Air purifier?

[Janet90]

Any advice ?

I'm looking to purchase an air purifier for use in my room.
Comparing between novita NAP. 611-I and honeywell model 18200..

Any bro here can give me some advice?

Tia!

 

[plasticpistola]

"Problem" is that many agencies like WHO and EPA also state 24hr. This is also our ministar's stance.

However, EPA starts advisories for Sensitive Groups from 36ug/m3 and WHO recommends keeping it below 25ug/m3.

For us, we only start at 56ug/m3 (PSI 100) and the next level up is a big jump at 150ug/m3.

MOH recommends that a N95 needs to be used when a healthy pax is outdoors for several hours only if the PSI is > 300 for several hours. A N95 does not need to be used for short exposures like trips to the shopping mall or to and fro office commuting trips.

PSI 300 is probably 250ug/m3 thereabouts.
Calculate how fast the daily recommended limit of 25 or 35ug/m3 24hrs avg threshold will be reached.
Actually, part of the answer can already be found in the spreadsheet pic that i posted a few times. It doesnt take much to exceed the threshold even for just now's haze.

I would say that even the regular China citizen's standard is also more kiasee than MOH's standard.


Sauce :
FAQ: Use of masks and availability of masks | Ministry of Health

N95 masks are not needed for short exposure, like commuting from home to school or work, travel from bus-stop to shopping mall. N95 masks are also not needed in an indoor environment.


Contrast with the Malaysian education ministry's call to stop school when it goes above 200.

Pm2.5 is 159 as of 4.30am today

Actually, let's say if the number for pm2.5 is above 130, is it necessary to wear n95 masks to n fro from work/shopping:makan?

Yesterday with the # at 179, I can see see leisure cyclists on the road. Think like a bro said earlier, haze no smell is really quite dangerous.

 

[chuanz]

Can't see JB lights!

 

[plasticpistola]

Can't see JB lights!

Good morning bros!

 

[WussRedXLi]

Pm2.5 is 159 as of 4.30am today

Actually, let's say if the number for pm2.5 is above 130, is it necessary to wear n95 masks to n fro from work/shopping:makan?

Yesterday with the # at 179, I can see see leisure cyclists on the road. Think like a bro said earlier, haze no smell is really quite dangerous.

I think you mean an AQI of 159. Heh heh, coz initially when you mentiond 159,i thought it's PM2.5 concentration of 159ug/m3 which is like frigging high.

MOH only recommends N95s for healthy individuals when they need to be outdoors for a few hours.


1. Who should use a N95 mask? When?

N95 masks are not needed for short exposure, like commuting from home to school or work, travel from bus-stop to shopping mall. N95 masks are also not needed in an indoor environment.

A healthy person who has to be outdoors for several hours when the air quality is in the hazardous range (PSI >300) may reduce exposure by wearing a N95 mask.

People with chronic lung or heart disease, elderly, and pregnant women should avoid or minimize outdoor activity when the air quality is very unhealthy (PSI > 200). If they have to be outdoors for several hours , they may reduce exposure by wearing a N95 mask.

You should take a break from using a N95 mask if you feel uncomfortable. Elderly, pregnant women and people with severe lung or heart problems who have difficulty breathing at rest or on exertion should consult their doctor as to whether they should use the N95 mask.

Women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy may already have reduced lung volumes or breathing issues. They should stop using a N95 mask if they feel uncomfortable.

Source :
FAQ: Use of masks and availability of masks | Ministry of Health

 

[WussRedXLi]

But the above has a few loopholes.

- Remember that they are publishing 3-hr PSI numbers? Should the values rise, it takes like at least 6hrs to show that increase or spike that would raise the PSI. (eg PSI 450 and only rises rapidly from the past hour's200 to maybe 290, or low 300?).

- Also, I feel that the PSI 300 threshold is quite low, albeit they probably got this as a reference from other countries. N95s without valves may be uncomfortable, but I think still better than risking triggering a bout of headache or allergies like rhinitis/asthma/wheezing. Then you gotta take quite a bit of meds and it takes a while to take effect.

- The "spikey" nature of 2014 haze episode. The only thing "lucky" is that the levels are not very high.


