HVAC filters demand projected to reach 4.5 billion by 2026

The driving factor for the growth market is increasing demand for HVAC systems and awareness of IAQ.

A greater awareness of how HVAC can affect air quality developed post pandemic, specifically. The driving factor for the HVAC filters market is increasing demand for HVAC systems, growing awareness about indoor air quality, and government regulations and policies for efficient filtration. The global market for HVAC filters is predicted to keep growing over the next few years. A recent report from ResearchAndMarkets.com found that the HVAC filters market, which was estimated to be worth around US$3.5 billion in 2021, is projected to reach 4.5 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate of 5.0 per cent. 

Increasing investments in the construction sector and technological advancements in HVAC filters are also expected to play their part and to offer significant growth opportunities to manufacturers. Synthetic polymer being used for efficient filtration in residential and industrial HVAC systems is expected to be the fastest-growing material segment in the HVAC filters market during the forecast period. 

The filtration of air in a synthetic polymer material occurs on its surface, whereas in fibreglass, the filtration happens within the filters. This property makes synthetic polymers suitable for application in industries such as pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive, and electronics and semiconductors. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene, and polypropylene are used for the manufacturing of filter materials. 

Advantages of synthetic polymer filters 

Synthetic polymer filter materials are available in the form of pleats or stretched films. They are either made from spun-bond or melt-blown manufacturing processes. The pleats increase the surface area, make the filters more efficient at capturing airborne particles in the HVAC systems, and can provide more efficiency than high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters but at a lower cost. Due to their durability, these filters can be washed and reused. Pleated synthetic polymer air filters are abundantly available, have lesser airflow resistance compared to HEPA filters, and support the silent operation of the blower fan of the HVAC system. 

HEPA segment to lead 

The HEPA segment is expected to be the largest technology in the HVAC filters market during the forecast period. HEPA technology consists of a filter that forces air through a thin mesh, which traps harmful particles such as pollens, moulds, bacteria, and dust mite debris to prevent them from entering the ambient environment. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, to meet the HEPA standard, a filter must trap 99.97 percent of dust particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size. 

HEPA filters have diverse application areas, including residential buildings, pharmaceutical production, food and beverage facilities, and clean rooms in the electronics and semiconductor industry, among others. These filters protect human beings from airborne organisms. 

APAC market for HVAC filters 

The Asia-Pacific market accounted for the largest share of the HVAC filters market in 2020. Improved economic conditions of developing countries and rising global warming have contributed to the growth of the HVAC filters market in the region. In APAC, several associations, including the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia (AMCA), Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (JRAIA), and Air Conditioning Engineering Association of Thailand (ACAT), support the adoption of efficient HVAC systems.