How to Choose an Air Purifier for Your Home and Family

By Sophia Ruan Gushée  ·  13 peer-reviewed studies + 8 authoritative sources

Choosing an air purifier is harder than it should be. There are hundreds to choose from and dozens of reviews ranking the best ones, and they rarely point to the same one.

After reading hundreds of peer-reviewed research on health risks associated with contaminants often found in indoor air, I take my air purifier purchase seriously. Every few years when I need a new purifier, I take pen to paper to figure out the latest technologies available, which product features are important for my home, which certifications to look for, and which filter types are best. I’ve invested an estimated 1,500 hours over 15 years because technology advances, marketing claims can be misleading, industry ratings have significant limitations, and the options are overwhelming.

Whether you are looking for the best air purifier for a bedroom, the best air purifier for allergies, an air purifier for wildfire smoke, a HEPA air purifier for pets or asthma, or guidance on air quality during pregnancy—this guide distills what I wish I knew sooner: a framework to help you choose the best air purifier for your budget and priorities, grounded in evidence rather than marketing. Helpful tools for your comparison shopping include a 12-question checklist, filter type reference, calculator, glossary, and a printable worksheet at the bottom of the page.

The framework here was refined with input from an industry expert who has spent decades in air filtration, with systems used in hospitals and other demanding environments. That original due diligence, including a live particle-counter demonstration comparing three air purifiers, is archived in my 2020 podcast deep-dive, How to Choose the Best Air Purifier for Your Budget.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters: What the EPA and WHO Data Show

Understanding indoor air quality starts with one counterintuitive fact: the air inside your home is often more polluted than the air outside. According to the US EPA, indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air—by at least 2 to 5 times. Most of us never notice, because indoor pollution is invisible and largely unregulated.

My concern about indoor air quality began when I learned that mattresses—including crib mattresses—can off-gas chemical fumes, and I read theories associating those fumes with increased risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). That started a years-long search that eventually became this resource. The research below is what I found—and what continues to inform why I consider indoor air quality, particularly in the bedroom, a priority for families. 

The good news: we can’t do much about the air at work or on the street, but we can significantly improve the air in our homes—especially our bedrooms.

What Contaminates Our Indoor Air?

Not every air purifier addresses all three. For any unit you’re considering, the real question is which categories it actually handles—and whether those match what’s in your home.

Particles and ultrafine particles—Ultrafine particles (smaller than 0.1 micron) are the most abundant and potentially the most concerning. Standard HEPA filters are tested at 0.3 micron and are not independently certified at ultrafine particle sizes, so performance claims in that range cannot be verified against a stated standard.

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)—Gases off-gassed by paint, furniture, mattresses, flooring and other building materials, and cleaning products. Gases move through HEPA filters entirely—activated carbon is required for gas-phase filtration. Modern tightly sealed homes trap VOCs with limited ventilation.

Bio-aerosols—Mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Standard mechanical filters trap biological particles but do not deactivate them. A loaded filter can re-release contaminants into your air.

Beauty and personal care products—Hairspray, aerosols, nail products, fragranced, and other self-care products items contribute VOCs and fine particles.

Synthetic textiles and fabrics—Clothing, upholstery, carpeting, and bedding made from synthetic fibers can shed microplastic fibers into indoor air. Research indicates synthetic textile fibers are the most prevalent type of microplastic in indoor air, with concentrations generally two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. (European Environment Agency, 2022) Long-term health implications are not yet fully established, but healthier and nontoxic textiles exist.

Other household items and human beings themselves—Plastic packaging, foam products, building materials, dead skin cells, and cooking byproducts all contribute to indoor pollution.

Ultrafine Particles and Health: What the Research Shows

Ultrafine particles are estimated to make up approximately 90% of all airborne particles by number—yet they are not independently certified by the HEPA standard and not measured by CADR ratings.

The health research on indoor air pollution covers ground most air purifier marketing never mentions: the lungs, yes—but also the brain, the heart, fertility, and pregnancy. The studies below describe observed associations, not established causation. I’m sharing them because they changed how I think about bedroom air—and because you deserve to see what the evidence actually shows before you buy.

