Methodology to perform clean air delivery rate type determinations with microbiological aerosols

The objective of this paper is to describe a test method to determine a Cle an Air Delivery Rate-(CADR) type measurement for an air cleaner when challe nged with microbiological aerosols, The method is a modification of the Ass ociation of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) Standard AC-1, "Standard Me thod for Measuring Performance of Portable Household Electric Cord-Connecte d Room Air Cleaner" which determines the CADR for three different particula te matter challenges (smoke, dust, and pollen). The ability to extend the A HAM method to microbial aerosols follows the tradition of the AHAM test of using realistic particle challenges and allows a means to compare and evalu ate different brands of room air cleaners regarding characteristics signifi cant to product use. This is a useful approach for evaluating a wide range of air cleaning devices. The test procedure requires both a natural decay measurement and a particul ate decay measurement, The particulate decay measurement is defined as the decay while the air cleaner is operating, The aerosol generation and collec tion optimized the ability of three very different organisms to survive and remain culturable. The results showed that the AHAM test method was succes sfully adapted to allow testing with actual organisms.