Experimental determination of the performance of air filters for general ventilation.

Filters used for general ventilation are mass produced and tested by type at rated airflow rate in order to determine the evolution of the pressure drop and the efficiencies during an artificial and shortened clogging process. For filters of better quality it is necessary to evaluate the efficiency concerning fine dust: the traditional atmospheric dust spot efficiency method is now being substituted with an innovative method which allows one to determine the fractional efficiency versus the particle diameter within a 0.2 divided by 3 um range. Some examples of comparative assessment of commercial filters are here provided, taking the requirements of HVAC systems into account.