THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION PROGRAM
ETV Joint Verification Statement
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Institute
TECHNOLOGY TYPE: VENTILATION MEDIA AIR FILTER
APPLICATION: FILTRATION EFFICIENCY OF BIOAEROSOLS IN
HVAC SYSTEMS
TECHNOLOGY NAME: SL-3 Ring Panel
COMPANY: Columbus Industries
ADDRESS: 2938 St. Rt. 752 PHONE: 740-983-2552
Ashville, OH 43103-0257 FAX:
WEB SITE: http://www.colind.com/main.htm
E-MAIL: mhaufefokolind.net
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created the Environmental Technology
Verification (ETV) Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved
environmental technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information.
The goal of the ETV Program is to further environmental protection by accelerating the
acceptance and use of improved and cost-effective technologies. ETV seeks to achieve this goal
by providing high quality, peer-reviewed data on technology performance to those involved in
the design, distribution, financing, permitting, purchase, and use of environmental technologies.
ETV works with recognized standards and testing organizations; stakeholder groups which
consist of buyers, vendor organizations, permitters, and other interested parties; and with the full
participation of individual technology developers. The program evaluates the performance of
innovative and improved technologies by developing test plans that are responsive to the needs
of stakeholders, conducting field or laboratory tests (as appropriate), collecting and analyzing
data, and preparing peer-reviewed reports. All evaluations are conducted in accordance with
rigorous quality assurance protocols to ensure that data of known and adequate quality are
generated and that the results are defensible.
EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory contracted with the Research Triangle
Institute (RTI) to establish a homeland-security-related ETV Program for products that clean
ventilation air. RTI evaluated the performance of ventilation air filters used in building heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. This verification statement provides a
summary of the test results for the Columbus Industries SL-3 Ring Panel media air filter.
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VERIFICATION TEST DESCRIPTION
All tests were performed in accordance with RTFs "Test/Quality Assurance Project Plan:
Biological Testing of General Ventilation Filters," which was approved by EPA. The following
tests were performed:
• Bioaerosol filtration efficiency tests of the clean and dust-loaded filter. Three bioaerosols
were used in the testing:
o The spore form of the bacteria Bacillus atrophaeus (BG), a gram-positive spore-
forming bacteria elliptically shaped with dimensions of 0.7 to 0.8 by 1 to 1.5 //m,
o Serratia marcescens, a rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria with a size of 0.5 to
0.8 by 0.9 to 2.0 Aim, and
o The bacterial virus (bacteriophage) MS2 dispersed as a micrometer-sized
poly disperse aerosol.
• Inert aerosol filtration efficiency tests consisting of an American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 52.2-1999 type test (0.3 to 10 |im) and extended
fractional efficiency measurements down to 0.02 jim particle diameter on both clean and
dust-loaded filter.
• ASHRAE 52.2 test providing filtration efficiency results (average of the minimum
composite efficiency) for three size ranges of particles: El, 0.3 to 1.0 Aim; E2, 1.0 to 3.0
Aim; and E3, 3.0 Aim to 10 Aim.
VERIFIED TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
As shown in Figure 1, the Columbus Industries SL-3
Ring Panel media air filter has nominal dimensions
of 0.61 x 0.61 x 0.03 m (24 x 24 x 1 in.). The filter
is a ring panel with green and white polyester
tackified media and an internal frame. The
Columbus Industries part number is P302424.
VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE
Verification testing of the Columbus Industries SL-3
Ring Panel media air filter began on October 2, 2003
at the test facilities of RTI and was completed on
November 4, 2003. The results for the bioaerosol
filtration efficiency tests are presented in Table 1 for
the clean and dust-loaded filter. Table 2 presents the
results of the ASHRAE 52.2 test. All tests were conducted at an air flow of 0.93 m3/sec (1970
cfm).
Figure 1. Photograph of the Columbus
Industries SL-3 Ring Panel media filter.
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Table 1. Bioaerosol Filtration Results
Filter Condition
Clean
Dust loaded
Pressure Drop
Pa (in. H2O)
142 (0.57)
283 (1.14)
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
B. atrophaeus , %
54
74
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
S. marcescens, %
58
83
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
MS2 phage, %
57
79
Table 2. Summary of ASHRAE 52.2 Test
Filter
Columbus Industries
SL-3 Ring Panel
El
0.3 to 1.0 //m,
%
15
E2
1.0 to 3.0 //m,
%
65
E3
3.0 to 10 Aim,
%
81
Minimum Efficiency
Reporting Value
(MERV)
8 at 0.93 nrVsec
(1970 cfm)
The quality assurance officer reviewed the test results and the quality control data and concluded
that the data quality objectives given in the approved test/QA plan were attained.
This verification statement addresses two performance measures of media air filters: filtration
efficiency and pressure drop. Users of this technology may wish to consider other performance
parameters such as service life and cost when selecting a media air filter for bioaerosol control.
In accordance with the test/QA plan1, this verification is valid for 3 years following the last
signature added on the verification statement.
Original signed by E. Timothy Oppelt 2/11/2004
E. Timothy Oppelt Date
Director
National Homeland Security Research Center
Office of Research and Development
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Original signed by David S. Ensor 1/23/2004
David S. Ensor Date
Director
ETV-HS
Research Triangle Institute
NOTICE: ETV verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific, predetermined
criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. EPA and RTI make no expressed or implied warranties
as to the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will always operate as verified. The
end user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Mention of commercial product names does not imply endorsement.
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