Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
What is a Micron?
A millionth of a meter (m). To put in perspective,
the average human hair is 150 microns in
diameter while dust is typically 5 to 10 microns
in size.
What is ASHRAE?
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. www.ashrae.org.
ASHRAE establishes standards for testing and comparing the efficiency of filters or air cleaners.
used to measure performance of prefilters or low efficiency filters - efficiencies measured by weight give little
indication of their performance for the smallest, lightest particles (the most respirable and hazardous). The
atmospheric dust spot efficiency test is based upon the amount of stain or discoloration that appears on a filter
when subjected to specific test conditions and is not based on a specific particle size. The atmospheric dust spot
efficiency is commonly shortened and referred to as ASHRAE efficiency.
Standard 52.2-1999: This test method actually counts the number of particles of varying sizes before and after
a filter to determine its true efficiency to filter out particles of various size ranges by count. Standard 52.2
testing measures efficiency in 12 different size ranges between 0.3 micron particles up to 10 microns. This is the
most recent standard in filter testing and provides a meaningful efficiency for a filter or air filtration system that
can be compared between manufacturers.
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) further quantifies overall air filtration efficiency by
condensing the above results into 3 size ranges. The condensed particle sizes ranges are: 3 to 10 m, 1 to 3 m,
and 0.3 to 1 m. Particle size efficiency is further expressed by a (MERV) value between 1 and 16.
ASHRAE 52.2
MERV
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
3-10 microns
<20%
<20%
<20%
<20%
30-35%
35-50%
50-70%
>70
>85%
>85%
>85%
>90%
1 - 3 microns
<50%
50-65%
65-80%
>80%
ASHRAE 52.1
0.3 - 1 microns
-
Arrestance
<65%
65-70%
70-75%
>75%
80-85%
>90%
>90%
>95%
>95%
>95%
>98%
>98%
Dust Spot
<20%
<20%
<20%
<20%
<20%
<20%
20-25%
25-30%
40-45%
50-55%
60-65%
70-75%
Dust Spot
>10 microns
3.1-10 microns
1.0-3.0 microns
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
>90%
>90%
>90%
>95%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>90%
>90%
>90%
>95%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>99%
<75%
75-85%
85-95%
>95%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>98%
>98%
>98%
>98%
-
80-90%
90-95%
~95%
>95%
>99%
>99%
>99%
>99%
0.3-1.0 microns
0.3-1.0 microns
Impingement - large particles collide with a fiber while air passes around the fiber.
Interception - small particles move in the air-stream but are attracted to the fiber with
a stronger force than carries the particle in the air stream.
Diffusion very small particles too small to follow streamlines will follow irregular
paths because they are being hit by gas particles. (This irregular path is called the
Brownian Movement.) These particles collide with fibers and are retained.
Straining - a particle is too large to pass between the gaps in the fiber matrix. (This is
like a tennis ball getting stuck in a chain-link fence.)
In most filters treating domestic air, all of these filtration effects are happening at once, giving an overall
particle removal efficiency.
What is an ESF?
Extended Service Filter. These filters feature longer life than standard filters, due to a lot more surface area.
What is an ionizer?
An ionizer is a device that electronically disperses negatively or positively charged ions into the air using high
voltages. The charged ions attach to molecules and particles in the air and give them a charge so they can attach
to one another and settle out of the air. For more information on the effectiveness of ionizers, visit the
What does depth loading vs. face loading mean and what is the
advantage to each?
Depth loading a filter refers to a filter of various density. Initially the loser matrix of fibers will catch only the
large particles, allowing the smaller particles to pass. As the matrix of fibers becomes more tight than smaller
particles will be caught. The advantage to a depth loading filter is the amount of dust holding capacity.
A face loading filter will capture all the particles on the media. These filters are designed to fill up fast with
particles but their advantage is they can be cleaned easily. In many dust collectors with self cleaning or pulsing
mechanisms they will get a blast of air from the clean side and the particles will fall down into a collection
hopper.
In contrast, Building Related Illness (BRI) is a term used when symptoms of an illness are identified and are
directly attributed to airborne building contaminants.
Although specific causes are unknown, some contributing factors to Sick Building Syndrome include chemical
contaminants from both indoor and outdoor sources, inadequate ventilation, and biological contaminants such
as mold, pollen, bacteria, and viruses.
Some solutions to SBS include removal of bacterial contaminant source, increasing ventilation rates and air
distribution, as well as air filtration systems to clean the air.
For more information on Sick Building Syndrome, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys website
Natural upward air movement directs the air to the cleaner. With the air moving through the cleaner, it is blown
out in all four directions. This air moves out to the walls and then drops down the walls to the floor and then is
sucked back up into the air cleaner. Click here for more information about our products and how they utilize the
COANDA effect.
What are PEL and TLV (Threshold Limit Value) and BEI (Biological
Exposure Indices)?
PEL stands for permissible exposure limits enforced by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, to protect workers against health effects linked to exposure to hazardous substances. PELs can
be regulatory limits on the amount of a substance in the air or a concentration limit of a substance in the air and
are based on on 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure. Learn more about PELs on OSHA.gov.
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) were developed as guidelines to
assist in the control of health hazards in the practice of industrial hygiene. Visit the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists website for additional information.