Do electronic air cleaners have MERV ratings?
Electronic air cleaners cannot be given a MERV rating.
The reason is this. The MERV test standard (ASHRAE standard 52.2) requires the use of a specific “loading” dust to simulate the effect of time, where the filter gradually captures more dust. This “loading” dust contains a significant percentage of carbon. The carbon in the dust causes shorting in the electronic component of any electronic air cleaner, reducing the removal efficiency below the level it actually performs at (carbon dust is not normally present in homes).
Because of this, the only test that can be performed is the initial efficiency test, which is not enough to get a true MERV rating per the ASHRAE standard. If we tested the Aprilaire Model 5000 by replacing the carbon based dust with a non carbon dust that is the same particle size the Model 5000’s performance will be equal to a MERV 16, but this is the official test.
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