization backpressure and block air flow through your central air system, worsening the effectiveness of your HVAC system.

Why Nosotros Stock MERV 8, MERV 11, MERV 13 Air Filters

Filterbuy offers MERV eight, MERV 11, and MERV 13 air and furnace filters, which covers the normal range of needs for a home in providing clean air while too protecting HVAC equipment. MERV eight filters can more often than not filter out 90% of airborne particles, MERV 11 can remove around 95%, and MERV 13 can block approximately 98%.

To become more details on which MERV filter is right for your specific situation, click hither.

MPR Air Filter Ratings - Microparticle Performance Rating

MPR stands for "Microparticle Performance Rating."

Created by 3M, only filters designed by the 3M/Filtrete make carry an MPR rating, which rates the filter'south ability to trap air particles smaller than 1 micron. MPR ratings range from 300 MPR (Bones) to 2800 MPR (Premium).

Beneath is a nautical chart showing the MPR rating system:

MPR	100	300	600	one thousand	1000 D	1200+	1500	1550	1500 Smart	1900	1900 Smart	2200	2200 Smart	2800
Lint	X	X	10	X	X	X	X	Ten	X	10	X	Ten	X	Ten
Household Dust	X	X	X	X	10	X	X	X	X	X	X	Ten	Ten	X
Dust Mite Debris		X	X	X	Ten	X	X	X	X	Ten	X	X	10	10
Mold Spores			Ten	X	Ten	10	X	10	X	10	X	X	X	10
Pollen			X	Ten	X	Ten	X	X	X	10	X	X	X	Ten
Pet Dander				10	X	Ten	Ten	X	X	X	Ten	10	10	10
Smoke				X	X	X	X	X	Ten	X	10	X	X	10
Smog				10	X	X	10	10	10	X	X	10	Ten	X
Coughing and Sneeze Particles						X	Ten	Ten	10	X	Ten	10	X	X
Leaner							X	10	X	X	X	Ten	10	10
Virus							X	X	X	10	X	10	X	X
Candle Soot										10	10	X	X	10
PM two.v Air Pollution										X	X	10	Ten	X
Frazzle Particles												10	X	10
Ultrafine Particles														10

FPR Air Filter Ratings

FPR stands for "Filter Functioning Rating."

Created by The Home Depot for brands only sold in Dwelling house Depot stores, including popular Honeywell filters. This rating system was established to provide a unified ranking system but lacks specific figures for comparison and simplicity.

The FPR rating system features a number calibration from 4-10 and color lawmaking is used to charge per unit the filter'south quality and ability to trap certain particles.

Below is a breakdown showing the FPR rating system:

FPR Rating 4-5 (Good)

Filters our large particles in the home like dust, link, grit mites, larger pollen particles, and pet dander

FPR Rating vi-7 (Ameliorate)

Filters our large particles in the habitation similar dust, link, grit mites, larger pollen particles, and pet dander
Also filters out small particles like leaner and mold spores

FPR Rating viii-9 (Best)

Filters our large particles in the home similar dust, link, dust mites, larger pollen particles, and pet dander
Also filters out small particles similar bacteria and mold spores
These filters also remove smoke, smog, allergens, and some particles that can carry viruses

FPR Rating 10 (Premium)

Filters our large particles in the home like dust, link, dust mites, larger pollen particles, and pet dander
Also filters out small particles like leaner and mold spores
These filters as well remove smoke, smog, allergens, and some particles that can carry viruses
Premium filters also can filter out odor causing particles

Which Air Filter Rating System Should I Follow?

So which rating arrangement should you lot utilise in buying your next air filter?

Each air filter rating organization has its ain unique advantages, simply sometimes it'southward difficult to compare the ratings systems apples-to-apples. For an estimate comparison of the different MERV levels offered by Filterbuy with MPR and FPR, refer to the table below.

MERV Rating	MERV vi	MERV 6	MERV viii	MERV 8	MERV 11	MERV eleven	MERV eleven	MERV 13	MERV 13	MERV 13
FPR Rating	FPR 4 - 5	FPR four - 5	FPR 4 - 5	FPR six - 7	FPR half dozen - 7	FPR eight - ix	FPR 8 - 9	FPR 10	FPR 10	FPR ten
MPR Rating	MPR 100	MPR 300	MPR 600	MPR 1000	MPR 1200+	MPR 1500	MPR 1550	MPR 1900	MPR 2200	MPR 2800
Lint	X	X	10	10	X	Ten	Ten	X	X	X
Household Dust	X	X	10	X	10	X	Ten	10	X	X
Grit Mite Debris		10	X	X	Ten	10	Ten	10	Ten	10
Mold Spores			X	X	X	X	X	10	Ten	10
Pollen			Ten	Ten	Ten	X	10	Ten	X	X
Pet Dander				X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Smoke				X	X	X	Ten	X	10	X
Smog				X	X	X	Ten	X	X	X
Cough and Sneeze Particles					Ten	X	X	10	X	X
Bacteria						10	X	X	Ten	Ten
Virus						X	10	Ten	X	Ten
Candle Soot								X	X	X
PM 2.5 Air Pollution								X	Ten	X
Frazzle Particles									X	X
Ultrafine Particles										10

