Ansi Ashrae Standard 185.1-2020

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ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

(Supersedes ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2015)
Includes ANSI/ASHRAE addenda listed in Appendix I
Method of Testing UV-C Lights

for Use in Air-Handling Units or
Air Ducts to Inactivate
Airborne Microorganisms
See Informative Appendix I for approval dates.
This Standard is under continuous maintenance by a Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) for which the Standards
Committee has established a documented program for regular publication of addenda or revisions, including procedures for
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ASHRAE Standard Project Committee 185
Cognizant TC: 2.9, Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment
SPLS Liaison: Thomas E. Cappellin
Stephen B. Martin, Jr.*, Chair Henry T. Greist* Richard L. Vincent*

Katja D. Auer Kathleen Owen*
Larry Fletcher* Dean A. Saputa*
* Denotes members of voting status when the document was approved for publication
ASHRAE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 2020–2021
Drury B. Crawley, Chair Srinivas Katipamula David Robin

Rick M. Heiden, Vice Chair Gerald J. Kettler Lawrence J. Schoen
Els Baert Essam E. Khalil Steven C. Sill
Charles S. Barnaby Malcolm D. Knight Richard T. Swierczyna
Robert B. Burkhead Jay A. Kohler Christian R. Taber
Thomas E. Cappellin Larry Kouma Russell C. Tharp
Douglas D. Fick Cesar L. Lim Theresa A. Weston
Walter T. Grondzik James D. Lutz Craig P. Wray
Susanna S. Hanson Karl L. Peterman Jaap Hogeling, BOD ExO
Jonathan Humble Erick A. Phelps William F. McQuade, CO
Connor Barbaree, Senior Manager of Standards
SPECIAL NOTE
This American National Standard (ANS) is a national voluntary consensus Standard developed under the auspices of ASHRAE. Consensus is defined
by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), of which ASHRAE is a member and which has approved this Standard as an ANS, as
“substantial agreement reached by directly and materially affected interest categories. This signifies the concurrence of more than a simple majority,
but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an effort be made toward their resolution.”
Compliance with this Standard is voluntary until and unless a legal jurisdiction makes compliance mandatory through legislation.
ASHRAE obtains consensus through participation of its national and international members, associated societies, and public review.
ASHRAE Standards are prepared by a Project Committee appointed specifically for the purpose of writing the Standard. The Project
Committee Chair and Vice-Chair must be members of ASHRAE; while other committee members may or may not be ASHRAE members, all
must be technically qualified in the subject area of the Standard. Every effort is made to balance the concerned interests on all Project Committees.
The Senior Manager of Standards of ASHRAE should be contacted for
a. interpretation of the contents of this Standard,
b. participation in the next review of the Standard,
c. offering constructive criticism for improving the Standard, or
d. permission to reprint portions of the Standard.
DISCLAIMER
ASHRAE uses its best efforts to promulgate Standards and Guidelines for the benefit of the public in light of available information and accepted
industry practices. However, ASHRAE does not guarantee, certify, or assure the safety or performance of any products, components, or systems
tested, installed, or operated in accordance with ASHRAE’s Standards or Guidelines or that any tests conducted under its Standards or Guidelines
will be nonhazardous or free from risk.
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that the product has been approved by ASHRAE.
CONTENTS
Method of Testing UV-C Lights for Use in Air-Handling Units or Air Ducts
to Inactivate Airborne Microorganisms
SECTION PAGE
Foreword ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Purpose............................................................................................................................................................. 2
2 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................ 2
3 Definitions ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
4 Test Apparatus and Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 3
5 Apparatus Qualification Testing ........................................................................................................................ 5
6 Bioaerosol Testing ............................................................................................................................................ 6
7 Determination of Performance .......................................................................................................................... 7
8 Reporting Results ............................................................................................................................................. 9
9 Normative References ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Informative Appendix A: Test Organism ............................................................................................................... 10
Informative Appendix B: Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 11
Informative Appendix C: Safety............................................................................................................................. 12
Informative Appendix D: Environmental Considerations ....................................................................................... 13
Informative Appendix E: Microorganism Susceptibility to UV-C Irradiation........................................................... 14
Informative Appendix F: Technical Issues Regarding Aerosol.............................................................................. 15
Informative Appendix G: Dosage Calculation........................................................................................................ 16
Informative Appendix H: Informative References.................................................................................................. 17
Informative Appendix I: Addenda Description and Information ............................................................................. 18
NOTE
Approved addenda, errata, or interpretations for this standard can be downloaded free of charge from the ASHRAE
website at www.ashrae.org/technology.
© 2020 ASHRAE
1791 Tullie Circle NE · Atlanta, GA 30329 · www.ashrae.org · All rights reserved.
ASHRAE is a registered trademark of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
ANSI is a registered trademark of the American National Standards Institute.
(This foreword is not part of this standard. It is merely informative and does not contain
requirements necessary for conformance to the standard. It has not been processed
according to the ANSI requirements for a standard and may contain material that has
not been subject to public review or a consensus process. Unresolved objectors on infor-
mative material are not offered the right to appeal at ASHRAE or ANSI.)
FOREWORD
Test standards form the foundation for air-cleaner selection in the ventilation industry. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) literature states that the most important need in the
area of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is industry standards to rate installed
devices. Standards for testing and reporting on products under controlled conditions are essen-
tial to users and specifiers so that they can compare products, predict levels of performance
under specified operating conditions with reasonable certainty, and determine appropriate
UVGI efficiencies for specific situations.
Historically, standards for testing air cleaners have been developed in response to the
needs of the day. Protection of machinery and coils came first, then reduction of soiling. Con-
cerns about indoor air quality and respirable particles, protection of products during manufac-
turing, and protection of HVAC equipment prompted development of test standards based on
particle size. In 2005, interest in controlling airborne infectious contaminants or viable species
that produce chemical contaminants as metabolic byproducts led to the formation of Standing
Standards Project Committee (SSPC) 185 to develop a method of test to determine inactivation
rates of airborne microorganisms in air-handling units and air ducts.
This is a test-method standard, and its results are to be used to directly compare UVGI
equipment on a standardized basis irrespective of their application. Results are also used to
give the design engineer an easy-to-use basis for specifying UV devices or estimating the rela-
tive performance of UVGI for a given application. It is possible that an industry organization
may use this test method as the basis for an application standard in which they might require
testing at conditions different than those required here. This test specifies two organisms for
testing but allows other organisms to be used as long as the test reports are correctly labeled.
The 2020 revision to Standard 185.1 reflects changes to the last version of the method to spec-
ify the airflow for the test as 3400 m3/h (2000 cfm), revisions to the QA section to make the tests
clearer, and significant revisions to the calculations to better reflect bioaerosol testing reality.
Informative notes are used throughout this standard to provide nonmandatory guidance for
the user in addition to the nonmandatory guidance found in informative appendices. Informa-
tive notes are not part of the standard.
This test method may also be used to test air-cleaning devices that do not use ultraviolet
technology, as long as the device being tested can be installed in the testing duct system
described in this method. Test reports should note that results were from a modified test and
include the specific device tested and modifications made to the method. Work is underway to
develop a bioaerosol test method that will allow more comprehensive testing of additional air-
cleaning devices.
1. PURPOSE
This standard establishes a test method for evaluating the efficacy of UV-C lights for their abil-
ity to inactivate airborne microorganisms.
2. SCOPE
2.1 This standard describes a method of laboratory testing to measure the performance of UV-C
lights used in general ventilating systems.
2.2 The method of test measures the performance of UV-C lights to inactivate selected indica-
tor microorganisms in the airstream. The standard defines procedures for generating the bio-
aerosols required for conducting the test. It also provides a method for counting the airborne
bioaerosols upstream and downstream of the UV-C light in order to calculate inactivation effi-
ciency for each microorganism.
2.3 This standard also establishes performance specifications for the equipment required to
conduct the tests, defines methods of calculating and reporting results obtained from the test
data, and establishes a reporting system to be applied to UV-C lights covered herein.
2 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

