Plant Manager

AAF International launches BioShield VXL High Flow. With the growing prevalence and evolving mutations of PRRS virus on pig farms, it's historically been a challenge for barns to have high air flow. September 21, 2026 AAF International, a member of the Daikin Group and global leader in air filtration solutions, has introduced an industry first - the BioShield VXL High Flow, a 12-inch, high airflow V-bank filter designed to deliver MERV 16 filtration efficiency - perfect for new barn construction and retrofit applications in swine and poultry operations. Unveiled at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the BioShield VXL High Flow is the second product in AAF International's new dedicated Animal Science Filtration product line, bringing purpose-engineered air filtration solutions to swine, poultry and other controlled-environment agricultural operations. With the growing prevalence and evolving mutations of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on pig farms, and highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry operations, it historically has been a challenge for barns to have high air flow while keeping out even the most microscopic airborne diseases. The advanced design and media selection of BioShield VXL High Flow provide an exceptionally low pressure drop compared to standard MERV-16 V Bank filters - leading to 15% higher airflow, while maintaining the high-efficiency filtration required to help protect barns from airborne disease transmission. "BioShield VXL High Flow is a major victory for sow and poultry farmers," said Carlos Lora, global director of the animal science division at AAF International. "For many years we have been talking to owners about the merits of advanced filtration to help keep airborne diseases out of their barns. Now, our industry finally has a dedicated product that solves the critical and often delicate balance of proper airflow and virus filtration." When designing new animal housing facilities, the BioShield VXL High Flow helps engineers achieve required ventilation rates with lower system resistance. This can reduce the overall size and complexity of the ventilation system, allowing for fewer filters in the filtration bank, a smaller filtration footprint, and reduced fan power requirements. For retrofit or filter replacement, the BioShield VXL High Flow allows owners to easily upgrade to gain high-level filtration efficiency without sacrificing airflow - all within their existing systems. The high airflow design reduces system resistance and allows existing ventilation systems to move more air through the barn. "Whether owners are using lower MERV-rated products or a standard MERV-16, simply upgrading to the BioShield VXL High Flow can give growers greater airflow and added protection against airborne viruses," adds Lora. "It's simple math with powerful results - healthier animals, higher yields, and greater financial benefits." Producers running biosecurity filtration programs have long faced a performance tradeoff: the higher the filtration efficiency, the lower the airflow when they use conventional MERV 16 filters. BioShield VXL High Flow is rated at 984 CFM at 0.15 inches water gauge with 200 square feet of media area and meets ASHRAE Standard 52.2 MERV 16/16A. It is fully incinerable and significantly lighter and easier to handle than traditional 12-inch-deep box-style ASHRAE and HEPA-grade filters with metal cell sides, reducing transportation costs and installation effort. The BioShield VXL High Flow is available now from AAF International. To learn more, visit BioShield VXL High Flow. National Hog Farmer is the source for hog production, management and market news

The facility manager's guide to healthcare air quality and safety. At the ASHE Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference, AAF International provided tips to extend and evaluate your current air filtration system. August 27, 2026 By Valerie Dennis Craven, Contributing Writer Air quality is near the top consideration for any facility, and even more so for healthcare facilities. Often open extended - or all - hours, housing patients in various degrees of health and staffed by workers whose own health is critical to operations. Indoor air quality (IAQ) can't be compromised and, for a facility team already strapped with time and budget, a misstep in air filtration solutions can have a ripple effect. IAQ was a large topic of conversation at the recent ASHE Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference. Brian Abel, healthcare segment manager with AAF International, presented tips and solutions for facilities managers to have confidence in their air filtration solutions. The cost of healthcare-associated infections. In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 1 in 38 hospitalized patients in 2023 had at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI), with airborne infections, pneumonia and surgical site infections among the most common. In fact, 61 percent of HAIs weren't associated with medical devices or procedures. "They lead to extended stays, and the cost for the treatment of these is not covered. Your hospital is eating the extra cost to treat these infections," Abel warns. This strengthens the importance IAQ plays in health and safety, where Abel stresses that the hospital facilities team is the first line of defense against these airborne contaminants. ASHRAE's Guideline 43, published June 2025, calls for a Ventilation Management program, and efforts are underway to tie it to ASHRAE Standard 170, where it could become a requirement for new systems, remodeling and repurposing projects. "Adding a filter efficiency certification every six months is not required, but would be a positive addition to promote air quality and reduce airborne transmission at your facility," Abel says. He presented this chart showing different filter efficiency needs by healthcare function, comparing Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) by year. | Function of Area Served | 2017 Minimum Filter Efficiency | 2021 Minimum Filter Efficiency | | Spaces, and Laundries | MERV 7 | MERV 8 | | AII (Airborne Infection Isolation) Rooms | MERV 14 | MERV 14 | | Operating Rooms | MERV 14 | MERV 16 or HEPA | | Protective Environment (PE) Rooms (immunocompromised patients) | HEPA | HEPA | | Laboratory Work Areas and Procedure Rooms | MERV 13 | MERV 14 | | Nursing Homes | MERV 13 | MERV 13 | | Resident Care, Treatment, and Support Areas in Inpatient Hospice Facilities | MERV 13 | MERV 13 | | Resident Care, Treatment, and Support Areas in Assisted Living Facilities | MERV 7 | MERV 8 | Note: ASHRAE 170 is incorporated into the Facility Guidelines Institute standard For context, the smallest air particle size, Range 1 - .3 to 1 micron particle - including air particles containing bacteria viruses, aren't controlled under a MERV 10 or lower filter. "When we look at the long-distance spread of these aerosols that are carrying your viruses and your small bacteria, that is of particular concern because these smaller particles can travel farther," Abel warns. Strategies to extend HVAC life. In his presentation, Abel recognized that times are tight for facility managers dealing with budget constraints, funding cuts or facilities losing money. The cost of deferred maintenance, however, isn't worth the wait. He warns that energy costs can be up to 81 percent higher in facilities with deferred maintenance plans, where 71 percent of that increase is related to HVAC. Able provides recommendations to extend the life of HVAC systems for air quality: * Ensure gaskets aren't letting bypass around the system. A quarter-inch of bypass around a pre-filter could lead to a drop in filter efficiency by a few MERV ratings. * Ensure air handlers are clear of biofilms, which can harbor bacteria, mold or fungus, and could break loose into the airstream. * Schedule time to clean scale buildup on coils, as obstruction reduces heat transfer efficiency. "We find with facility directors that time is their scarcest resource. Their No. 1 challenge is that they don't have enough to get all their work done," he says. How to measure your air filter performance. As a result, Abel encourages considering some longer-life air filter options to free maintenance personnel time. Higher-end products now last longer than they did previously, and can perform better and maintain performance, Abel notes. For added assurance and understanding of your air filtration, Abel recommends engaging in a six-month filter performance analysis. In this test, you pull a sample of one of your final filters out of a critical unit and send it for an initial filter efficiency baseline measure to better understand how your air filtration system performs. "You can make a difference. Your staff can make a difference," Abel encourages. "If they choose to walk by some of the situations they see in the air handler, somebody's mom or dad may not be coming home. Help your facility achieve the highest health grade they can." Valerie Dennis Craven is a freelance writer based in Plymouth, Minnesota.