This 16″ × 20″ × 4″ Koch Multi-Pleat HT filter (part number 102-730-014) is a specialty high-temperature pleated panel filter with MERV 8 efficiency, engineered for systems with continuous operational temperatures up to 500°F / 260°C.
The Multi-Pleat HT is purpose-built for industrial applications where standard synthetic-media pleated filters (Elite, XL8, GT) would degrade or fail. The frame is 24-gauge aluminized steel that resists flaking and oxidation under sustained heat. The media is specially formulated extended-surface glass microfiber, designed to maintain MERV 8 performance at temperatures that would melt or break down conventional synthetic media. Pleats are bonded to the entire interior surface of the frame to eliminate bypass, the radial pleat design ensures total media utilization, and the media is supported downstream by a high-temperature expanded metal grid.
The filter is also UL Class 1 classified — a higher fire-rating classification than the UL Class 2 used in standard Koch pleated panels, important for spray booth, oven, and other applications where elevated temperatures and combustible materials may be present.
When Multi-Pleat HT is specified
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Drying ovens — continuous makeup air or recirculation filtration where temperatures stay elevated for long operational cycles
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Baking systems — industrial food production, ceramic and pottery firing, and other process-heat applications
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Paint spray booth makeup air — UL Class 1 rating and high-temperature media survive booth thermal cycles where standard pleated panels cannot
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Industrial process exhaust pre-filtration — ahead of higher-efficiency stages in heated process streams
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Curing ovens and tunnels — powder coating, adhesive curing, and similar applications
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Any system where continuous operating temperature exceeds 200°F — the practical upper limit for synthetic-media pleated filters like the Elite, XL8, and GT lines
Design and construction
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Media: Heavy-duty extended-surface glass microfiber (specifically formulated for high-temperature stability)
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Frame: 24-gauge aluminized steel (resists flaking and oxidation at sustained elevated temperatures)
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Pleat-to-frame seal: Media bonded to the entire interior surface of the frame (eliminates air bypass)
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Pleat geometry: Radial pleat design for total media utilization
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Support: High-temperature expanded metal grid (downstream)
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Configuration: Extended-surface pleated panel, 4″ depth
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Efficiency rating: MERV 8 per ASHRAE Test Standard 52.2
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Maximum continuous operating temperature: 500°F / 260°C
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Initial resistance: Approximately 0.5″ w.g. at typical face velocities
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Listings: UL Classified per UL Standard 900, UL Class 1
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Pack size: 6 filters per case
What MERV 8 captures
Captures dust mite debris, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and most household and office airborne dust. The standard residential and commercial efficiency for everyday indoor air quality, balancing capture performance with airflow.
Why microfiberglass instead of synthetic media
Synthetic media (used in the Multi-Pleat Elite, XL8, GT, and GT-HD lines) is the right choice for standard HVAC up to roughly 200°F. Above that temperature, the polymer fibers begin to soften, melt, or release, compromising filter integrity and creating potential downstream contamination. Glass microfiber media has none of those failure modes — it stays structurally intact at 500°F continuous operation. The trade-off is cost (microfiberglass costs more to produce than synthetic) and slightly higher pressure drop, which is why Koch reserves the HT line for genuinely high-temperature applications and recommends synthetic-media filters everywhere else.
Multi-Pleat HT vs. Multi-Pleat Elite/XL8/GT: temperature ratings compared
All Koch Multi-Pleat panel filters carry MERV 8 ratings, but their continuous-temperature tolerances differ dramatically:
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Multi-Pleat Elite, XL8, GT: Synthetic media, beverage board frame — rated to roughly 200°F continuous (the standard for general HVAC)
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Multi-Pleat HT (this filter): Glass microfiber media, aluminized steel frame — rated to 500°F continuous
If your application stays below 200°F at all times, the synthetic-media filters are a better economic choice. If continuous operating temperature is at or above 250°F, or if intermittent excursions reach 350°F+, the HT is the correct selection.
Important sizing and ordering notes
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Sizes listed are nominal. Actual filter dimensions are documented in Koch bulletin PB-594.
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Special sizes are available. Unlike most Koch pleated panel lines, the Multi-Pleat HT can be built in special sizes for OEM oven and booth specifications. Request a quote if you need a non-standard size.
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Full carton quantities only. Per Koch’s shipping policy, Multi-Pleat HT ships in full carton quantities for safe transit.
Compatibility
The Multi-Pleat HT drops into standard 4″-deep pleated panel filter slots and is interchangeable with most competitive high-temperature MERV 8 pleated panels in the same nominal size. It is the direct upgrade path for facilities currently running discontinued or competing high-temp filters in oven, booth, or process-heat applications.