3. DEFINITIONS
3.1 Definitions. Terms specific to the use of this standard are defined below. Where defini-
tions for a term are not provided, common usage shall apply.
burn-in time: a period of time that UV lamps are powered on prior to putting the lamps into
service, typically 100 hours.
fluence: time integral of the fluence rate at a given point over a given duration, typically
reported in microjoules per square centimetre (J/cm2).
fluence rate: quotient of the radiant flux incident on the outer surface of an infinitely small
sphere centered at a given point, divided by the cross-sectional area of the sphere, typically
reported in microwatts per square centimetre (W/cm2).
irradiance: the power of electromagnetic radiation incident on a surface per unit surface area,
typically reported in microwatts per square centimetre (µW/cm2).
radiant flux: power emitted, transmitted, or received in the radiant energy per unit time, or
total power of ultraviolet light, typically reported in watts (W).
reflectivity: the fraction of incident UV-C radiation reflected by a surface.
ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI): the use of ultraviolet C (UV-C) energy, through a
system designed to deliver UV-C, to kill or inactivate microorganisms.
ultraviolet (UV) light: ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation, which has a wavelength in the
range 10 to 400 nm. It can be subdivided into ultraviolet A (400 to 320 nm); near (400 to 300
nm); ultraviolet B (320 to 280 nm); ultraviolet C, or germicidal (280 to 100 nm); far UV (200
to 122 nm); and extreme (121 to 10 nm).
ultraviolet C (UV-C): electromagnetic wavelength between 280 and 100 nm, also called short
wave or germicidal. The germicidal UV wavelength (commonly 253.7 nm when generated
using a mercury vapor lamp) falls into this UV band.
UV dose: the product of UV irradiance and exposure time on a given microorganism or sur-
face, typically reported in millijoules per square centimetre (mJ/cm2).
UV-C device: a complete assembly consisting of lamps, ballasts, and supporting fixture. Also
called UV-C lights in the configurations, as specified by the equipment provider.
UV light baffle: a device used to block UV irradiation and let air pass.
wavelength: the distance between repeating units of a wave pattern commonly measured in
nanometres and designated by the Greek letter lambda ().
4. TEST APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES

4.1 Test Duct. The test duct shall comply with the requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE
Standard 52.2, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Effi-
ciency by Particle Size,1 except as noted in this section. The following items are not required:
dust feed pipe, dust feeder, and final filter.
4.1.1 A means of viewing the lamps to verify operation shall be included and consist of ultravi-
olet (UV) absorbing materials to ensure that exposure to radiation does not occur during viewing.
4.1.2 Temperature within the test duct shall be 21°C ± 2.2°C (70°F ± 4°F); relative humid-
ity shall be between 40% to 60%; and airflow rate shall be 3400 cmh (2000 cfm), which corre-
sponds to 2.54 m/s (500 fpm). Test air shall be discharged outdoors, indoors, or recirculated.
Informative Note: A slight temperature increase with a corresponding decrease in relative
humidity will occur as the room air passes through the blower. HEPA filtration of the exhaust
flow is recommended when discharging indoors, because test aerosol and loading dust may be
present.
4.1.3 The test aerosol shall be injected into the duct between the inlet filter bank and the
upstream mixing orifice. The aerosol injection system shall produce an upstream challenge that
meets the qualification criteria of Section 5.3. The injection system design is described in Sec-
tion 6.1.2.
4.1.4 The test duct shall be isolated from vibration caused by the blower or other sources of
vibration.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 3

