7 August 2024
Mold, pollen, and particulate matter in car cabin air
Every third vehicle interior is contaminated with bacteria, mold, particulate matter, pollen, and harmful gases. In Germany, a new VDI and ZDK guideline defines requirements for providing healthy air in cars in the long run.
Ludwigsburg, Germany, August 07 2024 – An air conditioning system is indispensable for many people when they are driving in hot weather. To ensure that clean air flows into the vehicle interior, both the evaporator and the cabin air filter must be serviced or replaced regularly. However, service intervals are often not adhered to since most car drivers are not aware of them. Dirty cabin air filters and poorly maintained air conditioning systems can cause health risks. The new guideline 6032, sheet 1 issued by the VDI (Association of German Engineers) and the ZDK (German Association of the Motor Trade) is intended to remedy this. It regulates hygiene requirements for ventilation technology in passenger cars and trucks.
High time for a new MANN-FILTER FreciousPlus cabin air filter
Dr. Andreas Winkens, Chair of the VDI Guidelines Committees for air hygiene in vehicles, explains: "In the new guideline, we have defined several parameters to ensure the air drawn into vehicles is hygienically clean. These include, among other things, cleaning the air conditioning system, changing intervals for cabin air filters, how these filters should be changed and, of course, the quality of filters because cabin air filters in vehicles should in fact keep out all unwanted hitchhikers. But unfortunately, filters are often old, heavily soiled or incorrectly installed. Harmful gases and noxious particles then enter the vehicle interior via the ventilation system and endanger the health of the driver and occupants. We are not talking about individual cases here, but about a mass phenomenon, since every third passenger car is marginally or heavily contaminated."
Winkens recommends changing the filter and cleaning the relevant components annually. Otherwise, car owners would be driving around with microorganisms in their ventilation system. "Healthy air from the air conditioning system can only be ensured by properly cleaning the evaporator and the area surrounding the pollen filter after a timely filter change. This is not just a matter of comfort, but a key factor for health and safety," Winkens adds.
David Keerl, expert for biofunctional filter materials at MANN+HUMMEL and a major contributor to the revision of the new guideline, confirms this: "It's really essential to regularly change the cabin air filter once a year or every 15,000 km. And it's best to replace it with a highly efficient cabin air filter, such as our biofunctional MANN-FILTER FreciousPlus. By filtering out mold, germs, bacteria and pollen, it generates clean and healthy air for passengers in the vehicle and also protects the air conditioning system from contamination. This extends the lifetime of the air conditioning system because it prevents deposits from forming on the fine structure of the evaporator and also maintains the system's full cooling and heating capacity."
A timely filter change improves performance
The heart of a cabin air filter is the filter medium. Over time and with increasing contamination, this medium slowly clogs and a "filter cake" forms in the pleats. In heavily contaminated filters, the moisture present in the material also increases. This creates a breeding ground for germs and contaminates the filter and the immediate surroundings, even when the air conditioning system is not active. The air flow rate also increasingly drops. If this affects the blower output, the risk of accidents increases because the windows fog up more quickly, and a dangerous blinding, greasy film forms on them. Cabin air filters can only perform their meticulous cleaning work flawlessly if they are promptly replaced at the recommended service interval.
The global filtration expert MANN+HUMMEL from Ludwigsburg in Germany provides effective protection against contaminated air with its high-quality MANN-FILTER FreciousPlus cabin air filters in original equipment quality. Every cabin air filter comes with detailed and easy to understand installation instructions.
Quick and simple upgrade
Many vehicles can be easily upgraded with biofunctional FreciousPlus cabin air filters. When changing the filter, the mechanic simply inserts the more effective FreciousPlus in place of the previous cabin air filter.
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About MANN+HUMMEL
MANN+HUMMEL is a global leader in filtration technology. Within its two business units Transportation and Life Sciences & Environment, the Ludwigsburg-based Group (Germany) develops intelligent filtration and separation solutions that enable cleaner mobility, cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner industry. Thus, the family-owned company founded in 1941 is making an important contribution to a clean planet and the sustainable use of limited resources. In 2023, over 22,000 employees at more than 80 locations generated a turnover of EUR 4.7 billion.
You can find further information on MANN+HUMMEL at https://www.mann-hummel.com