1. Variability in 52.2 Testing
Monroe A. Britt
NAFA TECH2008
Memphis, TN
April 18, 2008

2. Topics 52.2 -- Same type filters at different labs
Same type filters at same lab
52.2 Conditioning Step -- Same type filters at different labs
52.2 Conditioning Step – Different type filters at one lab

3. Lab Test Program
Program not planned as “Round Robin”, but as typical requirement to occasionally have an independent lab test report for verification of in-house test program grew as results came in
Initial 52.2 – no dust feed
Proposed 52.2 Conditioning Procedure

4. Same Type Filters at Different Labs
Two Sets pleat and 28 pleat
Synthetic Media - uncharged
All Filters made with same roll of media on same equipment by same people on same morning (Manufacturing Identical)
Properties of media checked through out media roll using typical QC procedures
Filters were not individually tested before sending to Labs

5. Same Type Filters at Different Labs -- 24 x 24 x 2 Pleat Filter Two Versions : 19 Pleat and 28 Pleat

6. Laboratories Air Filter Testing Laboratory Blue Heaven Technologies
Clarcor Air Filtration – Site 1
Clarcor Air Filtration – Site 2
IBR
Intertek
LMS
Research Triangle Institute

7. 19 Pleat Filters Clean Resistance - Inches wg Laboratory Air Flow- CFM
D # 1
D # 2 A B G H
C # 1
C # 2
492
0.04
0.06
0.05
984
0.16
0.14
0.15
0.12
0.11
1476
0.27
0.25
0.23
0.26
0.20
0.18
1968
0.40
0.38
0.36
0.37
0.58
0.30
2460
0.56
0.53
0.52
0.55

9. 19 Pleat Filters Initial 52.2 Efficiencies Laboratory E F # 1 F # 2
Particle Size E
F # 1
F # 2
D # 1
D # 2 A B G H
C # 1
C # 2
0.35
1.6
7.0
2.7
1.7
0.0
10.1
0.8
1.8
0.47 5
15.9
23.0
7.4
5.4
14.3
2.5
10.4
5.7
0.62 14
31.3
25.0
18.9
15.1
5.5
22.0
12.2
35.3
27.6
0.84 25
42.0
34.0
33.3
28.8
24.4
32.0
30.3
50.0
41.6
1.14 37
50.5
44.0
45.6
40.8
46.7
43.3
49.0
39.5
58.0
49.8
1.44 49
57.6
55.0
49.1
56.5
52.5
59.3
43.8
62.8
53.8
1.88 55
67.3
67.0
63.0
58.2
65.6
60.3
68.6
68.8
2.57 61
74.0
73.0
70.0
74.3
69.8
76.6
56.4
75.6
68.1
3.46 64
75.0
73.3
70.9
78.6
77.0
78.1
60.9
79.5
75.2
4.69 63
75.4
72.0
75.9
72.9
80.3
81.8
77.9
64.2
82.1
78.5
6.2 58
75.5
76.4
73.7
80.7
86.0
82.0
82.8
80.2
8.37 56
79.4
76.9
74.2
86.6
75.1
83.4
81.4

10. Laboratory F

11. Laboratory D

12. Laboratory C

14. Comments on 52.2 Test Data

15. ASHRAE 52.2 KCl Conditioning Procedure
Feed very large concentration (106 particles/cm3) of very fine KCl particles (less than 0.1 microns) until:
a. Efficiencies meet “convergence”
criteria, or
b. Total “particle concentration times
time” (CT) reaches pre-determined
limit (109 particles/cm3 – minute)

16. Laskin Nozzle Sub-micron Particle Generator

17. Laskin Nozzle Particle Injection Into Duct

18. Condensation Particle Counter

19. Typical Conditioning Curves

20. Proposed 52.2 Conditioning Step Efficiencies
19 Pleat Filters
Proposed 52.2 Conditioning Step Efficiencies
Particle Size
Laboratory E
F # 1
F # 2
D # 1
D # 2 A
n/a H
C # 2 (IPA)
0.35
0.9
1.4
1.1
0.0
0.47 6
9.1
6.6
4.8
3.5
2.6
3.7
0.62 14
16.6
19.6
16.3
10.8
10.3
11.7
0.84 20
24.8
24.9
30.8
23.4
28.8
23.2
1.14 34
31.9
32.0
43.4
33.3
49.5
34.8
1.44 39
43.6
44.1
49.0
41.9
56.5
31.4
42.6
1.88 45
54.9
60.5
54.0
53.2
65.8
44.0
49.8
2.57 52
62.6
63.0
59.0
63.5
74.9
49.9
59.7
3.46 53
66.3
63.2
62.0
67.8
79.0
56.3
71.9
4.69
65.4
54.5
63.6
70.0
80.5
62.2
77.5
6.2 49
48.9
66.5
71.4
80.1
65.7
79.8
8.37 42
63.9
43.0
65.5
72.0
80.6
69.2
79.5

21. Laboratory A

22. Laboratory C – Filter 2

23. Laboratory D – Filter 1

24. Laboratory D – Filter 2

25. Laboratory E

26. Laboratory F – Filter 1

27. Laboratory F – Filter 2

29. Initial Resistance - In. WG
19 Pleat -- Summary
Lab
No. of Pleats
Filter
Initial Resistance - In. WG
E1 - %
E2 - %
E3- %
MERV
Comments
Lab A 19 1
0.37 7 61 80 8
As Received 10 62
After 52.2 Conditioning
Lab B 20 57 83
Lab C
0.27 58 79 47 77
After IPA Treatment 2
0.30 24 66 82
Lab D 16 76 13 51 64 54 73 48
70.3
Lab E
0.40 11 60 9 42 6
Lab F
0.38 22 49 52 23 65
Lab G 63
Lab H
0.58
--- 67
0.65 38