The Lungs: Your First Line of Exposure

Ultrafine particles enter the body through the lungs, and can cause more inflammation there than larger particles do. Because of their small size, they stay in the lung longer and can penetrate cell membranes—which is how they travel beyond the lungs to reach the heart, liver, brain, and nervous system within hours of exposure. Exposure has been associated with coughing, worsened asthma, and with long-term exposure, airway scarring. People with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions appear most vulnerable. The lung is where the damage starts; the research below shows it doesn't stop there. (Leikauf et al., 2020; Schraufnagel, 2020; Schraufnagel et al., 2019; Geiser et al., 2005)

The Brain and Nervous System

More surprising still: ultrafine particles can travel straight to the brain through the olfactory nerve—the nerve behind your sense of smell—bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Research has found associations between air pollution exposure and cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and structural changes to the brain. In children, exposure has been associated with effects on reading comprehension and memory development. This is an active and emerging area of research; much remains to be established about causation and dose. (Schraufnagel, 2020)

The Heart and Circulatory System

Research has associated UFP exposure with markers of cardiac stress, blood pressure changes, and systemic inflammation—the kind of low-grade chronic inflammation increasingly linked to cardiovascular disease. This is what first made me realize that cleaner indoor air is not just an allergy issue. (Delfino et al., 2005)

Reproductive Health and Fertility

For women trying to conceive, this research is among the most sobering. A study published in Human Reproduction (Leathersich et al., 2025) analyzed 3,659 frozen embryo transfers from 1,835 patients over eight years in Perth, Australia—a city where air quality was excellent throughout, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines on only 0.4% and 4.5% of study days respectively. Despite that excellent air quality, women in the highest quartile of PM10 exposure in the two weeks before egg collection had approximately 38% lower odds of a live birth compared to those in the lowest quartile. Women in the highest quartile of PM2.5 exposure in the three months before egg collection had approximately 34% lower odds of a live birth. A separate 2025 study published in BMC Public Health (Chen et al., 2025) found similar associations between PM2.5 exposure and reduced egg quality and live birth rates.

The implication: even air quality that meets regulatory standards may still carry measurable reproductive risk.

Pregnancy Outcomes

A large-scale 2025 cohort study of nearly 17,000 pregnant women found associations between PM2.5 exposure and increased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight. Bedroom air—where most of us spend six to eight hours every night—is where I’d start if you’re pregnant or hoping to be.

The Bigger Picture: Unregulated and Unmeasured

A 2026 systematic review found that ultrafine particles remain unregulated and unmeasured by routine air quality monitoring, despite growing evidence of higher toxicity than the larger particles that regulations do track. Most air purifier ratings don't measure them either. That gap between what the research is finding and what consumer products are evaluated against is exactly why this guide exists. (Bergmann et al., 2026)

Note: Studies cited describe observed associations in the populations studied. This information is shared for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.

Should You Avoid Ionizers and Ozone-Producing Air Purifiers?

The short answer: approach them with caution—and you don’t have to take my word for it.

Ozone is a primary component of smog. It can irritate the respiratory system, cause coughing and chest tightness, and long-term exposure may worsen asthma. Some air purifiers produce ozone deliberately; others produce it as an unintended byproduct of ionization.

Ionizers can also score well on CADR ratings, because CADR doesn’t distinguish removing a particle from simply settling it onto a surface. A high CADR score is not evidence that a unit is effective—or that it isn’t quietly adding ozone or ions to your air. So for any unit you’re considering, ask outright: does it generate ozone or ions?

HEPA Filter Limitations: What the Label Doesn't Tell You

HEPA—High Efficiency Particulate Air—is the filtration standard most consumers know by name. A true, sealed HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns. It’s a meaningful standard—but the label hides four limitations manufacturers rarely mention, and one deeper gap that changes the questions you need to ask.

The HEPA Label Is Not Independently Verified

As you start comparison shopping, you'll notice "HEPA" in an air purifier's description. Remember that no independent body is required to test or verify a manufacturer's HEPA claim before a product reaches market. A filter can be labeled "HEPA" without meeting the standard. This has produced a confusing landscape of variants—"True HEPA," "HEPA-type," "HEPA-like," "HEPA-style," "99% HEPA," and "HEPAsilent"—none of which are regulated terms.

