California Air Resources Board

Since 2010, all portable indoor air cleaning devices sold to people or businesses in California are required to be certified by CARB. As of October 2020, electronic in-duct air cleaning devices are also subject to the regulation. To be certified, all air cleaners must be tested for electrical safety. Electronic air cleaners must also be tested for ozone emissions and meet an ozone emission concentration limit of 0.050 parts per million (50 ppb). More information about California's Air Cleaner Regulation (AB 2276).

The table below lists CARB-certified air cleaning devices, and is continuously updated as devices are approved. Please note that CARB certification does not reflect air cleaner effectiveness or "health safety", as the legislation that is the foundation for the air cleaner regulation (Pavley, 2006) focused on reducing consumer's exposure to ozone from air cleaning devices.  CARB does not evaluate the effectiveness of air cleaners at removing pollutants and CARB certification does not imply that a specific air cleaner is "safe to use".  The following terms relate to the type of air cleaning technology used by a device:

• Mechanical: Air cleaners that are listed as "Mechanical" are those that only use physical filtration, such as pleated or HEPA-style filters, and do not generate ozone or ions.
• Electronic: Air cleaners that are listed as "Electronic" may be capable of generating ozone, but have been tested and found to produce an ozone emission concentration no greater than 0.050 parts per million (50 ppb). This category includes ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, PCOs, hydroxyl generators, devices with UV light components, and other electronic air cleaning technologies. 

If you find an air cleaning device for sale in California (or for sale online with delivery available to California) that does not bear the certification label and/or is not on the list of CARB-certified air cleaning devices, please contact aircleaners@arb.ca.gov.

How to Select a Safe and Effective Air Cleaner

In addition to CARB certification, there are other factors to consider in selecting a suitable air cleaner. For example, it's important to choose an air cleaner with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that matches the size of the space you want to clean. So, to make the best choice for your needs, check both the list of California certified devices and the following resources:

CARB Resources

• Air Cleaning Devices for the Home
• Air Cleaner Information for Consumers

External Resources

• Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM): Verification Program For Air Cleaners
• National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health: Residential Air Cleaner Use to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Health: A Review of the Evidence
• U.S. EPA: Air Cleaners and Air Filters in the Home
• U.S. EPA: Indoor Air in Homes and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• U.S. EPA: Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19)