Also known as a Corsi-Rosenthal box, this DIY method of building your own air filter with MERV13 furnace filters and a box fan are an easy and cost-effective way to help clear indoor air from airborne virus particles, wildfire smoke, pollen, dust, and more!
If you can seal a box, you can build one (or 100!) of these!
Table of Contents
Image / Video Gallery
This gallery includes photos of builds, creative modifications, instructional images, as well as videos. Click through tags below to load more.
Video: How to effectively ventilate classrooms using fans, HEPA filters or Corsi-Rosenthal box fans and monitors
Cleaning indoor air properly greatly reduces infections by airborne viruses, like COVID-19. This video explains it all very well!
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal box fan filter
Start here
A Variation on the “Box Fan with MERV 13 Filter” Air Cleaner Article by Jim Rosenthal
Read about it in WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/could-a-janky-jury-rigged-air-purifier-help-fight-covid-19/
Construction Guide:
More details, including filter brands to avoid, here: encycla.com/Corsi-Rosenthal_Cube (by Philip Neustrom)
(hint: Filterbuy MERV-13, prevalent on Amazon, have not tested well)
Illustrated Guide
The Fan Shroud
An optional part of a box fan filter is the fan shroud, or covered fan corners. Covering corners of a square box fan closes gaps and improves efficiency of the fan. See Jim Rosenthal’s article about it here. Use cardboard or duct tape.
Testing to optimize fan shroud size. David Elfstrom found a 13.5 to 14.25 inch diameter opening to work best with a Utilitech brand fan. Lasko fans work best with a 15 inch fan shroud.
Important! Get the most out of your #boxfanfilter with a shroud on the outlet. Improves inlet flow & reduces power and noise. I've found optimum size for two models. Same final flow.
— David Elfstrom (@DavidElfstrom) August 18, 2021
Utilitech/Hurricane: 13.5" dia, +47% flow
Lasko Comfort: 15" dia, +38% flow pic.twitter.com/TX9mBO7Pbq
Choosing filters
David Elfstrom advises “keep an eye out for local sales on the 20x20x1 or 20x25x1 Filtrete 1900 and box fans“
To build with 2 inch deep filters, use (3) 20x20x2 and (2) 16x20x2
You can order a full set of high-quality MERV13 filters to make this air purifier here: https://www.texairfilters.com/filters-for-box-fan-and-merv-13-filters-air-cleaner
These 2 inch deep filters (compared to typical 1 inch) provide greater surface area for filtration, better air flow, quieter operation, and longer filter life.
Performance
The Corsi-Rosenthal box (single filter tested, full cube would be even better!) performs very well! It is the most cost effective air cleaner on Marwa Zaatari’s chart!
From Bill Bahnfleth, Chair – ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force
The CR box is not specifically referenced in ASHRAE guidance, but they are completely consistent with guidance about upgrading filters and using portable air cleaners to improve clean air delivery rate where needed. You can certainly quote me on that.
— Bill Bahnfleth (@WBahnfleth) December 10, 2021
source: https://twitter.com/WBahnfleth/status/1469454061225316353?s=20
Bottom line – Use of DIY air cleaners with MERV 13 or better filters that are well constructed is consistent with ASHRAE’s requirements for effectiveness and safety and can help to mitigate airborne exposure that causes Covid-19. 7/7
— Bill Bahnfleth (@WBahnfleth) December 11, 2021
source: https://twitter.com/WBahnfleth/status/1469781099043864583
CR Boxes in Johns Hopkins “Ventilation: Vital Tool to Reduce Spread”
They’re also listed in the Johns Hopkins “Ventilation: Vital Tool to Reduce Spread” paper here : https://t.co/IBbba4jXtg pic.twitter.com/qgTCPW1YB6
— Marina A. Creed (@MarinaC_Dyb) December 11, 2021
source: https://twitter.com/MarinaC_Dyb/status/1469469896664829952?s=20
Round Fan alternate design
Not all parts of the world have box fans available. This international team has worked out an alternate design using a round fan!
Travel DIY Air filter
Modification: Screen as “prefilter”
This modification, adding fiberglass screen material, can keep pet hair out of filters and prolong their useful life, with barely noticeable flow reduction!
Here's the fiberglass screen added to a 20×20 based cube. Barely noticable flow reduction, just 1.27% loss!!
— David Elfstrom (@DavidElfstrom) November 14, 2021
Mesh is 18×16 per inch, diameter 0.011, made by Adfors. There's other options avail but this is most economical, and it doesn't impede flow. pic.twitter.com/SsJKN32vQr
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
New comprehensive FAQ page here!
Also, tons of details and FAQs in this excellent comprehensive thread by Lazarus Long.
Video: Box Fan Filter build tutorial – Spanish
source: AleHSalcedo2
Video: A Fourth Grader Explains How to Build a DIY Corsi/Rosenthal Box Air Cleaner
source: @gbignami
Wow putting this collage together made me happy. This is what happens when people put their minds into helping protect kids in schools. Yes, anyone can build a Corsi-Rosenthal box — as @JimRosenthal4 says–if you can tape a package to mail, you can build one of these. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/4Q4YHGhfTQ
— Kimberly Prather, Ph.D. (@kprather88) August 30, 2021
Mass production!
Check out how Rosie @BkPhilanthropy assembled and distributed 100 air filters!
Download the printable PDF of the insert they included with the filters!
Dr. Prather with UCSanDiego
Brown University
Students unite to take a hands-on, DIY approach to improving air quality
An event hosted by Brown’s School of Public Health brought students together to build low-cost, highly effective Corsi-Rosenthal cubes as air filters that will augment existing filtration systems at Brown.
www.brown.edu/news/2021-11-19/diy
Common concerns addressed
Developed by @amandalhu, this interactive PDF addresses common points of confusion around air filters.
Rebuttal Matrix for Advocates of Air Filtration in Schools Based on Common Barriers
Find more tweets about this:
Box fan filter
#corsirosenthalbox
#CorsiRosenthalBoxes
#CorsiBox
Corsi Rosenthal box
In the news:
3M scientists: This Corsi-Rosenthal box movement is legit
CBS News: New air purifiers filter at least 90% of COVID-carrying particles, researchers say
WIRED: Could a Janky, Jury-Rigged Air Purifier Help Fight Covid-19?
DIY Air Filters For Classrooms? Experts Are Enthusiastic — And A Citizen Scientist Makes It Easy
UCSD students, staff build filtration boxes to prevent spread of COVID in classrooms