Figure 1 Test apparatus (a) side-view detail and (b) top-view detail.
4.1.5 The test apparatus shown in Figure 1 is designed for test devices with nominal face
dimensions of 610 × 610 mm (24 × 24 in.) and a length of 1 m (39.4 in.) before and 1 m
(39.4 in.) after the test section. A baffle on the upstream end of the reflective duct section
shall be flat black with less than 5% reflectivity and optional baffle on the downstream end of
the reflective duct section of the same reflectivity. A UV light baffle must be added 1 m (39.4
in.) upstream; a downstream UV light baffle is optional. If the postexposure sampling occurs
greater than 1 m (39.4 in.) downstream from the UV device, the downstream UV light baffle
is required. For purposes of this test, the duct walls for the section between the baffle and the
downstream sampling point must be constructed with a reflectivity of 50% to 60% (e.g., a
typical galvanized duct material). The reflectivity measurements of the duct wall shall be
included in the report. A radiometer measurement shall be made to determine the effective-
ness of the UV light baffle.
4.2 Installation of UV-C Device. Installation of the UV-C device, and configuration of the
lamp assembly within the device, shall be as designated by the manufacturer or equipment pro-
vider. The burn-in time for lamps shall be 100 hours 2.

Table 1 System Qualification Measurement Requirements
Parameter Control Limit

Air velocity uniformity CV a < 10%
• Based on traverse measurements over a nine-point cross-sectional grid at the test flow rate
• The velocity measurements shall be made with an instrument having an accuracy of 10%
with 0.05m/s (approximately 10 fpm) resolution.
Inert aerosol concentration uniformity CV < 15%
• Based on traverse measurements over a nine-point cross-sectional grid at the test flow rate
• Performed upstream of the test section.
Inert downstream mixing CV < 10%
• Based on nine-point perimeter injection grid at the test section and center-of-duct readings at
the downstream probe locations
100% efficiency test Efficiency >99%
• Based on HEPA filter test
100% penetration (correlation test) 0.70 to 1.30
Duct leakage Ratio <1.0%

• Ratio of leak rate to test flow rate
OPC b zero count check <10 counts per sample
OPC sizing accuracy check Relative maximum must appear in the
• Based on sampling aerosolized monodisperse polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres of known size. appropriate sizing channel.
Aerosol neutralizer activity (if radioactive source is used) Radioactivity must be detected.
a. CV = coefficient of variance
b. OPC = optical particle counter
4.3 Installation of Bioaerosol Sampler. At least one bioaerosol sampler shall be installed
upstream from the UV light after the first mixing baffle and before the upstream light baffle,
and one collection device shall be installed downstream from the UV light baffle and down-
stream from the second mixing baffle. The inlet of the bioaerosol sampler shall be located in
the middle of the airflow stream and shall face into the airflow. Isokinetic sampling (to within
10% of a measured target flow velocity as measured by the devices indicated) shall be main-
tained in the bioaerosol sampler. Flow rate through the sampling system shall be measured
with volumetric devices to within 5% (e.g., orifice plates and rotometers).
4.4 Mandatory and Discretionary Requirements. Critical dimensions and arrangements of
the test apparatus are shown in Figure 1. All dimensions shown are mandatory unless other-
wise indicated. Either SI or I-P dimensions are acceptable for any element of the system. Units
shown are in mm (in.) unless otherwise indicated. The design of equipment not specified,
including, but not limited to, blowers, valves, and external piping, is discretionary, but the
equipment must have adequate capacity to meet the requirements of this standard.
5. APPARATUS QUALIFICATION TESTING

5.1 Apparatus Qualification Tests. Apparatus qualification tests shall verify quantitatively
that the test rig and sampling procedures are capable of providing reliable bioaerosol measure-
ments. Table 1 shows system qualification measurement requirements. All tests shall be per-
formed as detailed in ASHRAE Standard 52.2 1, Section 5, except as noted here. Tests already
performed to meet the Standard 52.2 requirements at 0.93 m3/s (1970 cfm) will be considered
adequate except as noted.
5.2 Velocity Uniformity in the Test Duct. The velocity uniformity test shall comply with ANSI/
ASHRAE Standard 52.21 and shall be performed at an air velocity rate of 2.54 m/s (500 fpm).
5.3 Bioaerosol Concentration Uniformity in the Test Duct. Bioaerosol uniformity shall be
conducted per the instructions for the concentration uniformity test in Standard 52.2 1 using an
inert tracer particle. Particle concentrations shall be measured in the range of 1 to 5 µm. The
aerosol for this test shall be injected in the same location that the bioaerosol will be injected.