Only filters that actually achieve 99.97% capture at 0.3 microns meet the US government's definition. To put that size in perspective: a human hair averages 50–100 microns in diameter (about 70 microns typically), making 0.3 micron roughly 200–300 times smaller—well below what the eye can see.

"HEPA-type" and "HEPA-like" filters are designed similarly. But they do not meet the standard; they typically correspond to MERV 9–12, capturing particles down to 1–3 microns rather than 0.3 micron.

Additionally, HEPA filters are somewhat fragile—there is no guarantee a filter that passes testing will maintain that performance after manufacturing, shipping, and installation. Proper sealing within the air purifier housing matters as much as the filter media itself.

Grades of HEPA

HEPA filters come in different grades, which is where things can get confusing.

In Europe, filters are classified under the EN 1822 standard:

• E11 and E12 remove about 95% and 99.5% of particles. These are technically not true HEPA, even though they’re sometimes marketed as “H11” or “H12.”
• H13 and H14 are considered true HEPA, capturing 99.95% to 99.995% of particles.
• U15 and higher are even more advanced (called ULPA filters).

In the United States, the definition is simpler: A filter must remove 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns to be called HEPA.

For most homes the practical target is H13, certified at the unit level. The reference table below breaks down each grade—what it captures, its efficiency, and its tradeoffs—alongside activated carbon, ionizers, and UV-C.

"A filter can be labeled HEPA without ever being independently verified. The label is a marketing term, not a performance guarantee."

Why HEPA Units Struggle in Bedrooms: The Noise vs. Performance Tradeoff

HEPA filters are dense, so the fan has to work hard to push air through them. Turn the fan high enough to clean the room more, and many HEPA units get loud. Turn them down to stay quiet, and they are less helpful because they often circulate too little air to help much. That is the bind: Cleaning your air well means running the purifier most of the time, and few people leave a loud machine on all night, or day.

Noise is measured in decibels (dB):

• A whisper is about 30 dB
• A normal conversation is about 60 dB

Many air purifiers advertise their quietest setting—often around 25–35 dB. That’s the number you’ll see on the box.

But that setting usually doesn’t move enough air to actually clean the room.

To properly clean a bedroom, a purifier typically needs to run at a higher speed—often around 50–65 dB, which is as loud as a conversation. So a unit marketed as “whisper quiet” may only be quiet when it’s not doing much.

What to look for:
Check the noise level at the speed required for your room size—not just the lowest setting.

What counts as “too loud” at night—and what that means for your air purifier

So how loud is too loud?

The World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines (2009) provide a helpful reference. They group nighttime noise levels based on how they affect sleep, using a measure called Lnight (the average nighttime noise level outside the bedroom).

Because Lnight measures noise outside the bedroom, it’s not a perfect comparison to an air purifier running next to your bed—but it still offers useful context.

The key takeaway: Sleep disruption begins around 40 dB Lnight. Many air purifiers, when running at the speed needed to properly clean a bedroom, operate above that level.

The chart below shows how different noise levels can affect sleep.

EC (electronically commutated) motors are meaningfully quieter than conventional blower motors at equivalent airflow—and more energy-efficient. They are worth asking about when evaluating bedroom suitability.

A purifier with an oversized unit for your room size can also help: a unit rated for a larger space can often achieve adequate ACH at a lower fan speed, and lower fan speed means less noise.

The Filtration Tradeoff: Finer Filtration Means More Resistance, More Power, More Noise

This is the tradeoff no manufacturer prominently advertises, but every buyer should understand before choosing a filter grade.

Think of it like water pressure through a finer and finer mesh: The tighter the filter, the harder the motor has to work to pull air through it. More motor power means more electricity consumed and, almost always, more noise. This holds across all filter grades—not just HEPA.

In plain terms: a standard HEPA filter is denser than a basic filter, so it requires a more powerful motor.

H13 is denser than standard HEPA, requiring more power still.

ULPA is denser than H13.

The pattern continues.

Add more air changes per hour—running the unit faster to cycle the room's air more frequently—and the motor works harder still, consuming more energy and generating more noise at every filter grade.

