2026-09-16
If you're selecting a Fan Filter Unit (FFU) for your cleanroom, you've probably seen specifications ranging from H13 to H14 filters, airflow velocities from 0.3 to 0.5 m/s, and housing materials from aluminum to stainless steel.
With so many options, how do you know which FFU is right for your application?
In this guide, we'll explain the key parameters that matter when selecting an FFU, including filtration efficiency, airflow performance, fan power, noise level, housing material, and speed control. We'll also explain why H13 HEPA FFUs are widely used in ISO 7 and ISO 8 cleanrooms.
An FFU, or Fan Filter Unit, is a self-contained air filtration device installed in a cleanroom ceiling system. It combines a fan with a HEPA or ULPA filter to supply filtered air into the cleanroom.
The basic working process is:
Room air enters the upper section of the FFU.
The fan draws air through the filtration system.
The HEPA filter removes airborne particles.
Filtered air is discharged evenly from the bottom of the unit.
Clean air moves downward and helps control airborne contamination.
Because FFUs are modular units, they can be installed individually or arranged across a cleanroom ceiling to provide distributed clean air supply.
Looking for FFU options for your cleanroom? Explore our FFU Fan Filter Units with different filter grades, materials, airflow configurations, and control options.
HEPA filtration is one of the most important specifications when selecting an FFU for a cleanroom.
An H13 HEPA filter provides a filtration efficiency of 99.99% at 0.3 μm according to the specification used for this product. This level of filtration makes H13 FFUs suitable for many controlled environments where airborne particle contamination needs to be reduced.
The 0.3 μm particle size is commonly used when evaluating HEPA filter performance because it represents a highly penetrating particle size range for filtration testing.
The appropriate filter grade depends on the cleanliness requirements of the application.
|
Filter Grade |
Filtration Efficiency |
Typical Application |
|
H13 |
99.99% @ 0.3 μm |
ISO 7-8 cleanrooms, general pharmaceutical and electronics applications |
|
H14 |
99.995% @ 0.3 μm |
Higher cleanliness applications and critical controlled areas |
For many ISO 7 and ISO 8 cleanroom applications, H13 HEPA FFUs can provide the required level of particle filtration. H14 may be selected when the project specification requires a higher filtration efficiency.
Need help choosing between H13 and H14? Contact us for FFU consultation and discuss your cleanroom classification, airflow requirements, and application.
Selecting an FFU involves more than simply choosing a HEPA filter grade. The following parameters should also be considered.
The filter grade should be selected according to the cleanroom design and required cleanliness level.
Typical considerations include:
H13 HEPA: 99.99% filtration efficiency at 0.3 μm
H14 HEPA: 99.995% filtration efficiency at 0.3 μm
ULPA: Used for applications requiring higher filtration performance
The final filter grade should always be confirmed according to the project's cleanroom classification and technical specification.
Air velocity is another important FFU parameter.
Cleanroom FFUs commonly operate within an airflow velocity range of approximately 0.3-0.5 m/s, depending on the cleanroom design and system requirements.
Air velocity that is too low may not provide sufficient air circulation, while excessive airflow can increase energy consumption and noise.
For this reason, an FFU with adjustable fan speed can provide greater flexibility during commissioning and airflow balancing.
Fan power needs to match the required airflow and filter resistance.
The selected FFU should provide sufficient airflow for the cleanroom while maintaining stable operation after the HEPA filter is installed.
When comparing different FFUs, do not evaluate fan power alone. Consider:
Airflow volume
Air velocity
Filter resistance
Fan efficiency
Speed control
Operating noise
Noise is particularly important in cleanrooms where operators may work close to the ceiling-mounted FFUs for extended periods.
Our H13 HEPA FFU specification provides a noise level of approximately 55-63 dB ±3 dB, measured 1 m below the filter.
A suitable fan and speed-control system can help maintain the required airflow while controlling operating noise.
The FFU housing material should be selected according to the application environment.
SUS304 stainless steel is particularly suitable for pharmaceutical, medical, laboratory, and other environments where corrosion resistance, cleanability, and durable construction are important.
Other FFU housing options may include aluminum or coated steel depending on project requirements.
For projects requiring stainless steel construction, our FFU Fan Filter Units can be configured with SUS304 housing.
Adjustable fan speed allows the airflow to be adjusted according to actual cleanroom requirements.
