About this equipment
The HEPA 500 is a portable commercial air purifier for projects where airborne dust and particles need to be managed. It is suited to restoration work, construction activity, and targeted indoor air-quality support.
Project details to include
Describe the work area, the activity creating airborne particles, occupied-space considerations, the project address, and the requested dates. If the project is larger, compare the HEPA 1000 air scrubber.
HBS will confirm equipment availability, number of units, rates, rental period, and delivery or pickup details. HBS does not represent rental equipment as a substitute for containment, testing, remediation protocols, or professional safety guidance.
Unit details
The HEPA 500 is a commercial air purifier and negative air machine rated at 500 cubic feet per minute (CFM). It is light enough to carry between rooms and fits jobs such as a bathroom or kitchen renovation, drywall sanding, or cleanup after water damage in an occupied home.
Dust and air-quality jobs the HEPA 500 fits
- Drywall sanding and patching. NIOSH found drywall sanders exposed to as much as 10 times OSHA's limit for total dust, with respirable silica in some cases. NIOSH also found that vacuum sanding tools cut those exposures by 80 to 97 percent, so pair the air purifier with dust capture at the tool.
- Bathroom and kitchen remodels where tile, cabinets or drywall come out while the family still lives in the house.
- Cutting out wet drywall or carpet pad after a clean-water leak, while the dehumidifier and air movers dry what stays.
- Sanding or demolition in a home built before 1978. EPA says those homes may have lead-based paint. Read the lead note below before you start.
What HEPA means
HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air, a filter grade defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the EPA, a HEPA filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size, the hardest size to catch; larger and smaller particles are trapped even more efficiently.
The filter catches particles such as dust. EPA's mold guidance notes that HEPA filters do not remove vapors or gases, so a HEPA unit will not take out paint, solvent or adhesive fumes.
How to size HEPA air filtration
Multiply the length, width, and ceiling height of the space to get cubic feet. Multiply by the number of air changes per hour you want, then divide by 60. The result is the airflow you need in CFM.
For example, a 20 by 25 foot room with 8-foot ceilings is 4,000 cubic feet; four air changes per hour needs about 267 CFM, and six, the general minimum Legend Brands gives for an air scrubber, about 400 CFM, both within one HEPA 500. The sizing guide walks through the math. For larger areas, compare the HEPA 1000 air scrubber.
The IICRC's equipment worksheet uses the same formula for air filtration devices: cubic feet × air changes per hour ÷ 60 = CFM. Run it the other way to see what one unit delivers: 500 CFM × 60 ÷ 4,000 cubic feet = 7.5 air changes per hour in that example room.
More air changes clear the air faster. In a CDC table built from the formula for purging airborne contaminants, an empty, well-mixed room at 6 air changes per hour takes about 46 minutes to remove 99 percent of airborne particles, and about 69 minutes at 4. The CDC adds that real rooms rarely mix perfectly, so removal takes longer than the table shows.
Getting the most from the unit
- Place it near the dusty work, away from walls and furniture that block the intake.
- Close off the work area with doors or plastic sheeting where you can.
- Turn off forced-air heating and cooling and cover the vents in the work area with plastic, as EPA's lead-safe work steps do, so dust does not travel through the ducts.
- Keep it running during the work and for a while after the dust settles. By the CDC figures above, that is at least 46 to 69 minutes at 6 or 4 air changes per hour, and longer in a cluttered room.
- Keep air movers from blowing across the dusty work area; they stir dust back into the air.
- If the floor is wet, use a GFCI-protected outlet, as OSHA's cleanup guidance requires in wet locations.
Room-air cleaning or negative air
The HEPA 500 can be set up two ways:
- Recirculating. The unit sits in the room, pulls in dusty air and returns filtered air to the same room. This is the simple setup for a remodel in an occupied home.
- Negative air. The filtered exhaust is ducted out of a sealed work area, so air flows into the work area instead of out to the rest of the house. EPA's mold remediation guidance describes containment kept under negative pressure by a HEPA-filtered fan unit exhausted outside, and says the plastic sheeting should billow inward when it works. If it flutters or billows outward, containment has been lost.
