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:  High Efficiency Mini Pleat

      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 High Efficiency Mini Pleat media air
     filter.
                                            S-l

-------
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 High
Efficiency Mini Pleat media air filter has nominal
dimensions of 0.61 x 0.61 x 0.10 m (24 x 24 x 4 in.).
The filter has a chipboard frame with white
fiberglass media having 3.5 pleats per inch. The
Columbus Industries part number is MP6524244.
VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE
Verification testing of the Columbus Industries High
Efficiency Mini Pleat media air filter began on
September 22, 2003 at the test facilities of RTI and
was completed on November 18, 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 High Efficiency Mini Pleat
            media filter.
                                        S-2

-------
                             Table 1. Bioaerosol Filtration Results
Filter Condition
Clean
Dust loaded
Pressure Drop
Pa (in. H2O)
211 (0.85)
428(1.72)
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
B. atrophaeus , %
73
93
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
S. marcescens, %
81
93
Filtration
Efficiency for
Removal of
MS2 phage, %
78
89
                           Table 2. Summary of ASHRAE 52.2 Test
Filter
Columbus Industries
High Efficiency
Mini Pleat
El
0.3 to 1.0 //m,
43
E2
1.0to3.0//m,
83
E3
3.0 to 10 //m,
95
Minimum Efficiency
Reporting Value
(MERV)
12 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 Qppelt 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.
                                            S-3

-------