At Build Equinox, we believe your home should be your ultimate sanctuary. To help you achieve this, we are excited to announce a significant upgrade to our indoor air quality lineup: the MERV 16 filter option for the CERV smart ventilation system. While our standard MERV 14 filters already provide exceptional air cleaning, the jump to MERV 16 takes your home’s defense to a professional level.
The Power of MERV 16: Professional-Grade Protection
Small particulates (PM2.5), smoke, bacteria, and allergens can often bypass the body’s natural defenses. By integrating MERV 16 filtration directly into your CERV, you are effectively "masking" your entire home with a medical-grade shield.
- N95-Level Capture: This filtration captures over 95% of particles in the 0.3 to 1.0 micron range—the same rigorous standard required for N95 masks.
- Hospital-Grade Performance: This high level of filtration effectively removes bacteria, viruses, and the fine soot (0.4 to 0.7 microns) common in wildfire smoke.
- Seamless Efficiency: The CERV is designed to handle this high-performance filtration without sacrificing energy efficiency or low power consumption.
Why MERV 16 Outperforms HEPA in Residential Settings
While HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are often considered the gold standard, they are frequently impractical for whole-home ventilation. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) highlights why MERV 16 is often the superior choice:
- Equivalent Real-World Efficiency: Field testing found no statistical difference between the air quality provided by MERV 16 and HEPA, with both reducing particulates and dust by over 90%.
- The "Scrubbing" Effect: A filter's ability to circulate air is as vital as its single-pass efficiency. High airflow allows the CERV to perform more air changes per hour, cleaning the air faster if pollutants manage to enter.
- Operational Benefits: MERV 16 filters are less expensive, have a longer service life because they do not clog as quickly, and place less strain on fans.
Ultimate Capture: The "N95 Home" Filter Stack
For ultimate protection, the CERV2 offers the unique ability to stack filtration to receive the best in filtration while capturing gaseous chemicals and odors using Pure Carbon or Colorfil filter options.
- Pure Carbon Filter Option: By stacking a MERV 8 Pure Carbon filter on top of the MERV 16, you add an activated charcoal layer that adsorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cooking smells, and chemical pollutants.
- Colorfil Filter Option: By stacking a MERV 7 Colorfil filter on top of the MERV 16, you add a Colorfil™ amine-removal coated filter, capable of removing compounds such as household chemicals, urine, pet, food, and other amine related odors from air. They do this with better efficiency than carbon filters, have 5x more capacity, and feature a color changing technology that tells you when the filter media is depleted.
Intelligent Pollutant Defense: CERV2
Combining superior filtration with the CERV2’s Particulate Defense option offers unsurpassed protection for areas impacted by smoke or pollution:
- Particulate Defense Sensors: These high-precision sensors monitor indoor and outdoor air quality in real-time. When unhealthy smoke is detected, the system automatically enters Automatic Outdoor Shield mode to block intake of outdoor air.
- MERV 16 Filters: These act as the primary physical barrier to trap 95% of harmful sub-micron particles and fine soot.
- Pure Carbon Filters: By stacking a MERV 8 Pure Carbon filter on top of the MERV 16, you add an activated charcoal layer that adsorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors from smoke.
Ready to Upgrade?
Current CERV and CERV2 owners can purchase replacement filters directly from the Build Equinox Online Store. Choose the filtration options that suit you best.
