16-19 RJ1701 Web
16-19 RJ1701 Web
16-19 RJ1701 Web
SYLVAIN COURTEY
Head of Ventilation Department
Eurovent Certita Certification
A new ISO standard is about to replace the current EN 779 standard used to characterize
the filtration efficiency of filters now classified from G1 to F9. This new standard incorporates
a different approach from the current standard in terms of classification methodology and will
therefore have a significant impact on the market. It is proposed here to present the main
changes, to detail the future benefits provided by this standard and to consider the impact
on the certification of the filters.
For most media filtering the minimum efficiency is Table 3. Filter classification according to ISO 16890-1.
around 0.4m.
Object ISO 16890 EN 779:2012
The current system therefore makes it possible to Technical
compare filters between them, but it is not easy to specifications,
Part 1 Chapters 5 - 6
evaluate the effectiveness of a filter with regards to its requirements and
impact on air quality. classification
Efficiency
Part 2 Chapters 7, 8 and 9
measurements
From this observation, it has been suggested to charac-
Definition of the
terize the filters in relation to indicators that have been Part 3 Chapter 10.4
gravimetric efficiency
used for several years in the field of air quality: particulate
matter (PM): PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 which respectively
define the air concentrations in liquid or solid particles Packaging method
to determine the
whose diameter is below 10, 2.5 and 1m. minimum spectral
Part 4 Chapter 11
efficiency of the test
These indicators are used in many health and toxico-
logical studies. They make it possible to classify the
particles according to their dangerousness:
Beyond the new approach of classification of the filters
Particles with a diameter greater than 10m are certain evolutions are to be noted:
retained by the upper airway and are not breathed.
Particles with a diameter of less than 10m (PM10) requirements have been introduced with respect to
can penetrate the bronchi. the test conditions in terms of temperature and rela-
Particles with a diameter below 2.5m (PM2.5) can tive humidity.
penetrate the pulmonary alveoli. the conditioning method for determining the
Particles with a diameter below 1m (PM1) can minimum efficiency makes it possible to test a
penetrate the alveolo-capillary barrier. complete filter and not only the filter media as with
the EN 779:2012.
The new standard therefore classifies filters relative to Fine AC dust is used to determine gravimetric effi-
their filtration efficiency for these different particle sizes ciency as a replacement for standardized dust such
according to Table2. as ASHRAE.
Table 2. Filter classification according to ISO 16890-1. The adoption of this new standard may perhaps make
it possible to harmonize worldwide the method of char-
acterizing the efficiency of filters. Today two systems
Group Initial efficiency in Discharged efficiency
PMx PMx predominate:
ePM10 50% (PM10) 50% (PM10) In Europe, the method EN 779:2012 is the only one
In North America, the ASHRAE 52.2 method is
ePM2.5 50% (PM2.5) 50% (PM2.5) used exclusively
In Asia the European and American systems coexist.
ePM1 50% (PM1) 50% (PM1) *
At CEN level in Europe this ISO standard is indicated as EN-ISO 16890 and
when published on national level the letters of the National Standard Body are
added, like e.g. DIN-EN-ISO 16890
However, in North America doubts remain about the The use of efficiency referring to these indicators will
possible use of this ISO standard. Indeed, the ASHRAE enable end-users to more easily assess their needs based
methods have been established for a long time and the on outdoor air quality and their objectives in terms of
United States has shown some reluctance throughout indoor air quality.
the validation process of this ISO standard.
References
ISO 16890-1, Air filters for general ventilation Part 1: Technical specifications, requirements and classification system based
upon particular matter efficiency (ePM).
ISO 16890-2, Air filters for general ventilation Part 2: Measurement of fractional efficiency and air flow resistance.
ISO 16890-3, Air filters for general ventilation Part 3: Determination of the gravimetric efficiency and the air flow resistance
versus the mass of test dust captured
ISO 16890-4, Air filters for general ventilation Part 4: Conditioning method to determine the minimum fractional test efficiency
EN 779:2012, Particulate air filters for general ventilation Determination of the filtration performance.
Eurovent 4/21 2014: Calculation method for the energy use related to air filters in general ventilation systems
ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 2007, Method of testing general ventilation air-cleaning devices for removal efficiency by particle size
Airbase The European Air Quality Database, http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/airbase-the-european-air-quality-
database-8
OMS guidelines for air quality: particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, Global update 2005. http://www.
euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/78638/E90038.pdf