5.4 Inert Downstream Mixing of Aerosol. This test shall be performed per the instructions
for the downstream mixing test specified in Standard 52.2 1, Section 5. Data for particles above
5 µm may be ignored in the calculations, as the bioaerosols used in Standard 185.1 will be
below 5 µm.
5.5 100% Efficiency Test. A bioaerosol efficiency test using either acceptable organism shall
be run using a HEPA or ULPA filter as the test device to ensure that the test duct and sampling
system are capable of providing a >99% efficiency measurement. The test procedures of Stan-
dard 185.1, Section 6, shall be used.
5.6 Duct Leakage Test. A duct leakage test shall be conducted per Standard 52.2 1, Section 5,
with the exception that the test acceptability level will be determined based on anticipated duct
pressure during actual testing. The duct pressure shall be based on the values expected with an
air cleaner, light baffles, and any other items that must be in the rig during a standard test at an
air velocity of 2.54 m/s (500 fpm) with an additional 500 Pa (2 in. of water). This test is per-
formed by sealing the duct at the inlet HEPA filter bank and at the ASME flow nozzle loca-
tions, followed by metering in air to achieve a steady duct pressure. The flow rate of the
metering air (equal to the leakage flow) is measured for a range of duct pressures.
5.7 No-Light Control Test. A lights-off test shall be performed for each test device to confirm
any bioaerosol baseline losses within the test duct. If the device blocks a substantial portion of
the duct cross section, a test without a test device in place may be performed instead of the
lights-off test to check the adequacy of the overall duct, sampling, measurement, and aerosol
generator. This test must be performed in conjunction with each lights-on test and for each
microorganism. The procedures described in Section 6 shall be used for this test, with the
exception that the lamps will be off or the device will be out of the duct.
5.8 OPC Zero Count Test. This shall be performed per Standard 52.2 1, Section 5.
5.9 OPC Sizing Accuracy Test. This shall be performed per Standard 52.2 1, Section 5.
6. BIOAEROSOL TESTING
6.1 Bioaerosols
6.1.1 Test Organisms. The bioaerosol tests will be conducted using two organisms, cover-
ing the range of reasonable interest for UV-C device applications. The first organism to be used
in the test is Mycobacterium parafortuitum (ATCC® 19686), and the second organism is
Aspergillus sydowii (ATCC® 36542).
Informative Note: Mycobacterium parafortuitum is a nonmotile, rod-shaped bacterium 2
to 4 µm long (Wayne and Kubica 1986). It grows rapidly on standard bacterial culture media
and produces smooth, pale yellow colonies that disperse readily in water. Aspergillus sydowii
is 2 µm in diameter and is utilized as the surrogate for fungi. These test organisms have been
used in prior studies of UV-C radiation (Grinshpun et al. 2003; Kujundzic et al. 2007; VanOs-
dell and Foarde 2002; Xu et al. 2003, 2005).
6.1.2 Bioaerosol Preparation and Generation. Preparation of the test organism suspension
for the aerosolization requires that the test organism be grown in the laboratory and the suspen-
sion prepared for aerosol generation in the test duct. The microbial challenge suspensions are
prepared by inoculating the test organism onto solid or into liquid media, incubating the culture
until mature, harvesting organisms from the surface of the pure culture (if solid media), and
suspending them into sterile fluid to a known concentration to serve as a stock solution. The
organism preparation is then diluted into the nebulizing fluid for Collison preparation. The
nebulizing liquid shall be sterile deionized (DI) water. The nebulizing fluid is quantified on
agar plates to enumerate the number of test organisms in the suspension. The number of cultur-
able organisms shall be at least 106 CFU per mL.
The bioaerosol generation system shall provide a stable test bioaerosol of sufficient concen-
tration to allow measurement to show 99% inactivation. The generation system includes a six-
jet nebulizer that is based on air-atomizing spray nozzles in which a suspension of microorgan-
isms is nebulized with compressed air and then dried. The six-jet nebulizer generates droplets
with an approximate volume mean diameter of 2 µm. The particle diameter after the water evap-
orates depends on the solids content of the suspension. Particle size is determined by the size of
the suspended particles. The concentration in the Collison should be such that only singlets are
generated. The bioaerosol generator shall be designed to ensure that the microorganisms are dry

