Define the room and operating scenario
Choose a representative bedroom and record its dimensions, ceiling height, usual door position and available floor space. List night-time conditions: air-conditioning setting, curtains, bedside distance and whether a connecting door is used.
Do not transfer a rating for a small room to a larger suite without recalculation.
Ask for paired evidence
Request clean air delivery rate (CADR) in m³/h and sound information for the intended night setting, plus the test method and measurement distance where available. Sound pressure and sound power figures are different quantities; do not rank a mixed list as though it were a single scale.
If suppliers only provide maximum CADR and minimum noise separately, mark the pairing as unverified.
Run a controlled comfort trial
Use the same room, position and operating period for each candidate. Check tonal hum, changes in auto mode, control beeps and display lights from the bed.
A phone recording can document a complaint but is not a calibrated laboratory comparison. Confirm the final setting with housekeeping so a reset or room clean does not silently change it.
Put it into practice
Your planning worksheet
A practical evaluation sheet comparing noise and airflow at the intended operating speed. On small screens, scroll the table horizontally.
| Evaluation field | Candidate A | Candidate B |
|---|---|---|
| CADR at night setting, m³/h | Record evidence | Record evidence |
| Noise quantity, dB; distance; method | Record like-for-like data | Record like-for-like data |
| Lights, beeps and automatic speed changes | Trial notes | Trial notes |
| Clearance and housekeeping access | Measured location | Measured location |
Sources & context
- US EPA — Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home, second edition
Supports the distinctions between particle CADR, gas filtration, operating speed and clear airflow. Residential technical principles are used here for operational planning, not as workplace or clinical compliance criteria.
Sources checked 9 November 2026. Worksheets are editorial planning tools. Confirm site-specific requirements, current local guidance and the instructions for the equipment you use.
