This document discusses a white paper from Camfil Farr that introduces their LCC 2010 life cycle costing software. The software allows HVAC engineers and facilities managers to optimize air filter selection for air handling units to minimize total life cycle costs, including energy costs. It provides more accurate predictions than theoretical calculations by using real-world performance data from thousands of filter installations. The software calculates cost savings from selecting the most efficient filters and identifies the filters that deliver the lowest lifetime costs while maintaining indoor air quality.

1. WHITE PAPER
HVAC Engineers Guide:
Using Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Software and ‘real life’ data to
optimise the lowest life cycle cost for an
air handling unit (AHU).
From: Camfil Farr
Date: January 2011

2. Camfil Farr Whitepaper – January 2011
HVAC Engineers Guide: Using Life Cycle Cost (LCC) software
and ‘real life’ data to optimise the lowest life cycle cost for
an air handling unit
Executive Summary
Camfil Farr, the world leader in air filtration and clean air solutions, has released LCC 2010, the latest
version of its proprietary life cycle costing software for air filters. Camfil Farr offer low energy air
filter products that provide the highest indoor air quality and deliver the biggest energy savings to
customers.
This Whitepaper will demonstrate how LCC 2010 allows customers and HVAC engineers to optimise
the lowest life cycle cost for an air handling unit (AHU) with the highest indoor air quality (IAQ)
obtainable with Camfil Farr air filters.
Instead of using theoretical calculations, the software calculates the pressure loss of filters and their
actual lifespan using real‐life data collected from thousands of installations and tests. This
information guides users to select the right filter for the lowest possible energy consumption and
environmental impact.
The Business Challenge
Rising energy prices have made building ventilation more expensive and by optimising air filter
choices for air handling units (AHU’s), HVAC Engineers, FM’s and Energy professionals are realising
quick savings without compromising indoor air quality (IAQ).
Air filters are actually the least inexpensive and simplest component of a HVAC system to change.
The average energy expense of filters is typically around 30 percent of the total cost, so by using
Camfil Farr air filters with the right efficiency and the lowest pressure drop, customers can
effectively reduce their energy usage and operating costs.
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3.
The Camfil Solution – Energy Saving Software
Camfil Farr was the first filter manufacturer to develop a sophisticated programme that calculates
the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of air filters. Over many years the programme has been improved.
The programme is based on numerous real life measures of filters. This allows accurate prediction of
the filter’s pressure drop and lifetime in an actual installation rather than relying on theoretical
calculations.
After selecting the required filter class, the LCC can be calculated for 1‐, 2‐ or 3‐step filtration based
on either change outs after time or after final pressure drop. The programme can be adjusted
according to the characteristics of outdoor air and specific costs for filters, labour, disposal, cleaning
and energy.
The LCC Software has unique features that model the performance of an air filter installation using
data collected from an ongoing, worldwide programme of testing air filters in real life installations.
The data has been collected over many years, in multiple locations and under many varied operating
conditions. It is this depth of factual data that gives Camfil Farr LCC software the ability to accurately
predict the performance of an optimised air filter selection.
In addition to clearly identifying the lifetime costs associated with a filter installation, this unique
software also identifies the Minimum Lifetime Efficiency (MLE) that can be expected from a
particular set of air filters. This allows the user to very quickly and clearly establish exactly how well
the filter is performing in its primary function of cleaning the air and delivering suitable indoor air
quality (IAQ). It is not reliant on laboratory results being “interpreted” to estimate how a filter might
perform in actual use.
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4.
Benefits
The main benefits of using this software against the more traditional methods are:
a. Fact based real‐life data providing accurate results.
b. Very quick and simple to use.
c. Multiple selections can be considered to look at “what if” scenarios.
d. Constantly updated to reflect the very latest technical information.
e. Clearly identified and itemised savings, filters, labour, energy and waste.
f. Non invasive and practical, the work can be done without disturbing the site.
g. Clearly shows the air cleaning capability of a particular set of filters.
The Technical Specification
LCC 2010 is a new and powerful platform for filter and IAQ calculations. Compared to previous
releases, LCC 2010 incorporates a number of new features: it facilitates the preparation of reports
and recommendations for environmentally friendly air filter solutions, allows easy transfer of data
and information between users and their PCs, and displays more information for customers to
reference. The software also proposes energy‐saving fan speeds and generates multi‐solution
calculations and graphical reports for printout.
LCC 2010 is part of the Camfil Farr Solution System (CFSS), a powerful platform for calculations
concerning air filters and IAQ. CFSS will be constantly developed with a suite of analysis tools for
calculations of clean air solutions for a large range of Camfil Farr products and application areas.
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5. Other features included in the CFSS platform are calculations of clean room cleanliness and air filter
performance data for HEPA/ULPA filters (HIPE – High Performance air filters) and HVAC filters (CAT –
Comfort Air filter Test reports).
The Target Market
Camfil's challenge is to educate Property & Estates Managers and Energy Assessors about the
substantial energy saving opportunities (25‐50%) that can be made by replacing existing filter assets
with low energy air filters. Air Filters consume about 30% of the energy used in such systems. A
badly selected filter can cost over £500 per year. The following groups of professionals will be able
to use this software to calculate exactly how much they can minimise energy use, make energy
savings and reduce carbon emissions from their buildings portfolios:
 Property & Estates Professionals
 Facilities Management & Maintenance Professionals
 Building Services Engineers
 Sustainability Professionals
 Energy Managers
 Low Carbon Consultants
 Energy Assessors
 HVAC Engineers
 Air Conditioning Inspectors
LCC software gives the user the ability to model the installed “real” lifetime costs of an air filter
installation. The system can handle several scenarios with different filter selections and compare
these to the performance to the currently installed filters.