30. 28 Pleat Filters Lab Clean Resistance - In. wg E F D A B G H C # 1
Air Flow - Cfm E F D A B G H
C # 1
C # 2
492
0.03
0.05
0.04
984
0.13
0.09
0.10
0.12
0.11
1476
0.21
0.19
0.18
0.20
0.16
1968
0.33
0.32
0.34
0.28
0.31
0.93
0.24
0.26
2460
0.47
0.52
0.40
0.43
0.44
0.35

32. 28 Pleat Filters Initial 52.2 Efficiency Laboratory E F D A B G H
Particle Size E F D A B G H
C # 1
C # 2
0.35 2
1.6
2.5
0.0
7.5
0.1
2.7
0.47 3
18.1
5.8
9.8
10.1
7.1
0.62 9
30.3
12.6
15.6
.6.7
26.3
29.4
0.84 19
41.5
23.3
9.7
23.9
19.4
38.8
43.4
1.14 32
45.2
35.3
31.8
35.2
35.0
47.9
47.2
50.6
1.44 42
56.6
43.9
42.9
41.2
51.9
53.0
54.7
1.88 52
65.1
54.0
54.8
51.6
57.7
56.8
60.1
60.6
2.57 59
73.6
64.3
69.3
64.2
71.2
61.9
68.6
68.1
3.46 66
77.2
70.1
79.4
71.8
78.1
65.2
75.7
76.2
4.69 68
77.7
72.3
82.2
80.4
81.4
70.9
80.8
6.20 67
76.7
84.9
85.1
85.9
75.1
84.6
82.8
8.37
72.9
74.2
82.4
89.6
92.7
82.7
86.2
85.2

33. Laboratory C

35. 28 Pleat Filters Laboratory 0.35 2 0.5 1.5 0.0 --- 0.47 3 13.0 4.0 0.3
52.2 Conditioning Test Results
Laboratory
Particle Size E F D A B G H
C # 1
C # 2 (IPA)
0.35 2
0.5
1.5
0.0
---
0.47 3
13.0
4.0
0.3
0.62 9
20.8
10.1
6.8
0.84 17
26.1
21.4
9.5
18.0
1.14 28
34.6
31.8
31.6
39.6
29.0
1.44 36
44.9
41.5
43.7
43.1
36.9
1.88 43
57.2
50.9
58.9
48.6
43.5
2.57 53
69.7
60.7
74.7
56.0
53.3
3.46 56
75.3
67.2
84.7
62.3
67.5
4.69
72.4
69.4
91.0
68.0
77.4
6.2
72.3
70.6
92.9
71.4
79.5
8.37 49
64.7
71.3
86.0
79.3
79.8

37. Initial Resistance - In. WG
28 Pleat -- Summary
Lab
No. of Pleats
Filter
Initial Resistance - In. WG
E1 - %
E2 - %
E3- %
MERV
Comments
Lab A 28 1
0.28 2 50 82 8
As Received 52 89
(9)
After 52.2 Conditioning
Lab B
0.31 14 48
Lab C
0.26 20 59 81
As received 6 41 76
After IPA Soak
0.24 19 57
Lab D
0.35 11 49 73 9 46
69.6 7
Lab E
0.33 65 40 54
Lab F
0.32 23 60 71
Lab G 85
Lab H
0.93
--- 55
0.99 47
70.3

38. Comments on 52.2 Conditioning Step

39. Different Filters at Same Lab
52.2 Conditioning Step
Different Filters at Same Lab

40. 24 x 24 x 2 – Cotton/Poly

41. 24 x 24 x 2 – Cotton/Poly #2

42. 24 x 24 x 2 – Fiberglass

43. 24 x 24 x 12 – Fiberglass

44. 24 x 24 x 2 – Uncharged Synthetic
24 x 24 x 2 – Uncharged Synthetic

45. 24 x 24 x 2 – Uncharged Synthetic #2
24 x 24 x 2 – Uncharged Synthetic #2

46. 24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic

47. 24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #2
24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #2

48. 24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #3
24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #3

49. 24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #4
24 x 24 x 2 – Charged Synthetic #4

50. 24 x 24 x 4 – Synthetic

51. Summary Chart

52. End
Questions ??

53. Comments on Dust Holding Capacity - DHC

54. ASHRAE DHC
Comments on Limitations of Test Results
“Since the contaminant used for loading is not typical of natural atmospheric dust, its effects on the filter may not be the same as an equal amount of atmospheric dust.”
“The performance values obtained in accordance with the standard cannot be used by themselves to predict the air cleanliness of a specific ventilated space or the service life of an installed filter.”
“Testing accelerates the life experience of a filter and accelerated usage is not the same as normal usage.”
“ASHRAE dust-holding capacity ….. Is felt by some users to be a measure of relative filter life, but the result can be manipulated advertently or inadvertently during the test.”

55. EN-779 – Dust Loading

56. Draft ISO Standard – Dust Loading

57. Conclusions and Recommendations

58. Flat Sheet Test Data

59. IPA Flat Sheet Test – Lab C

60. IPA Flat Sheet Test – Lab D

61. IPA Flat Sheet Test – Lab C & D Lab C – 110 FPM --– Lab D - 18 FPM