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ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION TEST PROTOCOL, GENERAL VENTILATION FILTERS
Citation:
Elion, J. M., J. Hanley, D. S. Ensor, AND D. L. Franke. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION TEST PROTOCOL, GENERAL VENTILATION FILTERS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-00/110.
Description:
The Environmental Technology Verification Test Protocol, General Ventilation Filters provides guidance for verification tests.
Reference is made in the protocol to the ASHRAE 52.2P "Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size" Fourth Composite Working Draft issued in May 1998. The ASHRAE 52.2P document was issued solely for the purpose of soliciting review comments and is not a standard. As a result, ASHRAE 52.2P is not currently available from ASHRAE. However, certain test specifications, such as particle size distribution parameters and quality assurance requirements from ASHRAE 52.2P are used in this protocol with the attribution and appropriate caveats. The reason for this approach is that it is believed that the ASHRAE 52.2P standard will likely not be modified in these fundamental areas before being issued in 1999. It is important to support our industrial stakeholders by ensuring that the data developed under the ETV program will be consistent with eventual commercial practice. This approach has been implemented with approval by ASHRAE.
There are two technical points of exception between this ETV test protocol and the ASHRAE 52.2P method:
a) The first dust loading step in ASHRAE 52.2P, or "conditioning step," has been the subject of review and research during the last 6 months. In particular, it was found that ASHRAE loading dust appeared to enhance the performance of certain kinds of media filters over that experienced when filtering ambient or indoor particulate matter. As a result, the first loading step has been modified to use submicrometer aerosol for conditioning.
b) The "Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is unique to ASHRAE 52.2P, and for that reason it is inappropriate to include this reporting method in the protocol. The protocol will not include the MERV, but information will be available in the verification report to calculate it if desired.