For a living room or open-plan space where a purifier runs in the background, this tradeoff may be manageable. For a bedroom or TV room, where you are in close proximity to the unit and silence matters, it is the central purchasing consideration.

A filter grade that performs excellently in a lab may be practically unusable in a bedroom because the motor required to push air through it at adequate ACH is too loud for comfortable sleep or conversation.

When comparing air purifiers on your worksheet, ask yourself:

• What is the noise level at the speed needed to properly clean my room (about 3 air changes per hour)—not just the lowest setting?
• Does the unit use an EC (electronically commutated) motor, which is typically quieter and more energy-efficient than a standard motor?
• Would I be better off with a slightly lower filter grade that runs quietly at an effective speed, rather than a higher-grade filter that’s too loud to use consistently?

In other words, the best air purifier is one you’ll actually run—at a setting that truly cleans your air.

Why HEPA Filters Lose Efficiency Over Time

A HEPA filter gets less effective as it loads with particles, so its real-world performance drifts between replacements. Assess how a unit performs as the filter fills—not just its rated efficiency when new. A filter that hits 99.97% on day one can be noticeably weaker by month six.

Why HEPA Filters Can Become a Source of Contamination

HEPA filters trap mold, bacteria, and fungi, but do not deactivate them. A loaded filter can become a breeding ground that re-contaminates your air. I’d assumed trapping was enough; it isn’t. 

When comparison shopping, note in your worksheet: How, if at all, the technology handles biological buildup inside the filter?

HEPA and Ultrafine Particles: What the Standard Does and Doesn't Guarantee

You’ll often hear that HEPA “misses” ultrafine particles. That’s not quite right—and the distinction matters. The 0.3-micron benchmark is not the smallest particle HEPA captures—it is the most penetrating particle size (MPPS): the size that is hardest for any filter to capture.

HEPA filters are actually reasonably effective at capturing particles both larger and smaller than 0.3 micron, including ultrafine particles, through a mechanism called diffusion—particles that small move erratically and tend to collide with filter fibers.

The real limitation is not that HEPA necessarily fails at ultrafine particles. It is that HEPA is not independently tested or certified at ultrafine particle sizes, so you cannot verify performance claims in that range. The standard was established in the 1940s for nuclear contamination control, not for the ultrafine particle profile of modern indoor environments.

Several technologies provide independent certification at smaller particle sizes—which is the meaningful difference from standard HEPA. For most consumers, H13 is the most accessible starting point: it is widely available in consumer products, certified under EN 1822 at a more rigorous standard than US HEPA, and balances filtration performance with practical airflow and noise. Beyond H13, the options are more specialized (the exact efficiency figures for each are in the filtration reference table below):

• H13 HEPA—the accessible upgrade for most homes. Its value is not just a higher number: it is certified at the hardest particle size for that specific filter, not at a fixed benchmark. The question that matters is whether the rating is at the unit level (the whole system, housing included) or for the filter media only.
• ULPA—cleanroom- and pharmaceutical-grade. More than a home needs, and it carries real airflow, noise, and energy penalties; uncommon in consumer products.
• IQAir's HyperHEPA—independently certified into the ultrafine range, with sealed housing so the rating reflects the whole unit, not just the media.
• DFS (Disinfecting Filtration System)—a discontinued product worth knowing as a benchmark: independent certification at ultrafine sizes plus biological deactivation inside the filter, not just trapping.

When comparison shopping, note in your worksheet: What is the smallest particle size your system is independently certified to capture, at what efficiency, under which standard, and at the unit level or filter media only?

What Is CADR—and Why It's Not Enough to Evaluate an Air Purifier

CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) is the air purifier industry's most cited performance metric. It measures how quickly a unit removes dust, pollen, and tobacco smoke from a test chamber. It’s a real, standardized measurement, and genuinely useful for one narrow job: comparing the short-term particle-removal speed of similar units. But it has significant limitations that most buyers never learn, and it should never be the primary basis for your decision.

CADR Only Tests the First 20 Minutes of Operation

The CADR test runs for 20 minutes. It measures initial particle-removal speed with a clean filter—not sustained performance over the weeks and months you will actually use the unit. A filter that loads quickly may post an excellent CADR number and then degrade rapidly. CADR tells you nothing about longevity.

