 Test Ports, Aerosol Injection Ports and Balancing Dampers are an important set of options to

consider. Most manufacturers offer room side test ports to measure pressure drop, and aerosol injection ports to
inject the challenge medium for in-place HEPA filter leak testing. Adjustment of the balancing dampers, if
installed, can also be made from the room side. These are important items that can make your
periodic Cleanroom Certification and Testing much easier.
 Prefilters and Final Filters should be installed upstream of any HEPA filters to protect and extend the life of the
HEPA. Prefilters can be Pleated Filters or Multi-ply Ring Panel filters with a MERV rating of at least 8. Final
Filters can be either a High Efficiency Box Filter, a High Efficiency Pocket Filer or a Minipleat Filter with a MERV
rating of at least 13. You must take into account the clean and final pressure drops of each filter in the system
when sizing your air handling equipment to ensure proper airflow balance throughout the life of the filter.
o Typically, a prefilter will have an initial pressure drop between 0.2-0.5 w.c. with a
final recommended pressure drop of 1.0 w.c. when the filter should be changed.
o Final filters have initial pressure drops ranging from 0.5-1.0 w.c depending on the
type and efficiency selected and a final recommended pressure drop of 1.5-2.0
w.c.
o A HEPA filter can have initial pressure drop of 1.0-1.5 w.c. and a final
recommended pressure drop of 2.0-2.5 w.c.