Standards Australia has started with implementation of ISO 16890, bringing the Australian Standard for air filters used in general ventilation and air conditioning in line with world’s best practice. Part 1 of the standard is now out for public comment, and can be accessed via the Standards Australia website.
According to Daniel McCaffrey, M.AIRAH from AFPRO Filters, who is a member of the AIRAH Indoor Air Quality Special Technical Group, application of this set of standards will provide increased surety on the effectiveness of air filter selections.
“The existing methodology in AS 1324.1 for determining filter efficiency was based on a British Standard of 1957,” says McCaffrey. “It was increasingly inaccurate at efficiencies less than 90 per cent. Filters previously determined as having a minimum efficiency of greater than 20 per cent to AS 1324 Number 1 dust, have been found to be less than 5 per cent to ISOePM1.”
The series of standards determines performance classification to three categories of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10) as well as determining arrestance, taking the AS 1324.1 performance classifications G1–G4 out to 19 levels of performance, using A2 fine which is more than 2.3 times w/v than ASHRAE/AS 1324 Number 4 dust, and useful when comparing service life and suitability for heavy or industrial environments. Shedding – particle bounce, release of fibres or particulate matter – is also addressed in the standard.
“The adoption of ISO 16890 as an Australian Standard provides Australian consumers and designers with current world’s best methodology to determine air filter performance,” says McCaffrey.
“The current AS 1324.1.2001 standard will retain currency for a transition period of two years, after which only AS 16890 will be the Australian Standard for air filters for use in general ventilation and air conditioning. It will be a consumer choice as to which standard they wish to apply.”
McCaffrey says the Standards Australia ME62 committee AS 1668.2 working group is likely to adopt AS 16890 for purposes of design calculation into the ventilation standard, once all four sections have been published.
In terms of the review of the standards, McCaffrey notes that there are 17 stakeholder groups covering manufacturers, designers, specifiers, end-users, government and industry associations/groups represented in the ME-080 committee.
“But individuals, groups, organisations and service providers are welcome to comment to ensure the committee obtains qualified feedback and to ensure universal participation,” says McCaffrey.
AS 16890.1 is open for comment until April 28, 2023. Go to the Standards Australia public comment dashboard to review and provide feedback (registration required).