Air Filters for Ventilating Systems — Laboratory and in Situ Testing

Abstract

Over the past few decades, many laboratory test methods have been developed to measure and characterize air filters using different synthetic dusts. Today, with concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) and air pollution on the rise, new standards are being developed to test the ability of air filters to remove particles in the laboratory as well as in situ. Still, laboratory tests that use coarse dusts can give very misleading results, and the rated efficiency for a filter can decrease dramatically in real-world applications. For better understanding and prevention of IAQ problems, test methods should be extended to include particle shape, type, and properties.