NAFA Guide To Air Filtration

Fifth Edition

Chapter 7
HVAC Filter Testing

presented by the

National Air Filtration Association

HVAC Filter Testing

Why Test?
• Determine efficiency of particle-size
removal

• Determine Amount of Contaminant

Removed

• Determine Pressure drop

ANSI/ASHRAE 52.1 (retired)

Two Main Problems:

• Used outdoor air as
challenge aerosol

• Did not show

removal based on
particle size
ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2-2012
• A design qualification test
• A destructive test to measure the minimum
efficiency and provide the minimum
efficiency reporting value (MERV)
• Efficiency test aerosol is Potassium Chloride
(KCl) particles, 0.3 to 10 micron
• Dust loading aerosol to final pressure drop is
ASHRAE Standard Test Dust
 ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 - 2012

Test Duct Configuration

Outlet ASME
Filters Nozzle Downstream Mixer
Exhaust

HEPA
Room Air
OPC
Inlet Aerosol
Filters Generator
HEPA

Upstream Device
Blower Flow
Mixer Section
Control
Backup Filter
Valve
Holder (Used
Copyright-National Air Filtration Association V8 2015 When Dust loading)
Typical 52.2 Complete Loading

Test Data Report

Size Range Fractional Efficiency (%) at Resistance (in H20) Composite Composite
(micrometers) 0.28 0.32 0.46 0.64 0.82 1.00 Minimum Average
0.3 to 0.4 2.7 6.7 17.2 29.4 37.1 37.9 2.7
0.4 to 0.55 7.8 15.9 27.7 43.3 53.2 54.6 7.8
E1 = 9.8
0.55 to 0.7 11.2 30.2 46.0 60.7 70.5 71.6 11.2
0.7 to 1.0 17.6 42.6 59.3 73.7 81.3 81.8 17.6
1.0 to 1.3 20.4 51.6 70.3 80.8 83.7 85.2 20.4
1.3 to 1.6 23.9 58.2 76.5 84.7 86.1 87.2 23.9
E2 = 27.2
1.6 to 2.2 28.3 69.6 84.1 89.1 90.2 91.0 28.3
2.2 to 3.0 36.3 83.9 91.9 94.2 94.4 93.2 36.3
3.0 to 4.0 39.4 89.4 93.7 95.8 96.4 94.9 39.4
4.0 to 5.5 42.8 90.6 95.3 96.5 97.9 95.6 42.8
E3 = 44.8
5.5 to 7.0 46.5 92.3 97.1 98.0 98.4 97.9 46.5
7.0 to 10.0 50.4 94.8 97.5 98.3 100 99.2 50.4

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is 6 at 492 fpm

Composite Minimum Curve
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value
Particle Size Removal Efficiency

100
90
80
70
60
%

50
40
30
20
10
0
0.35 0.47 0.62 0.84 1.14 1.44 1.88 2.57 3.46 4.69 6.2 8.37 10
Particle Size - um
MERV Parameters
Minimum Composite Average Particle Size Efficiency (%) Average Minimum Final Resistance
Efficiency 0.3 to 1.0 1.0 to 3.0 3.0 to 10 Arrestance by
Reporting Value ASHRAE 52.1 Pa In Water
E1 E2 E3
1 n/a n/a E3 < 20 Aavg < 65 75 0.3
2 n/a n/a E3 < 20 65 ≤ Aavg < 70 75 0.3
3 n/a n/a E3 < 20 70 ≤ Aavg < 75 75 0.3
4 n/a n/a E3 < 20 75 ≤ Aavg 75 0.3
5 n/a n/a 20 ≤ E3 < 35 n/a 150 0.6
6 n/a n/a 35 ≤ E3 < 50 n/a 150 0.6
7 n/a n/a 50 ≤ E3 < 70
This
n/a
is a New150Parameter 0.6
Table
8 n/a 20<E2 70 ≤ E3 n/a as of Sept.
150 2014 0.6
9 n/a 35<E2 75 ≥ E3 n/a 250 1.0
10 n/a 50 ≤ E2 < 65 80 ≥ E3 n/a 250 1.0
11 20<E1 65 ≤ E2 < 80 85 ≥ E3 n/a 250 1.0
12 35<E1 80 ≥ E2 90 ≥ E3 n/a 250 1.0
13 50<E1 90 ≥ E2 90 ≥ E3 n/a 350 1.4
14 75 ≤ E1 < 85 90 ≥ E2 95 ≥ E3 n/a 350 1.4
15 85 ≤ E1 < 95 90 ≥ E2 95 ≥ E3 n/a 350 1.4
16 95<E1 E2 ≥ 90 95 ≥ E3 n/a 350 1.4
 How Can Filters Capture Particles
Smaller Than 0.3 Micrometers ?
– It is crucial to consider the efficiency below 0.3 micrometers
HEPA
100%
MERV 16
Particle removal efficiency 80%

MERV 14
60%
MERV 12

40% MERV 10

MERV 8 MERV 5
20%

0%
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle diameter (! m)

• Commonly believed that filters only capture “down to 0.3

micrometers”
• Better particle counters show efficiencies below 0.3
micrometers
 ASHRAE 52.2

• Initial Resistance
-Pressure required to move air through
filter at a certain air flow written in
inches water, or Pascals
• Final Resistance
-Pressure at which the filter would be
considered fully loaded
52.2 Test Report
52.2 Test Limitations

• Not “real world” – what is?

• May not give accurate results for some
electrostatically enhanced filter media.
Addendum J added –
Conditioning Step is
shown as MERV-A
Filter Testing
Summary:
• ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2012 is current
Standard

• Filters should be independently

procured and tested

• Manufacturer should have filters tested

for MERV number to compare to other
filters
Compare and Contrast
52.1/52.2 and European EN-
779
Association of Appliance
Manufacturers (AHAM) AC-1
2006
• Tests “cord-connected” room air cleaners
of all descriptions
• Has test chamber for challenge of units
• Uses 3 types of challenge aerosols –
cigarette smoke/air cleaner fine
dust/pollen
• Gives 3 number Clean Air Delivery Rate
(CADR) for units tested
Underwriters Laboratory
(UL)
• UL tests filters for fire listing:
Used to be:
– Class 1 filters “when clean do not contribute
fuel when attacked by flame and emit only
negligible amounts of smoke” Class 2 filters
“when clean burn moderately when attacked
by flame or emit moderate amounts of
smoke, or both.”
• Now all filters are just “UL Listed”…Only
Applies “When clean” is qualifier
Chapter 7 Addendum

ASNI/ASHRAE 52.2 Test Method

Be familiar with the test in its entirety

Sample Questions
• ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 averages particles sizes in
how many broad composite categories?
Three – E1, E2 & E3
• What are the ranges of these averages?
0.3 to 1.0 µm/1.0 to 3 µm/3 to 10 µm
• What is the name of the current European Air
Filter Standard?
EN779:2002
Thank you.

Other Questions?