While it may be difficult to decide between systems to follow, MERV is considered the industry standard when it comes to air filter ratings and is generally the most used arrangement.

The more niche rating systems like MPR and FPR originated mostly from sure companies wanting to take their own carve up organization that would make them appear unique to customers.

With MERV-rated air filters, y'all become the condolement of knowing that your filter'southward ratings are widely understood and trusted.

Shop over 600 sizes of high-quality air filters on the Filterbuy website

FPR vs. MERV Air Filter Ratings

Deciding betwixt FPR and MERV rated air filters? Here'southward a expert way to compare FPR vs. MERV air filter ratings and capabilities.

FPR iv -five is the same as MERV Ratings half dozen – viii
FPR half dozen – 7 is the same equally MERV Ratings viii - 11
FPR 8 – 9 is the same as MERV Rating 11
FPR 10 is the same every bit MERV Ratings 13

MPR vs. MERV Air Filter Ratings

If you're looking at air filters rated for MPR compared to air filters rated by the MERV filter rating organisation, you can reference this chart below:

MPR 100 is equal to MERV Rating 6
MPR 300 is equal to MERV Rating 6
MPR 600 is equal to MERV Rating 8
MPR g is equal to MERV Rating viii
MPR 1200+ is equal to MERV Rating 11
MPR 1500 is equal to MERV Rating 11
MPR 1550 is equal to MERV Rating eleven
MPR 1900 is equal to MERV Rating 11
MPR 2200 is equal to MERV Rating 13
MPR 2800 is equal to MERV Rating 13

Accept more than questions about MERV, MPR, and FPR ratings? Our filter experts can assist you. Contact us today! Or you can search for your side by side replacement air filters by MERV rating below.

FPR, MPR, and MERV Air Filter Rating FAQs

What does MERV represent in air filter ratings?

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Rating Value, and it is an industry-broad rating organisation used to determine how effective an air filter is at removing particles in the air. The organization is based on the size of micron that is able to pass through the filter.

What does FPR stand for in air filter ratings?

FPR stands for Filter Performance Rating, and it is a proprietary rating system for branded air filters sold by Dwelling house Depot in an try to brand their air filters seem unique. While the FPR rating has no begetting on the overall efficacy of the air filter itself, the rating system isn't as thorough as the MERV rating system, so it's difficult to know exactly how efficacious an FPR-rated air filter is.

What does MPR correspond in air filter ratings?

MPR stands for Microparticle Performance Rating, and it is a proprietary air filter ratings organization created by 3M in order to make their air filters seem like they have a unique rating and filtration ability. The MPR rating organisation goes from 100 upward to 2200 and can cover a wide range of filtration capabilities. The rating organisation is generally comparable to the MERV rating system.

How does FPR compare to MERV ratings?

Here are the filtration comparisons between FPR and MERV:

FPR 4 -5 is the same as MERV Ratings half-dozen – 8
FPR 6 – vii is the same as MERV Ratings eight - 11
FPR 8 – 9 is the aforementioned as MERV Rating 11
FPR 10 is the same as MERV Ratings thirteen

How does MPR compare to MERV ratings?

Hither are the filtration comparisons between MPR and MERV-rated air filters:

MPR 100 is equal to MERV Rating 6
MPR 300 is equal to MERV Rating 6
MPR 600 is equal to MERV Rating eight
MPR 1000 is equal to MERV Rating viii
MPR 1200+ is equal to MERV Rating 11
MPR 1500 is equal to MERV Rating 11
MPR 1550 is equal to MERV Rating eleven
MPR 1900 is equal to MERV Rating eleven
MPR 2200 is equal to MERV Rating xiii
MPR 2800 is equal to MERV Rating 13

What is the best MERV rating filter for dwelling house Air-conditioning system?

We recommend utilizing a MERV 13 rated air filter for maximum filtration capabilities without taxing your central air system'due south air flow capabilities. At a sure indicate, the MERV rating can get too high and cause your central air organisation to piece of work much harder to push air through the filter.