Leer over technische luchtzuivering termen zoals CADR, CFM, MERV-classificaties, PM2.5 en ACH in eenvoudig te begrijpen taal.
When choosing or building an air purifier, three metrics determine whether it will actually clean your air effectively: CADR (how fast it cleans), MERV (how fine the particles it catches), and CFM (how much air it moves). Understanding these numbers lets you size a purifier correctly for any room.
Commercial air purifier manufacturers rarely publish honest CADR figures, and many budget models use low-grade MERV 8 filters that miss fine PM2.5 particles and airborne pathogens. By building a Corsi-Rosenthal box with a genuine MERV 13–16 filter, you get verifiable, independently tested performance at a fraction of the cost.
Use the detailed guides below to understand what each metric means in practice, how to calculate what you need for your room, and why our DIY kits consistently outperform commercial alternatives on all three measures.
CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) is de industriestandaard maatstaf voor het meten van de effectiviteit van luchtreinigers. Het geeft het volume schone lucht per minuut aan, gemeten in kubieke voet per minuut (CFM). Een hogere CADR betekent snellere en effectievere luchtzuivering.
- A higher CADR means the purifier cleans air faster. For a 30 m² room, aim for a CADR of at least 200 m³/h.
- Corsi-Rosenthal boxes achieve 300–600 CFM CADR — comparable to commercial purifiers costing 5× more.
- Look for ACH (Air Changes per Hour): for allergy or asthma sufferers, 4–6 ACH is recommended. Our kits achieve this in rooms up to 40 m².
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) meet het volume lucht dat door een luchtreiniger of ventilatiesysteem stroomt. Het is een cruciale specificatie die bepaalt hoe snel een luchtreiniger de lucht in uw kamer kan verwerken.
- Higher CFM = more air moved per minute. Divide your room volume (m³) by the desired air changes per hour to find the required CFM.
- Our Blanc model delivers 350 CFM; the Obsidian dual-fan variant reaches 600 CFM, covering rooms up to 60 m².
- Running costs: at 350 CFM, our kits consume 50–100W, costing roughly €35–70/year at EU electricity rates.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is een classificatiesysteem van 1-20 dat de efficiëntie van luchtfilters meet. Hogere MERV-classificaties vangen kleinere deeltjes, maar beperken ook de luchtstroom meer. Voor DIY-luchtreinigers biedt MERV 13-16 de beste balans tussen filtratie en luchtstroom.
- MERV 13 filters capture particles down to 1 micron — including most airborne virus carriers. MERV 16 approaches HEPA performance.
- Standard HVAC filters are typically MERV 1–4. Our kits use MERV 13–16, capturing pollen, dust, PM2.5, and most pathogens.
- MERV ratings above 13 require adequate fan power — our kits are specifically designed to maintain airflow through high-MERV filters.