Does CADR Measure Ultrafine Particles?

No. CADR measures particles from 0.5 to 3 microns. It does not measure ultrafine particles (smaller than 0.1 micron)—the most abundant particles in indoor air and, based on current research, potentially the most concerning for health. The single most abundant category of indoor airborne particle is entirely absent from the industry's primary rating.

CADR Does Not Measure Gas or VOC Filtration

CADR measures particles only. It tells you nothing about a unit's ability to filter gases and VOCs—the paint, furniture, mattress, and cleaning-product off-gassing that makes up a significant portion of indoor air pollution. A unit can have an excellent CADR and no meaningful gas-phase filtration at all.

CADR Does Not Distinguish Elimination from Surface Deposition

This is the limitation with the most significant safety implication. CADR measures the reduction of particles from the air in the test chamber. It does not distinguish between particles captured and removed by the filter and particles that have simply been deposited onto chamber surfaces—for example, by an ionizer charging particles so they fall out of the air onto walls, floors, and furniture. This is why ionizers can post high CADR numbers despite the EPA and American Lung Association warnings against them. A high CADR is not proof of genuine air cleaning—those particles may simply be resting on your walls and floors instead.

CADR Does Not Measure Ozone Production

CADR provides no information about whether a unit produces ozone, either deliberately or as a byproduct of ionization. A unit can post an excellent CADR while emitting ozone the EPA warns against.

CADR is one useful data point for comparing short-term particle removal—not a complete measure of an air purifier's effectiveness or safety. Treat it as one input among many.

What Are You Trying to Remove?

Some are designed to capture large particles like dust and pollen. Others are better at removing microscopic pollutants like smoke, bacteria, or ultrafine particles. And some are needed to address gases like VOCs.

To choose the right air purifier, you first need to understand what you’re trying to remove—and how small those particles are.

The sections below walk you through this step by step:

• First: how particle size relates to what’s in your air
• Next: which pollutants fall into each size range
• Then: which filtration technologies actually work for each type

How Particle Size Affects What an Air Purifier Can Capture

Air pollutants vary dramatically in size—and that size determines whether a filter can remove them.

For context:

• A human hair is about 50–100 microns wide
• The smallest particle visible to the naked eye is about 40 microns

Most of the pollutants that affect health are far smaller—and completely invisible.

Particle Size at a Glance

Common Indoor Pollutants by Size (and What Filters Can Capture Them)

The table below details how common indoor pollutants compare by size, which you can see above, and which types of filtration are typically used to remove them. Everything in the table below that matters most for health is invisible.

How to Choose the Right Air Purifier Technology

Once you understand what you’re trying to remove, the next step is choosing a technology that can handle it.

Air purifier terminology can be confusing—and not all technologies perform equally. The table below breaks down the most common filtration types, what they remove, and what to watch out for.

Key takeaway: The smaller the particle—or if it’s a gas—the more specialized the filtration required. As you comparison shop, reference it as you complete the worksheet below.

MPPS = the most penetrating particle size, the hardest size for a filter to catch—so it is the toughest test of a filter’s rating. US “True HEPA” is defined at a fixed 0.3 micron; EN 1822 grades are defined at the MPPS.

Air Purifier Certifications: Which Ones Actually Help—and What Each One Checks

Certifications can cut through marketing—but only if you know what each one actually checks. The honest version: none of them certifies that a purifier is right for your room, or free of every concern. Each verifies a single, narrow claim—and used that way, a handful are genuinely useful.

Two labels that look like certifications but are not: “HEPA” and “True HEPA” are unregulated marketing terms in the US, not third-party certifications—the HEPA label is a starting point, not a guarantee. The European EN 1822 standard behind H13 and H14 is a real filter-performance standard; just ask whether a unit’s H13 rating is certified at the unit level, with the housing, or for the filter media alone.

Air Purifier Buyer's Checklist: 12 Questions Before You Purchase

The 12 questions below will simplify the clutter and navigate you to document the key information for you to record on your worksheet. Over time, you'll develop an opinion on products that don't offer much detail or transparency. If you reach out to manufacturers, vague or evasive answers can themselves an answer.