The system provides data on all the costs associated with running an air filter installation and gives
clarity to the most significant items:
 The cost of the filters
 The cost of the labour
 The cost of the energy
 The cost of the waste
These details allow the user to see exactly what savings are achievable, where they come from and
who will benefit. From this data, payback times can be quickly calculated and quick wins can be
identified.
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6. Calculation Example
In this example we have selected an F7 filter in a typical installation, in an industrial city. The filter is
running 4000 hours during one year with airflow of 0.94 m3/s.
We look at the installation over 1 year period in order to take into consideration the total cost of the
system. In the second example we replaced the first filter with another filter of the same filter class
(F7). While the filter has the same size and similar material, the manufacturer’s less favourable
design results in a 20 Pa higher pressure drop over the clean filter. As a consequence the energy
consumption is affected.
The total cost increased by 23 Euro per year – per filter!
Example 1 Example 2
Initial pressure drop (Pa) 105 125
Average Pressure Drop (Pa) 160 194
Filters/Labour/Disposal/Cleaning 55 55
Energy 105 126
Total LCC (Euro per year) 160 Euro 183 Euro
Summary
Camfil Farr customers will be able to use the LCC software to calculate exactly how much they can
minimise energy use, make energy savings and reduce carbon emissions from their building
portfolios. The software provides data on all the costs associated with running an air filter
installation and see exactly what savings are achievable, where they come from and who will
benefit. From this data, payback times can be quickly calculated and quick wins can be identified.
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7.
The software is unique to Camfil Farr and proves, using real life data that Camfil low energy air
filters are made from superior materials from a proven engineering design, not only do they provide
protection against potentially health damaging indoor air pollution, but they really do offer the
lowest energy cost throughout their installed lifetime.
For more information visit the Camfil Farr website www.camfilfarr.co.uk
Glossary
AC Air Conditioning
AHPA Air Handling Plant Assessment
AHU Air Handling Unit
CFSS Camfil Farr Software Solutions
CIBSE Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
CRC Carbon Reduction Commitment
CLG Communities and Local Government
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
EN European Standard
EPBD Energy Performance Buildings Directive
Etracker Energy usage monitor and recorder
EU European Union
HVAC Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
IAQ Indoor Air Quality
LCC Life Cycle Costing
LCC2010 Camfil Farr Life Cycle Cost Software Programme
kW Power rating kiloWatts (for AC Cooling capacity)
MEMU Mobile Energy Monitoring Unit
NOx Emissions of Oxides and Nitrogen
OAS Opportunity Assessment Survey
PM10 Particulate matter 10 microns and below in size
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8. PM2.5 Particulate matter 2,5 microns and below in size
SBS Sick Building Syndrome
SOx Emissions of Oxides of Sulphur
TM Technical Memo (CIBSE)
VAV Variable Air Volume
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
UK United Kingdom
Contact information:
Camfil Ltd
Knowsley Road
Haslingden
Lancashire
BB4 4EG
Tel: 0044 (0)1706 238000
Fax: 0044 (0)1706 226736
E‐mail: filtersales@camfil.co.uk
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9. The UK’s largest property management company, Land Securities saves
£250k and 650 tonnes of CO2 by installing Low Energy Air Filters
Client: Land Securities
Building: New Street Square
Environment: City centre environment
This evaluation involved collecting performance details
on the standard air filters in use at the time, and
comparing them to an alternative selection of Camfil
Low Energy Air Filters.
This pre study identified the following savings:
Replacement air filters 15% reduction
Labour to change filters 64% reduction
Energy to move air through the filters 16% reduction
Tonnes of CO2 16% reduction
These savings were available by fitting Camfil Low
Energy Air Filters into the existing filter holding frames
as part of the normal maintenance regime. No further
investment was required and the new filters were fitted
in September 2009.
Prior to this implementation, the air filters were
Land Securities, the largest commercial property company in the routinely replaced as part of an established Planned
UK, now own and manage more than 29 million ft2 of
Preventative Maintenance (PPM) regime. During this
trial project Camfil demonstrated that using Low Energy
commercial property, from London offices and high street shops
Air Filters not only reduced the energy consumed, but
to major shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks.
also doubled the service life of the filters. Consequently
the annual air filter cost reduced, together with a
Camfil were asked by Neil Pennell, Engineering Director of
reduction in labour and waste cost.
Land Securities to evaluate the effect of installing Low
Energy Air Filters into the air conditioning system of
Crucially, because the Low Energy Air Filters are better
buildings in the London Portfolio.
engineered, the air being supplied into the buildings is
The project was managed locally by Valentine Alexander, now much cleaner (four fold decrease in the amount of
portfolio manager for Land Securities, who identified a particulate in the air).
suitable site at New Street Square in London.
This project has now been rolled out with estimated
In July 2009 Camfil engineering staff working together savings in the London portfolio alone of £250k and 650
with Inviron FM on site at New Street Square, completed tonnes of CO2 in the coming year.
a detailed evaluation of the air filters within one of the air
conditioning systems.
For further information regarding this service, please contact your local Camfil office
www.camfil.co.uk www.lowenergyairfilter.co.uk Energy Saving - Case Study