CADR, the Clean Air Delivery Rate is a metric that was developed as a way of measuring the performance of residential air purifiers. The CADR rating reflects the volume of air in CFM (cubic feet per minute) that is cleaned of particles of certain sizes.
To measure the effectiveness in removing different particle sizes, three types of particles are tested: smoke, pollen and dust. These represent small, medium and large sized particles. Each is measured and assigned it’s own CADR score.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) oversees the CADR rating program. As part of this program, products are randomly selected and independently tested to confirm they continue to meet the performance levels.
Here is a screenshot of the EJ120 and ERIK650A CADR ratings from the AHAM website.
The advantage of the CADR rating is that it gives the consumer a way to compare air purifiers that consider both air flow and filter efficiency.
The CADR is basically a reflection of the air flow (CFM) times the efficiency of the air filter. So, if an air filter has 200 cfm and 100% efficiency the CADR would be 200. If the air filter has 200 cfm and 75% efficiency the CADR would be 150.
The CADR is a good way to keep from being misled in marketing messages.
For example, if a filter has a very high filter efficiency but low air flow the CADR helps to balance the two.
We see this commonly from some manufacturers that use particle counters to show the high efficiency of their air purifiers when selling to customers. This method can be very compelling as the shopper sees how well the particles are removed. While this test is valid it does not factor in other important data points such as the air flow and noise level. Therefore it does not give you a complete picture for how well the air purifier will work in their environment.
The CADR is the standard in the US and in 2016 China has adopted a version of the CADR to measure air purifier performance for Chinese consumers.
While we like the CADR, in our opinion there are additional factors that should be considered when comparing air purifiers. To better understand why it helps to know how this test is performed.
The key to having clean air in your home is to ensure the filters are of sufficient quality and there is proper air flow. To help you make the right choice we suggest you read our guide on air purifier room size.
The CADR rating is a good starting point in comparing air purifiers.
However, to make an informed choice we feel more information is needed.
Here is a short list of the areas we recommend you consider when buying an air purifier:
The CADR is managed by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) and Oransi is an AHAM member.
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