Physics
The smallest particles behave differently.
Particle Size Spectrum
Everything below 0.3 microns is where the burden grows.
As particle size decreases, particles remain airborne longer and penetrate deeper. The sub-0.3 micron range is the focus of Submicronix.
HEPA
HEPA serves us well.
HEPA filtration is a proven, well-understood standard that remains highly effective and important across residential, commercial, and healthcare applications.
Filtration efficiency depends on particle behavior and filter design — not a simple cutoff at a single size. HEPA captures particles across a range of sizes through multiple mechanisms working together.
HEPA · The Next Standard
The invisible environment doesn't stop at 0.3 microns.
*HEPA filters capture at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in diameter.
*ULPA filters capture at least 99.999% of airborne particles down to 0.12 microns.
*Both HEPA and ULPA will capture a portion of ultrafine particulates due to Brownian Motion and Diffusion.
Beyond Conventional Filtration
Filtration alone is not the whole science.
Contamination control can involve measurement, source control, particle behavior, settling, surface removal, advanced filtration, and verification — a system, not a single filter.
The Science
The principles behind the approach.
Particle Size Spectrum
From 100 microns down to the sub-0.3 micron range, particle size governs how long a particle stays airborne and how far it travels.
The 0.3 Micron Reference
A long-standing benchmark in filtration — but not a hard boundary for what exists, or for what the body encounters.
HEPA & ULPA
Two tiers of high-efficiency filtration, each defined by the particle size at which performance is rated.
Aerosol Behavior
Diffusion, impaction, interception, and electrostatic forces together determine where a particle goes.
Particle Concentration
Submicron particles often vastly outnumber larger particles in the same volume of air.
Agglomeration & Settling
Particles can cluster and gain effective mass, changing how — and whether — they settle out of the air.
Measurement
Precision particle counting reveals what the eye cannot see and what conventional standards may not capture.
Removal
Beyond filtration alone: source control, conditioning, surface removal, and verification.