What is the difference between an air purifier and an air sterilizer?
Assess an air purifier or air sterilizer by its target pollutants and the test method and conditions, not by its name alone. Air-cleaning performance addresses particles such as PM10 and PM2.5, harmful gases, and odors, while air-sterilization performance addresses airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses; confirm that the purchased and tested models match.
What official standards evaluate
SPS-KACA002-0132 (2025 revision) from the Korea Air Cleaning Association covers particle and harmful-gas removal and clean air delivery for indoor air cleaners with integrated fans and filters. SPS-KOUVA AS-01-1889, listed by Korea’s National Standard Information Center, applies to the safety and performance of indoor products reducing airborne bacteria and odor substances; each report’s method and conditions must be reviewed separately.
Performance comparison criteria
| Check | Air-cleaning performance | Air-sterilization performance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary targets | PM10, PM2.5, harmful gases, and odors | Airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses |
| Typical indicators | Clean air delivery rate (CADR), particle or gas removal / purification performance | Reduction rate or decrease over a stated test microorganism and time |
| What to review in a test | Chamber volume, initial concentration, operating conditions, test duration | Chamber volume, test microorganism, initial conditions, operation, control conditions, test duration |
| Technology | Filters, adsorbents, airflow, air-circulation design | Sterilization technology, filters, air circulation, safety |
| Real-space application | Room size, pollutant sources, occupancy, ventilation | Room size, occupancy, microorganism-management purpose, ventilation |
Test scope matters more than the product name
Technology and test scope vary within a category. Confirm that the purchased and tested models match, then identify the target pollutant and the stated test method and conditions.
Read test conditions before the number
- 01
Test model
Does the tested model match the product being considered?
- 02
Test target
Is it PM2.5, a specified harmful gas, or a stated bacteria or virus strain?
- 03
Test space
What are the chamber volume and product installation conditions?
- 04
Test duration
Is the result measured after 30, 60, or 120 minutes of operation?
- 05
Initial conditions
What are the initial concentration, temperature, humidity, and operating mode?
- 06
Test result
Does the value mean a removal rate, reduction rate, or concentration change?
- 07
Laboratory and report
Are the laboratory, report number, test date, and test method identified?
NeoCure performance evidence with test conditions
NeoCure presents the tested model, conditions, and laboratory together with each result rather than separating out a number alone. Results from one tested model are not applied to an untested model.
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