Koch Maxi-Grid Slip-On Service Rolls are continuous rolls of sleeve filter media that slip over a replaceable internal steel wire frame, creating a complete filter on demand. Designed for fan coil units, package terminal air conditioners (PTAC units), hotel HVAC, commercial buildings, and hospital air handlers — any application where the filter wire stays in place and only the media gets replaced.
Why slip-on sleeves exist (and why they save money)
Most disposable filters are throwaway frame-and-media units — you buy a complete panel, install it, then replace the entire panel (frame and media together) at end of life. Slip-on sleeves split that economics: the 9-gauge rust-resistant steel wire frame stays in service for years, and only the polyester media sleeve gets replaced. For high-volume applications — a hotel with hundreds of PTAC units, or a hospital with dozens of fan coil units — the per-changeout cost drops substantially compared to disposable framed filters.
Koch positions this line as an economical replacement for fiberglass throwaway filters in applications where the wire support frame is already in place or can be installed once. Cut the sleeve to length from the roll, slip it over the wire, install in the unit. When it loads up, pull the wire, slip off the old sleeve, slip on a new one from the roll.
Three sleeve types — choosing between SS, DL, and DL200
Koch offers three sleeve constructions on this product. All three carry the same MERV 5 efficiency rating per ASHRAE Test Standard 52.2 and serve the same applications — the differences are in media density, dust holding capacity, and roll length:
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Type SS (Polyester + Spunbonded): Single-layer polyester face with a spunbonded backing for support. Initial pressure drop 0.30″ w.g. at 400 FPM, dust holding capacity 105 grams at 1.5″ w.g. The economical choice for general-purpose PTAC and fan coil applications. 135-foot rolls, 14 width options.
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Type DL (Dual-Layered Polyester): Two layers of polyester for higher dust holding capacity and longer service life. Initial pressure drop 0.34″ w.g. at 400 FPM. Specify Type DL when the application demands longer changeout intervals, when the airstream carries heavier dust loading, or when the marginal cost of the upgraded media is worth fewer changeouts. 135-foot rolls, 12 width options.
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Type DL200 (Dual-Layered Polyester, 90-foot Rolls): Same dual-layered polyester construction as Type DL but in 90-foot rolls (vs. 135-foot). 9 width options (8″ through 16″). The right pick when you need DL performance but a smaller roll volume per facility — useful for smaller properties, lower-volume changeout cycles, or storage-constrained installations.
Sizing the sleeve to your wire frame
Each sleeve is identified by two dimensions:
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Type: SS, DL, or DL200 (see comparison above)
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Width: Match to the wire frame width. Available widths range from 7″ through 30″ on the SS line, 7″ through 30″ on the DL line, and 8″ through 16″ on the DL200 line. Roll length is 135 feet for SS and DL, or 90 feet for DL200. You cut the sleeve to the length you need from the roll — the roll feeds dozens to hundreds of changeouts per facility depending on filter size.
Note on availability: Not every width is available on every Type. The variant dropdown only shows real-world available combinations — if you don’t see your width on a particular Type, that combination isn’t cataloged. Try the other Type or request a quote for unusual sizes.
Design and construction
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Form factor: Continuous roll of sleeve media (135′ or 90′) — cut to length on site
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Media: Polyester (Type SS) or dual-layered polyester (Type DL / DL200)
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Compatible frame: 9-gauge rust-resistant steel wire (Koch sells these separately, or compatible third-party frames work)
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Tackifier: No tackifier (sleeve media)
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Efficiency rating: MERV 5 per ASHRAE Test Standard 52.2
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Initial pressure drop: 0.30″ w.g. at 400 FPM (Type SS); 0.34″ w.g. at 400 FPM (Type DL / DL200)
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Dust holding capacity: 105 grams at 1.5″ w.g. (Type SS)
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Reference bulletins: Koch K-902 and K-892-6
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Sold by the roll. One roll per order; multiple rolls can be ordered as separate quantities.
Where slip-on sleeves are typically deployed
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Hotel and motel PTAC units — the classic high-volume application; one roll services dozens of rooms across multiple changeouts
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Fan coil units in commercial buildings, condos, and apartments
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Hospital patient room AC units and clinical fan coil installations
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Mini-split and ductless A/C indoor units with sleeve-compatible filter racks
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Make-up air units and small commercial AHUs
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Replacement for fiberglass throwaway filters in any application where the wire frame can stay in place
What MERV 5 captures
MERV 5 is a basic prefilter and equipment-protection efficiency — captures larger airborne dust, lint, and pollen. Suitable for protecting blowers, coils, and downstream filters from coarse particles in applications where a high-efficiency final filter isn’t required. Not appropriate as a final filter for healthcare clean spaces, high-IAQ applications, or anywhere MERV 8+ is specified.
If your application requires higher efficiency, see Koch’s standard Maxi-Grid Panel filters (MG200 through MG550, MERV 7 through MERV 11) or the Multi-Pleat line for pleated alternatives.
Sizing and ordering notes
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Confirm your wire frame width before ordering. Sleeve width must match the frame width — ordering a 12″ sleeve for a 14″ frame leaves the filter undersized and creates bypass.
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Wire frames sold separately. If you need replaceable wire frames in addition to the sleeve media, contact us for the matching Koch frame SKUs.
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Cut to length on site. Each roll feeds many filter changeouts; the media is cut to the length needed for each filter at install time.
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Need a non-cataloged width or roll length? Request a quote for unusual sizes or facility-scale orders.