Choosing an Air Filter 101

A Simple Guide to Picking the Right Filter for Your Industry and Goals

When it comes to industrial or commercial spaces, air filtration isn’t just a nice-to-have option - it’s essential. Whether you're running a car body shop, a commercial kitchen, or a cleanroom, the right filter will protect your equipment, improve your air quality, and even impact the final product. But how do you choose the right one?

We offer a wide range of high-performance filters for different industries and applications. This guide walks you through a straightforward method to choose the right filter, based on what your business does and what results you want to achieve.

 

Car Autobody Shops & Spray Booths

If you’re working in a vehicle body shop or spray booth, your top priorities are clean airflow, effective overspray capture, and fume control. To get a flawless paint finish, the air coming into your booth needs to be dust-free, while the outgoing air needs to be filtered for paint and chemicals.

• Start with Procart filters or Profibre Paintstop filters to trap paint overspray in your extraction system.
• For incoming air, our Pleated Panel filters are ideal - catching fine dust before it can settle on freshly painted surfaces.
• Ceiling filters help distribute clean air evenly across the booth, and for controlling odours and harmful VOCs, our Carbon filters are a great addition. 
• If your booth requires ultra-clean finishing, HEPA filters supply a top-tier air quality upgrade, whatever positioning.

 

Manufacturing & Industrial Spaces

In general manufacturing environments, the main goals are to protect machinery, reduce airborne dust, and maintain safe air for employees. 

• Start with our Pleated Panel filters to capture common dust and debris.
• For larger operations with higher air volume, Bag filters offer extended surface area and dust-holding capacity.
• If you would like a higher level of filtration - such as for electronics manufacturing or precision engineering - add HEPA filters to your system. These remove ultra-fine particles and keep your air clean and consistent. The result? Lower maintenance costs, safer environments, and better product quality.

 

Cleanrooms, Labs & Medical Facilities

In medical and laboratory settings, precision is everything. The air must be extremely clean to avoid contamination. 

Here, HEPA filters are non-negotiable - removing 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

To keep your filtration system working efficiently, it’s important to use pre-filters (like Pleated Panels or Bag filters) at the air inlet. These catch larger particles and help your HEPA filters last longer. This setup ensures a sterile, controlled environment for your most sensitive operations.

 

Commercial Kitchens & Food Prep Areas

In food-focused environments - grease, odours, and hygiene are key concerns.

• Grease filters - such as Baffle or Mesh filters - are your first line of defence, stopping grease before it enters ductwork.
• To keep the air smelling clean, use Carbon filters to absorb odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• For general air cleanliness, Panel filters can be used in HVAC systems to reduce airborne dust and particles. Together, this combination keeps your kitchen safer, cleaner, and more pleasant for both staff and customers.

 

A Simple 3-Step Method to Choose Your Filter

• Define your goal.

Ask yourself: What are you trying to remove from the air - dust, paint particles, fumes, grease, or something else?

• Identify the installation point.

Are you filtering incoming air (intake), outgoing air (extraction), or recirculating air? Your filter type depends on where it goes in the system.

• Match the filter to your outcome.

Whether you’re aiming for a flawless paint job, a compliant kitchen, or a sterile lab, the right filter setup will help you get there.

 

Still Not Sure? We Can Help.

If you’re unsure which filter to go with, don’t worry - that’s what we’re here for. Get in touch with our team and let us know your setup, space, and goals. We’ll help you find a tailored solution that fits your business, your budget, and your airflow system.