Ultimately, you know your body and your sensitivities and allergies if you are in the Sensitive Group.
I don't want to give wrong info, but since we have the info of 1-hr PM2.5 concentration ug/m3, 1-hr AQI value and also 1hr PSI value now, and subsequently you do know what you are going to do in the next hour, you react accordingly.

Some folks' commute need to be over an hour, 2 ways could be > 2 hours. And how about lunch time, maybe 20 mins + 20 mins = 40 mins? Or another 40 mins at the hawker centre like Amoy/Chinatown/Maxwell?
And remember, the MRT train and tunnel do ventilate a heck lot with outdoor air during peak periods and also closing and opening of doors for the elevated stations (braking and the motors/electrical equipment do generate heat). You surely have walked past those air handling ventilation columns @ MRTs before with the air blasts.
Some of my colleagues walk close to 1km to the MRT, and that's only 1 way. The feeder svc sucks.

Personally, I would already start to wear a mask above 1-hr 100ug/m3, or AQI 174.

PS. Anybody reading this....Pls remember to press F5 to refresh aqicn.org, or you can use Chaunz's link that's located it my signature.

 

[plasticpistola]

I think you mean an AQI of 159. Heh heh, coz initially when you mentiond 159,i thought it's PM2.5 concentration of 159ug/m3 which is like frigging high.

MOH only recommends N95s for healthy individuals when they need to be outdoors for a few hours.


1. Who should use a N95 mask? When?

N95 masks are not needed for short exposure, like commuting from home to school or work, travel from bus-stop to shopping mall. N95 masks are also not needed in an indoor environment.

A healthy person who has to be outdoors for several hours when the air quality is in the hazardous range (PSI >300) may reduce exposure by wearing a N95 mask.

People with chronic lung or heart disease, elderly, and pregnant women should avoid or minimize outdoor activity when the air quality is very unhealthy (PSI > 200). If they have to be outdoors for several hours , they may reduce exposure by wearing a N95 mask.

You should take a break from using a N95 mask if you feel uncomfortable. Elderly, pregnant women and people with severe lung or heart problems who have difficulty breathing at rest or on exertion should consult their doctor as to whether they should use the N95 mask.

Women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy may already have reduced lung volumes or breathing issues. They should stop using a N95 mask if they feel uncomfortable.

Source :
FAQ: Use of masks and availability of masks | Ministry of Health

Morning, bro!

Paiseh I thought they put the words PM2.5 next to the big big # means that's the # of the PM2.5

Right now the # says 151 - so that's the AQI?

Simi is AQI

 

[chuanz]

Morning, bro!

Paiseh I thought they put the words PM2.5 next to the big big # means that's the # of the PM2.5

Right now the # says 151 - so that's the AQI?

Simi is AQI

Concentration in ug/m3 = raw/averaged readings
AQI = index calculated based on concentration per US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
PSI = index calculated based on concentration per Singapore NEA

 

[chuanz]

Why use index and not raw data?

Actually for air pollution, there are six types of pollution tracked, each with different concentration for each corresponding level (Good, Moderate, etc). To simplify things, each pollutant's concentration is converted into an index, and the highest index number is reported as the "air quality". This makes it easy for layman to track how good/bad the air is.

 

[WussRedXLi]

Morning, bro!

Paiseh I thought they put the words PM2.5 next to the big big # means that's the # of the PM2.5

Right now the # says 151 - so that's the AQI?

Simi is AQI

Hey morning!

Yes, that number is AQI, 151. AQI is an index that is used by countries in USA and China. eg China got haze/smog right now, affected the marathons over the weekend etc. That number they are using is AQI, you use that if you want to make a comparison.

- All Singaporean measurements are PM2.5 factored already. As in, if PM2.5 is predominantly the main pollutant, that will show. Now, the fires in S Sumatra are 700km away, hence the PM10 already drops off from 20-30km distance and above. Last year in 2013, we are pretty close to the Riau fires, some 100 plus to 200 plus km away only, hence PM10 values were even higher.

- PM2.5 is way more dangerous than PM10.

- Indonesian haze, Jambi region (just South of Sumatra), the Particulate Matter size distribution was measured to range from 0.15 microns to 0.4 microns dominant. That's for PM2.5, ie there isn't much between 0.4 to 2.5 microns. OF coz they'd have a lot of PM10 also, ie > 10 microns.




