Characterizing the in-Situ Size-Resolved Removal Efficiency of Residential and Light-Commercial HVAC Filters for Particle Sizes Between 0.01 and 10 µm (OR-16-C025)

Exposure to airborne particulate matter is connected with adverse human health effects. The majority of human exposure to airborne particles occurs inside buildings. In order to improve indoor air quality by reducing indoor particle concentrations, high efficiency particle filters installed in central forced air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are being used. ASHRAE Standard 52.2 relies on a method of laboratory testing to measure the performance of general ventilation air-cleaning devices to assist end-users in their selection of appropriate air filtration products to increase living or working environmental quality. In this project, an in-situ test method is used to measure the particle removal efficiency of a wide range of commercially available filters in 28 particle size ranges from 0.01-10 µm in diameter.