Ask HBS about ducting for a negative-air setup when you request the unit. For a larger contained area, the HEPA 1000 moves twice the air.
What a HEPA unit will not do
- Remove the source. EPA's guide to air cleaners says no air cleaner will eliminate all pollutants, and that filtration supplements source control and ventilation.
- Remove mold from materials. EPA points homeowners to professional guidance when mold covers more than about 10 square feet.
- Make work in an older home lead-safe. EPA recommends a lead-safe certified contractor for renovation in pre-1978 homes, and its rule requires contractors paid for that work to be certified. If you do it yourself, EPA's lead-safe DIY steps call for sealing off the work area, covering floors and vents with plastic and cleaning with a HEPA vacuum.
- Dry anything. Wet materials need a dehumidifier and air movers.
Mold growth, sewage or toilet backflow, outside floodwater or storm surge, washing machine or dishwasher water, and structural or electrical hazards go to an appropriate experienced professional.
HBS does not offer mold remediation or contaminated-water cleanup, and neither a rental nor HBS's water-only drying includes restoration or repairs. For a clean-water leak, ask HBS about its separately scoped water-only drying at (772) 677-1735.
Equipment that pairs with the HEPA 500
- HEPA 1000 air scrubber for open floor plans and larger contained areas.
- Commercial dehumidifier and air movers when the dust comes from cutting out wet materials.
- Moisture meter to confirm the remaining materials are dry before you patch.
Contractors adding capacity can start from contractor equipment rentals, and homeowners from homeowner equipment rentals.
Rental rates
| Equipment | 24 hours | 1 week | 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEPA 500 air scrubber (AFD), 500 CFM | $220 | $450 | $900 |
Rates are per unit, before tax. Every unit is cleaned and decontaminated after each rental, and delivery and pickup at your property are available. Your written quote itemizes the rate, tax, any deposit, filters or accessories, and any delivery charge before you agree, so there are no hidden fees, and nothing is charged online.
Renting in Stuart and nearby towns
HBS Equipment Rentals is based in Stuart and serves Martin and St. Lucie County, including Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, and Port Salerno.
Pickup or delivery is confirmed for each job address. For an air scrubber rental near Stuart, Jensen Beach or Port St. Lucie, include the room sizes and the work being done.
Common questions
What size room can the HEPA 500 handle?
At 500 CFM it gives 6 air changes per hour, the general minimum Legend Brands names for an air scrubber, in about 5,000 cubic feet (25 by 25 feet with 8-foot ceilings), or 4 per hour, common for construction dust control, in about 7,500. Leave margin; airflow drops as filters load.
What is the difference between the HEPA 500 and the HEPA 1000?
The HEPA 1000 is rated at 1000 CFM, about twice the airflow, for larger spaces or heavier dust. The HEPA 500 is easier to move and fits smaller rooms and occupied homes.
Does a HEPA air purifier remove mold or replace remediation?
No. A HEPA unit filters airborne particles while work is going on. It does not remove contamination from surfaces or replace cleanup by a qualified professional.
How long should the HEPA 500 run after the dusty work stops?
Keep it running after the work stops. In the CDC's table for an empty, well-mixed room, removing 99 percent of airborne particles takes about 46 minutes at 6 air changes per hour and 69 minutes at 4; real rooms take longer. In a 4,000 cubic foot room the HEPA 500 delivers about 7.5 air changes per hour.
Does a HEPA air purifier remove paint or solvent fumes?
No. HEPA filters capture particles such as dust; EPA notes they do not remove vapors or gases. Ventilate the space for fumes and follow the product's directions.
Can the HEPA 500 be used for negative air?
Yes, with ducting that exhausts filtered air out of a sealed work area. EPA's guidance says the plastic sheeting should billow inward when containment is working. Ask HBS about ducting when you request the unit.
Is a HEPA air purifier enough for sanding in an older home?
Not by itself. EPA says homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint and recommends a lead-safe certified contractor; contractors paid for that work must be certified. An air purifier supports lead-safe work practices but does not replace them.