Stepless speed adjustment can be useful for:
Cleanroom commissioning
Airflow balancing
Adjusting operating conditions
Compensating for increasing filter resistance
Controlling energy consumption
The following is an example of our H13 HEPA FFU configuration for cleanroom applications.
| Item |
Specification |
|
Product Type |
H13 HEPA Fan Filter Unit (FFU) |
|
Cabinet Material |
SUS304 Stainless Steel |
|
Cabinet Dimensions (W×D×H) |
1225 × 615 × 230 mm |
|
HEPA Filter Dimensions |
1220 × 610 × 69 mm |
|
HEPA Filter Type |
H13 Non-Separator HEPA Filter |
|
Filtration Efficiency |
99.99% @ 0.3 μm |
|
Cleanliness Class |
Class 100 @ 0.3 μm |
|
Average Air Velocity |
0.45 m/s ±20% |
|
Noise Level |
55-63 dB ±3 dB, 1 m below filter |
|
Fan Type |
Centrifugal Fan |
|
Fan Power |
120-150 W |
|
Power Supply |
AC Single Phase 220V / 50Hz |
|
Speed Control |
Stepless Speed Adjustment |
|
Configuration |
Handle, centrifugal fan, H13 HEPA filter, speed controller, power cable |
H13 HEPA filtration with 99.99% efficiency at 0.3 μm
SUS304 stainless steel housing
Average air velocity of 0.45 m/s ±20%
Centrifugal fan configuration
120-150 W fan power
Stepless speed adjustment
Compact dimensions for cleanroom ceiling installation
Suitable for ISO 7 and ISO 8 cleanroom applications
Interested in this H13 HEPA FFU? Get product details and pricing.
H13 HEPA FFUs can be used in different controlled environments where filtered air supply and particle control are required.
H13 FFUs can be used in controlled areas for pharmaceutical manufacturing, including:
Component preparation areas
Production areas
Packaging areas
Material handling areas
GMP-controlled environments
For projects requiring a complete cleanroom system, we can also provide FFUs together with cleanroom panels, air showers, pass boxes, and other cleanroom equipment. Explore our prefab cleanroom solutions.
Medical device manufacturing often requires controlled environments to reduce airborne particle contamination during production and assembly.
Typical applications include:
Surgical instrument assembly
Medical device assembly
Component preparation
Clean packaging areas
FFUs are widely used in controlled environments for electronics production where airborne particles can affect product quality.
Applications include:
PCB assembly
Electronic component production
Precision assembly
Component cleaning and preparation
H13 HEPA FFUs can also be used in laboratory environments requiring controlled air cleanliness.
Potential applications include:
Sample preparation
Laboratory production areas
Research environments
Instrument areas
Controlled laboratory workspaces
For localized clean-air protection in laboratory work areas, our laminar flow hood options provide another type of clean-air equipment.
FFUs are particularly suitable for modular cleanroom systems because each unit can be installed independently within the ceiling structure.
They can be used for:
New modular cleanrooms
Cleanroom expansion
Existing cleanroom upgrades
Localized clean-air supply
Temporary or flexible cleanroom facilities
Choosing the right FFU should begin with the overall cleanroom design rather than the FFU itself.
First determine the required cleanliness classification for the room.
The cleanroom classification influences the required filtration level, airflow, air changes, and FFU quantity.
For example, an ISO 7 or ISO 8 cleanroom may use H13 HEPA FFUs depending on the project design and cleanliness requirements.
The number of FFUs depends on room volume, required air changes, and the airflow capacity of each FFU.
A simplified calculation can be expressed as:
Required Airflow = Room Volume × Required ACH
Then:
Number of FFUs = Required Airflow ÷ Airflow per FFU
The actual FFU quantity should also consider room layout, ceiling coverage, airflow distribution, return-air locations, heat loads, and other HVAC design parameters.
Need help calculating your FFU requirements? Get FFU consultation.
FFU dimensions should match the cleanroom ceiling grid and available installation space.
Common configurations include:
2 × 2 ft FFUs for compact ceiling layouts
2 × 4 ft FFUs for standard cleanroom ceiling systems
Larger FFUs for applications requiring greater airflow
The final size should be selected according to the ceiling system and required airflow distribution.
The fan should provide sufficient airflow against the resistance of the HEPA filter and system.
Centrifugal fan configurations can be combined with speed control to allow airflow adjustment during operation.
For pharmaceutical, medical, laboratory, and other applications requiring easy cleaning and corrosion resistance, stainless steel construction can be considered.
SUS304 is a commonly selected material for these environments.
Before purchasing an FFU, check both operating noise and fan-speed adjustment.
An adjustable FFU allows the system to be balanced during commissioning and provides flexibility when operating conditions change.
Ready to select an FFU for your cleanroom project? View all FFU products.
Selecting the right FFU requires consideration of filtration efficiency, airflow, fan performance, noise, housing material, and speed control.
For many ISO 7 and ISO 8 cleanroom applications, H13 HEPA FFUs provide 99.99% filtration efficiency at 0.3 μm and can be configured with stainless steel housings and adjustable fan speed.
The most important considerations are:
Match the HEPA filter grade with the cleanroom requirements
Confirm the required airflow and air changes
Calculate the appropriate number of FFUs
Select a suitable FFU size for the ceiling system
Choose housing material according to the application
Check noise level and speed-control requirements
If you're looking for an H13 HEPA FFU with SUS304 stainless steel construction, centrifugal fan, 0.45 m/s ±20% average air velocity, and stepless speed adjustment, contact us for FFU product details, technical consultation, and a quotation.