prior to being introduced into the test duct. After drying, the bioaerosol may be neutralized
using a charge neutralizer. If a charge neutralizer is not used, this must be noted in the report 3.
6.1.3 Bioaerosol Sampling. Bioaerosol sampling shall not be initiated until a steady-state
bioaerosol challenge concentration has been established.
Bioaerosol shall be collected in at least one location upstream and downstream of the
device, and the same locations and positions must be used for all collection devices specifically
designed for bioaerosol sampling. Samplers shall be covered so as to not expose them to light
or external contamination. All sampling shall be the same upstream and downstream; all proce-
dures shall be the same for upstream and downstream processing of the samples.
Collected fluid from impingers shall be covered to reduce light exposure, and refrigerated at
4°C (39°F) until ready to assay by culturing or incubating. Three replicates of each impinger
fluid shall be plated on appropriate media and incubated at appropriate times and temperatures
for the test organism being used. If an impactor is used, collection plates shall be incubated at
appropriate times and temperatures for the test organism being used. All bioassay work shall be
done in dimmed light to reduce the potential for visible light photoreactivation of samples. Con-
centrations of sampled microorganisms shall be expressed as Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per
metre cubed of air (1 CFU/m3 = 0.0283 CFU/ft3). Concentration shall be calculated based on
the average of CFU counts determined from the three replicate plates. Standard deviation of the
concentration shall also be calculated based on the CFU counts from the replicate plates.
Informative Note: Other than the requirements of the previous subsection, the design fea-
tures of the sampling system are discretionary.
If a downstream light baffle is used, the collection device can be installed further down-
stream of the UV-C light.
6.2 Test Duct Flow Measurement. Volumetric measurement flow measurements shall be
made by means of ASME long-radius flow nozzles (Figure 2) with static taps as shown in Fig-
ures 2 and 3 and located as shown in Figure 1. The temperature, absolute pressure, and relative
humidity of the test duct airflow shall be measured in the duct immediately upstream of the
flow measuring orifice. These values shall be used for calculation of airflow rate.
6.3 Experimental Protocol. Three repeat experiments shall be conducted with UV-C lights
operating, and three repeat experiments shall be conducted without UV-C lights operating to
verify that there is minimal loss of bioaerosol within the test duct (see Section 7.2). The UV-C
lights-off testing shall be performed first. These experiments will require bioaerosol generation
and sampling.
7. DETERMINATION OF PERFORMANCE
The primary measure of performance within this test method is the single-pass bioaerosol inac-
tivation efficiency. This efficiency shall be characterized in terms of the percentage of Asper-
gillus sydowii (ATCC® 36542) and Mycobacterium parafortuitum (ATCC® 19686) that could
not be cultured after UV-C radiation exposure 4,5,6,7. The single-pass bioaerosol inactivation
efficiency, UVGI, shall be quantified by comparing the bioaerosol concentration upstream and
downstream of the UV-C device using the following general equation:
C downstream
 UVGI  %  =  1 – --------------------------
-  100% (1)
 C upstream 
where
Cdownstream = average culturable bioaerosol concentration measured in the test duct
downstream of the UV-C device, CFU/m3 (CFU/f3)
Cupstream = average culturable bioaerosol concentration measured in the test duct
upstream of the UV-C device, CFU/m3 (CFU/f3)
This general equation is corrected for system biases according to Section 7.1.
7.1 Correction for No-Light Transmission Rate. There is also a potential bias in the bio-
aerosol measurements if the test duct and rig cause a change in the number of culturable organ-
isms independent of the presence of a UV-C device. For this reason, a no-light transmission
rate (UV-C light is not turned on in the test duct) is measured and applied as an additional cor-
rection to the single-pass bioaerosol inactivation efficiency. The no-light transmission rate is

Figure 2 ASME long-radius flow nozzle dimensions.
Figure 3 Static pressure tap.
calculated by measuring the numbers of culturable organisms upstream and downstream with-
out the UV-C light turned on. The same sampling methods are used as in the single-pass bio-
aerosol inactivation efficiency test, but the calculation is performed using the opposite control
limit values to give the most conservative estimate. The equation is as follows:
C down no_light
TR no_light = -------------------------------
- (2)
C up no_light
where
TRno_light = no-light transmission rate
Cdown, no_light = downstream, no light, culturable bioaerosol concentration, CFU/m3 (CFU/ft3)
Cup, no_light = upstream, no light, culturable bioaerosol concentration, CFU/m3 (CFU/ft3)
To remove this system bias, the single-pass bioaerosol inactivation efficiency shall be cor-
rected by the no-light transmission rate. Thus, the final corrected form of Equation 2 becomes
as follows:
c downstream
 UVGI corr (%) =  1 – --------------------------------------------------
-  100% (3)
 c upstream  TR no_light
Single-pass efficiency shall be estimated for each of the three replicate experiments. Vari-
ability of the efficiency due to plating variability shall be estimated by propagating the stan-

dard deviation of concentration from the three replicate plates. The average single-pass
bioaerosol inactivation efficiency shall be calculated by averaging the efficiency from the three
repeat experiments, and the experimental variability shall be estimated by propagating the
standard deviation due to these three experimental runs.
8. REPORTING RESULTS
8.1 Outline. The summary section of the performance report shall include the following infor-
mation:
a. Name and location of the test laboratory
b. Date of the test
c. Test operators’ names
d. UV-C device manufacturer’s name (or name of the marketing organization, if different
from the manufacturer)
e. How the UV-C device was obtained
f. Description of the test UV-C device, including the following:
1. Brand and model number
2. Physical description of construction, including lamps, part number of lamps, number of
lamps, and power supply
3. Photos of device as positioned in the test rig
g. Operation information as stated by the manufacturer
1. Recommended operating conditions for reporting purposes: airflow rate in m/s (fpm),
temperature in degrees Celsius (degrees Fahrenheit), humidity, voltage input, input
power, and static pressure
h. Test data
1. Test air temperature and relative humidity
2. Airflow rate
3. Reflectivity measurements of interior duct wall
4. Lights-on/lights-off test
5. No-device test
6. Type of test aerosol for biological test
7. Calculations
8. Input volts and watts
i. Single-pass bioaerosol inactivation efficiency
j. Optional temperature and velocity curves of irradiance as supplied by the UV device man-
ufacturer
9. NORMATIVE REFERENCES
1. ASHRAE. 2017. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2, Method of Testing General Ventilation
Air-cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. Atlanta: ASHRAE.
2. IESNA. 2000. IESNA Lighting Handbook, 9th ed. M. Rea, ed. New York: Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America.
3. Kujumdzic, E., M. Hernandez, and S.L. Miller. 2007. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
inactivation of airborne fungal spores and bacteria in upper-room air and HVAC in-duct
configurations. Journal of Environmental Engineering Science 6:1–9.
4. Hernandez, M., S.L. Miller, D.W. Landfear, and J.M. Macher. 1999. A combined fluoro-
chrome method for quantification of metabolically active and inactive airborne bacteria.
Aerosol Science and Technology 30(2):145–60.
5. Miller-Leiden, S., C. Lobascio, W.W. Nazaroff, and J.M. Macher. 1996. Effectiveness of
in-room air filtration and dilution ventilation for tuberculosis infection control. Journal
of the Air and Waste Management Association 46(9):869–82.
6. VanOsdell, D.W., and K.K. Foarde. 2002. Defining the effectiveness of UV lamps installed
in circulation air ductwork. Report number DOE/OR22674/610-40030-01R. RTI Inter-
national, Research Triangle Park, NC.
7. Xu, P., E. Kujundzic, J. Peccia, M.P. Schafer, G. Moss, M. Hernandez, and S.L. Miller.
2005. Impact of environmental factors on efficacy of upper-room air in inactivating air-
borne mycobacteria. Environmental Science and Technology 39(24):9656–664.

