Kk. Foarde et al., Methodology to perform clean air delivery rate type determinations with microbiological aerosols, AEROS SCI T, 30(2), 1999, pp. 235-245
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.