Air Purifier Room Size Calculator: How Many Air Changes Per Hour Do You Need?

An air purifier only helps if it can actually cycle the air in your room often enough. That is what air changes per hour (ACH) measures—how many times per hour the unit can filter a volume of air equal to your entire room. Research generally points to a minimum of 3 ACH for meaningful particle reduction; the EPA references roughly 4.8 ACH for higher-efficiency cleaning, and clinicians often target 4–5 ACH or more for sensitive situations. A unit that delivers strong filtration but cannot reach adequate ACH for your room is undersized in practice.

Enter your room dimensions and the unit's CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating—ask the manufacturer for CFM at the speed you intend to run—to see the ACH it would deliver in your space.

How to use this calculator: Enter your room's length, width, and ceiling height in feet, plus the unit's CFM rating. ACH = (CFM × 60) ÷ room volume. Aim for at least 3; 4.8 or higher meets the EPA reference for higher-efficiency cleaning. This is an estimate for comparison, not a substitute for manufacturer guidance.

When to Open Windows vs. Run Your Air Purifier

An air purifier is not a substitute for ventilation, and ventilation is not always the right choice. The two work together, and which one to prioritize depends on what’s in your outdoor air at that moment.

Open windows when: outdoor air quality is good (check AirNow.gov for real-time AQI), and you want to dilute indoor VOCs, carbon dioxide, and humidity. Fresh-air exchange is the most effective way to reduce gas-phase indoor pollutants that build up in tightly sealed homes—something no particle filter addresses.

Keep windows closed and run your purifier when: outdoor AQI is poor—wildfire smoke, high pollen, urban pollution, or nearby traffic and construction. During wildfire events specifically, keep windows closed and run a unit with both HEPA/H13 and activated carbon continuously.

The practical rhythm for most homes: ventilate when outdoor air is clean (often early morning in many areas), then close up and run the purifier when outdoor air degrades or when generating indoor pollutants—cooking, cleaning, or using personal-care products. Check AQI before deciding; the right answer changes day to day and hour to hour.

Frequently Asked Questions: Choosing an Air Purifier

Air Purifier Glossary: Key Terms to Know

A plain-language reference for the terms used throughout this guide and across air purifier marketing.

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution Throughout Your Home: Next Steps

An air purifier is one meaningful step—but the biggest gains come from pairing filtration with cutting pollution at its source. A few high-return habits:

• Prioritize the bedroom. You spend roughly a third of your life there. A well-sized, quiet purifier running continuously while you sleep is among the highest-return changes you can make.
• Ventilate strategically. Open windows when outdoor AQI is good to dilute VOCs and CO2; close up and filter when outdoor air degrades.
• Reduce sources. Choose lower-VOC paints, furnishings, mattresses, and cleaning and personal-care products. What you don’t bring in, you don’t have to filter out.
• Manage moisture. Keep humidity below 50% to limit mold growth; address leaks and condensation at the source.
• Vent combustion and cooking. Use range hoods that exhaust outside, and avoid candles and indoor combustion where possible.

If you would like a structured, step-by-step path through your whole home—not just your air—the free Ultimate Home Detox™ Kickstart introduces the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework one practical step at a time. For a guided, comprehensive experience, the 40-Day Home Detox™ walks you through your home room by room.

About Sophia Ruan Gushée

The information in this guide is shared for educational purposes and reflects peer-reviewed research and authoritative sources current as of publication. It is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.

Sources and Further Reading

This guide draws on peer-reviewed research and authoritative institutions—the EPA, WHO, NIH, and CDC among them. Studies cited describe observed associations in the populations studied and do not establish causation.

Printable Air Purifier Comparison Worksheet

This is what the guide has been building toward. Use it to evaluate up to four models against the same standard. It’s grouped into filtration, room coverage, noise and cost, and brand—with a short hint under each row telling you where to find that spec or whether you’ll need to ask the manufacturer directly. Fill it in as you research; the rows you can’t get an answer to are often the most revealing.

Print this worksheet →

This worksheet and guide are provided for educational purposes and do not constitute medical, health, or product-specific advice. Ruan Living does not endorse or guarantee any specific product. Verify all specifications and certifications directly with the manufacturer before purchasing.