(This appendix is not part of this standard. It is merely informative and does not contain
INFORMATIVE APPENDIX A
TEST ORGANISM
This standard is based on two test organisms (Section 6.1.1). Other organisms may also be
chosen and used with the methodology of the test.
Microorganisms vary in both size and shape and should therefore be selected to reflect their
natural diversity. Additionally, because the efficacy of UV-C radiation to inactivate microor-
ganisms is being evaluated, it is necessary to select microorganisms that range from readily
inactivated to more difficult to inactivate. Generally, vegetative bacteria are readily inactivated,
and bacterial spores are activated with more difficulty (Informative Appendix E, Figure E-1).
Inactivated is typically understood to mean that the microorganism does not have the ability to
replicate. The susceptibility of a microorganism to UV-C radiation is defined as the k-value for
a single-pass flow reactor and is expressed as cm2/µW·s. The magnitude of the k-value defines
the susceptibility: large k-values indicate low susceptibility to, and small k-values indicate high
susceptibility to, inactivation by UV-C radiation.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX B
LIMITATIONS
The results of this test should not be extrapolated to higher or lower air velocities and/or air
temperatures or to larger or smaller duct sizes.
The results of the test do not predict performance over service life. The equipment provided
would be expected to give a potential user some estimate of the service life characteristics of
the device for a specified set of expected operating conditions.
The results only show downstream effects on culturable bioareasols.
ASHRAE does not actually test UV systems or determine their performance, it only pro-
mulgates the test procedure used by manufacturers and independent testing laboratories.
UV device testing in a laboratory is intended to help the user compare the performance of
different types of UV systems. Testing attempts to simulate the performance of UV devices in
real-life operation but cannot duplicate field conditions. Field conditions vary from location to
location. The reporting values obtained in accordance with this standard cannot be used by
themselves to predict the air cleanliness of a specific ventilated space or the service life of
installed UV devices.
Users of the method should have a comprehensive knowledge of microbiology and should
be experienced with standard microbiological methods. A familiarity with the terminology and
operation of airflow systems and particulate aerosols is also helpful.
Furthermore, the user must understand that collection and enumeration of viable bioaero-
sols involves instrumentation and equipment that may not be 100% efficient under all use con-
ditions; this should be considered when interpreting results. The control tests described in
Section 5, and the quality control parameters specified in Sections 4, 5 and 7, are included to
ensure that reliable information is available when interpreting the results and calculating the
inactivation efficiency determined for a device. Devices may vary dramatically, and each may
require unique testing conditions.
Users of the method will need to determine if their particular device requires specialized
testing conditions; however, the general approach described here should be applicable to most
technologies. If the performance of multiple technologies is to be compared, then the test lab
needs to standardize all variables of the test plan.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX C
SAFETY
The primary safety concern associated with this method is exposing test personnel to aerosol-
ized microorganisms. All microorganisms may be considered opportunistic pathogens,
depending upon the susceptibility and immunological condition of an individual. There are
four biosafety levels (BSLs) for activities with microorganisms, based on the potential risk
posed by the organism and the intended activities in the laboratory. Guidelines for the appro-
priate practices, safety equipment, and facilities are described in Biosafety in Microbiological
and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (CDC 2007). Prior to initiating any tests, a bioaerosol
risk assessment should be performed to establish the BSL needed. BSL-1 safety practices and
controls are appropriate for microorganisms not normally associated with human disease.
BSL-2 is recommended for organisms associated with human disease that pose a moderate
hazard to workers. BSL-3 is applicable to indigenous/exotic agents associated with human dis-
ease and with the potential for aerosol transmission. BSL-4 is needed for dangerous/exotic
agents of a life-threatening nature. BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 work requires specialized con-
tainment that is not detailed in this test method.
Laboratories preparing to perform bioaerosol aerosol testing should have a bioaerosol
safety plan, and all personnel should be trained in the risks of working with aerosolized micro-
organisms. The BMBL provides general guidelines for developing a bioaerosol safety plan and
provides overall guidance on bioaerosol safety. Test personnel should read and understand this
document prior to using this test method. Institutional biosafety rules should be followed.
In addition to the biosafety issues, other safety issues associated with this method may at
times require safe transport (including lifting) and use of various heavy and awkward equipment.
No personnel should be subject to direct UV exposure, but if exposure is unavoidable, per-
sonnel should wear protective clothing (no exposed skin), protective eyewear, and gloves. Most
eyewear, including prescription glasses, are sufficient to protect eyes from UV, but not all offer
complete coverage; standard issue protective goggles may be the best alternative.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX D
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
The method described herein is a laboratory procedure, and release of microorganisms into the
environment should not be permitted. Engineering controls as described in Biosafety in Micro-
biological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (CDC 2007), when used on the test systems,
are designed to prevent such a release. However, a risk analysis should be performed to assess
the possibility of an accidental release. If this analysis indicates a high likelihood of such, then
the effect that the microorganisms may have on the environment should be assessed. Many
microorganisms only requiring BSL-1 containment for human health, while not infectious to
humans, may be plant pathogens and may have a detrimental impact on the environment. The
American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have published information on plant patho-
gens. Issues raised therein should be addressed in laboratory environmental safety plans.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX E
MICROORGANISM SUSCEPTIBILITY TO UV-C RADIATION
Figure E-1 General ranking of susceptibility to UV-C radiation of microorganisms by group.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX F
TECHNICAL ISSUES REGARDING AEROSOL
The use of microorganisms as the challenge aerosol requires that a number of technical issues
be addressed with the generator. These include the following:
a. Measuring the survivability and culturability of the organisms through the aerosol genera-
tion and collection process
b. Determining whether the test organisms are being aerosolized as singlets with a narrow size
distribution when appropriate
c. Generating the bioaerosol challenge in sufficient concentration to maintain the sampling
duration within the sample time limits of the bioaerosol sampler and to enable detection
upon extraction and assay