7AM East 1-hr reading is 73 ug/m3, AQI 160 PSI 119. Followed closely by North @ 67 ug/m3
Other regions at the edge of Unhealthy level.

 

[WussRedXLi]

I'm looking to purchase an air purifier for use in my room.
Comparing between novita NAP. 611-I and honeywell model 18200..

Any bro here can give me some advice?

Tia!

The Novita 611 has an awfully small HEPA filter element for that 600m3/hr airflow spec. And I think in real life from what I have seen and felt in the store, it's no where close to 600m3/hr. This would impact the smoke CADR values (it does not spec Smoke CADR though).

The HW is a bit noisy but performance is good. But that's up to you.

By the way, the haze season is ending very soon due to the winds. It's already Intermonsoon seas with variable direction winds now for SG. 2 bouts of rains already hit Palembang (2 months of drought there, literally zero rain). More coming next week.

So take your time to research. The current hazy situation isn't expected to last.

One favourite device here is the Samsung AX40 as it offers very good price performance ratio on qoo10. The only issue is that it does not exactly have a Medium speed, the good thing is that High speed is only 34W and pretty slient which is silent enough for most light sleepers.
Do a google search on hardwarezone and my nick, I posted quite a lot. If you have bigger budget, the Sharps are great too.

 

[NWT1978]

I'm looking to purchase an air purifier for use in my room.
Comparing between novita NAP. 611-I and honeywell model 18200..

Any bro here can give me some advice?

Tia!

Go and buy Sharp ones... it good and lasting... using sharp to clear areas size 21m2 since last yr... only use it when haze came rest of the time I put back in orginal package and seal it

didnt buy enough for the whole house

 

[WussRedXLi]

Go and buy Sharp ones... it good and lasting... using sharp to clear areas size 21m2 since last yr... only use it when haze came rest of the time I put back in orginal package and seal it

didnt buy enough for the whole house

The Sharps.."just use".
My KC-840 lasted for 7 plus years liao, coming to 8.
Daily operation for at least 10hrs a day. Sometimes gunned 12-16 hours.

Samsung AX40 already tested for close to 72hrs non-stop for a few times liao. Actually during long weekend (Hari Raya) it's close to 80hrs.
It's a 220V 60Hz device.

 

[WussRedXLi]

9AM (0800-0900)

1-hr averaged reading.

East
AQI 166, PSI 130. 84 ug/m3


Other regions, 67-73 ug/m3. AQI 157-160

 

[WussRedXLi]

Conditions improved, but still borderline Unhealthy for healthy pax.

Sensitive Group folks or those who think that you are sensitive, do note.

 

[jinhenglo]

Go and buy Sharp ones... it good and lasting... using sharp to clear areas size 21m2 since last yr... only use it when haze came rest of the time I put back in orginal package and seal it

didnt buy enough for the whole house

I have 1 Sharp FU-425 that have last me for about 10yrs lao. Hardware still solid, just DIY the filter. Forgot the area size but only uses 25W

 

[WussRedXLi]

I have 1 Sharp FU-425 that have last me for about 10yrs lao. Hardware still solid, just DIY the filter. Forgot the area size but only uses 25W

Jin satki...nowadays many electrical and electronic stuff not like that already.

 

[jinhenglo]

Jin satki...nowadays many electrical and electronic stuff not like that already.

Ya old model good on W but lose out on air flow. Just found the spec for this FU425, it stated 25W for 150m3/h and 3.5W for 30m3/h only.

Think still ok if on MAX level. Only thing is that old model use a remote control for plasmacluster. If that die than cannot control ON/OFF for plasmacluster.

I dunno about other brand of air purifier but Sharp is really a work horse like some EDMWer said...... but now I am looking at the AX40 (recommended by WussRedXLi )

 

[chompchomp]

My air purifier died cause inside the part they never place proper. My son drop a mouse on top them one of the part came lose... And killed the whole fan turning thing..

 

[WussRedXLi]

My air purifier died cause inside the part they never place proper. My son drop a mouse on top them one of the part came lose... And killed the whole fan turning thing..

The Sharp A28?

Your son dropped a computer mouse onto the top grille and something dropped into the rotating centrifugal fan and destroyed part/whole of the fan?