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX G
DOSAGE CALCULATION
The term Nt /N0 from Equation G-1 is the survival rate of the test microorganism after expo-
sure to UV. Due to the complexity of bioaerosol testing, an accurate determination of the air-
borne survival rate requires a series of tests and the determination of the corrected survival
rate. Nt /No is the Survival Ratecorrected, which shall be calculated as described below.
N t  N 0 = exp  – k  Dose  (G-1)
where
Nt = number of microorganisms at any time t
N0 = number of microorganisms at start before exposure begins
k = a microorganism-dependent rate constant, cm2/µW·s
Dose = Eeff ×t, µW·s/cm2 (G-2)

Equation G-2 is well established for organisms exposed to constant irradiance and has been
found applicable for practical use in a duct. This is advantageous because measurement of
actual dose experienced by a specific particle while passing through a specific device can be
extremely complex. Estimating the average Eeff as well as the t experienced by the particles,
as required by Equation G-2, would involve a complex model and require extensive informa-
tion regarding the irradiance pattern throughout the device and the flow trajectories of all of the
particles. However, Equation G-1 can be rearranged so as to calculate dose without measuring
or estimating Eeff and t.

INFORMATIVE APPENDIX H
INFORMATIVE REFERENCES
Abramowitz, M., and I.A. Stegun. 1972. Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas,
Graphs and Mathematical Tables, 9th printing with corrections. New York: Wiley.
CDC. 2007. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th edition. Atlanta:
Centers for Disease Control.
Grinshpun, S., S. Sivasubramani, and T. Reponen. 2003. Aerosolization of Aspergillus versi-
color spores from different building materials. In Proceedings of the 22nd Annual American
Aerosol Association Research Conference, pp. 82, Anaheim, California, 20–24 October
2003. American Association for Aerosol Research, Mt. Laurel NJ.
Kujumdzic, E., M. Hernandez, and S.L. Miller. 2007. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation inacti-
vation of airborne fungal spores and bacteria in upper-room air and HVAC in-duct configu-
rations. Journal of Environmental Engineering Science 6:1–9.
VanOsdell, D.W., and K.K. Foarde. 2002. Defining the effectiveness of UV lamps installed in
circulation air ductwork. Report number DOE/OR22674/610-40030-01R. RTI Interna-
tional, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Wayne, L.G., and G.P. Kubica. 1986. Genus mycobacterium. In Bergy’s Manual for Systematic
Bacteriology, pp. 1435–457, Eds. N.R. Krieg and J.G. Holt. Baltimore, MD: Williams and
Wilkins.
Xu, P., J. Peccia, P. Fabian, J.W. Martyny, K.P. Fennelly, M. Hernandez, and S.L. Miller. 2003.
Efficacy of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of upper-room air in inactivating airborne bacte-
rial spores and mycobacteria in full-scale studies. Atmospheric Environment 37(3):405–19.
Xu, P., E. Kujundzic, J. Peccia, M.P. Schafer, G. Moss, M. Hernandez, and S.L. Miller. 2005.
Impact of environmental factors on efficacy of upper-room air in inactivating airborne
mycobacteria. Environmental Science and Technology 39(24):9656–664.

18 additional reproduction, distribution, or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission.
(This appendix is not part of this standard. It is merely informative and does not contain requirements necessary for conformance to
the standard. It has not been processed according to the ANSI requirements for a standard and may contain material that has not
been subject to public review or a consensus process. Unresolved objectors on informative material are not offered the right to
appeal at ASHRAE or ANSI.)
INFORMATIVE APPENDIX I
ADDENDA DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 incorporates ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2015 and Addenda a, b, and c to ANSI/ASHRAE Stan-
dard 185.1-2015. Table I-1 lists each addendum and describes the way in which the standard is affected by the changes. It also lists the
ASHRAE and ANSI approval date for each addendum.
Table I-1 Addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2015
ASHRAE and ANSI

Addendum Section(s) Affected Description of Changes* Approval Dates
a 6.1.2 The liquid that is used in generating a bioaerosol will provide different levels of protection for the microorganism. For July 25, 2019
the tests to be repeatable, the generation of the bioaerosol must result in equal levels of protection. Addendum a adds
the requirement for the liquid to be the same.
b 6.1.2; 7, 7.1, 7.2 (removed) The use of the Poisson distribution is not appropriate for this type of biological data. The degree of correction is based June 30, 2020
on total counts, so a test with thousands of counts receives a tighter confidence interval than one with hundreds. This
could result in very different reported efficiencies between tests. Also, because counting plates for microorganisms
requires that colonies be separate, there is an upper limit on raw counts per plate. To obtain high counts, a great number
of plates must be run. In addition, the test lab must estimate the actual concentrations to determine how long to sample
or how much to plate. If the level is too high, the plates are overgrown and not usable; if too low, the counts will be low.
Given that the efficiency of the devices isn’t known ahead of time, in order to obtain high counts repeated tests must be
run. To achieve tight confidence intervals with these calculations would require great expense.
In addition, this method of calculation does not address the issue of variability at the test lab, because the total counts
are used. It seems preferable to report the counts, the average, and the standard deviation to give an average efficiency
and a measure of the sample count variability.
c 4.1.2; 5; Table 1 Addendum c serves two purposes. The first is to correct the airflow rate to 2000 cfm. The second is to provide guidance January 31, 2020
in quality assurance testing to ensure that test labs are performing the tests in the same way.
* These descriptions may not be complete and are provided for information only.
NOTE
Approved addenda, errata, or interpretations for this standard can be downloaded free of charge from the
ASHRAE website at www.ashrae.org/technology.
POLICY STATEMENT DEFINING ASHRAE’S CONCERN
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ITS ACTIVITIES
ASHRAE is concerned with the impact of its members’ activities on both the indoor and outdoor environment.
ASHRAE’s members will strive to minimize any possible deleterious effect on the indoor and outdoor environment of
the systems and components in their responsibility while maximizing the beneficial effects these systems provide,
consistent with accepted Standards and the practical state of the art.
ASHRAE’s short-range goal is to ensure that the systems and components within its scope do not impact the
indoor and outdoor environment to a greater extent than specified by the Standards and Guidelines as established by
itself and other responsible bodies.
As an ongoing goal, ASHRAE will, through its Standards Committee and extensive Technical Committee structure,
continue to generate up-to-date Standards and Guidelines where appropriate and adopt, recommend, and promote
those new and revised Standards developed by other responsible organizations.
Through its Handbook, appropriate chapters will contain up-to-date Standards and design considerations as the
material is systematically revised.
ASHRAE will take the lead with respect to dissemination of environmental information of its primary interest and
will seek out and disseminate information from other responsible organizations that is pertinent, as guides to updating
Standards and Guidelines.
The effects of the design and selection of equipment and systems will be considered within the scope of the
system’s intended use and expected misuse. The disposal of hazardous materials, if any, will also be considered.
ASHRAE’s primary concern for environmental impact will be at the site where equipment within ASHRAE’s scope
operates. However, energy source selection and the possible environmental impact due to the energy source and
energy transportation will be considered where possible. Recommendations concerning energy source selection
should be made by its members.
ASHRAE · 1791 Tullie Circle NE · Atlanta, GA 30329 · www.ashrae.org
About ASHRAE
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and
sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and their allied fields.
As an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification, and continuing education, ASHRAE
and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic
partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.
To stay current with this and other ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines, visit www.ashrae.org/standards, and
connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Visit the ASHRAE Bookstore

ASHRAE offers its Standards and Guidelines in print, as immediately downloadable PDFs, and via ASHRAE Digital
Collections, which provides online access with automatic updates as well as historical versions of publications.
Selected Standards and Guidelines are also offered in redline versions that indicate the changes made between the
active Standard or Guideline and its previous edition. For more information, visit the Standards and Guidelines
section of the ASHRAE Bookstore at www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
IMPORTANT NOTICES ABOUT THIS STANDARD
To ensure that you have all of the approved addenda, errata, and interpretations for this
Standard, visit www.ashrae.org/standards to download them free of charge.
Addenda, errata, and interpretations for ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines are no
longer distributed with copies of the Standards and Guidelines. ASHRAE provides
these addenda, errata, and interpretations only in electronic form to promote
more sustainable use of resources.
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ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

Method of Testing UV-C Lights

See Informative Appendix I for approval dates.

© 2020 ASHRAE ISSN 1041-2336

Stephen B. Martin, Jr.*, Chair Henry T. Greist* Richard L. Vincent*

ASHRAE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 2020–2021

Drury B. Crawley, Chair Srinivas Katipamula David Robin

Connor Barbaree, Senior Manager of Standards

ASHRAE INDUSTRIAL ADVERTISING POLICY ON STANDARDS

2 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

4. TEST APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 3

4 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

Parameter Control Limit

Duct leakage Ratio <1.0%

5. APPARATUS QUALIFICATION TESTING

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 5

6 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 7

Figure 2 ASME long-radius flow nozzle dimensions.

Figure 3 Static pressure tap.

8 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 9

10 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 11

12 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 13

Figure E-1 General ranking of susceptibility to UV-C radiation of microorganisms by group.

14 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 15

Dose = Eeff ×t, µW·s/cm2 (G-2)

16 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2020 17

Table I-1 Addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.1-2015

ASHRAE and ANSI

ASHRAE · 1791 Tullie Circle NE · Atlanta, GA 30329 · www.ashrae.org

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IMPORTANT NOTICES ABOUT THIS STANDARD

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Stephen B. Martin, Jr., Chair Henry T. Greist Richard L. Vincent*