His research highlighted the importance of exploring the actual performance of filters in residences in terms of particle removal efficiency and the impacts of filters on pressure, airflow, and energy consumption. Using an actual residential home built as a laboratory, Stephens showed the whole-house efficiency of air filters less than MERV 5, MERV 7, and MERV 11, compared to manufacturer’s reported removal efficiency and independent laboratory tested efficiency. His presentation demonstrated field methods that can be used to investigate long-term changes in filtration efficiency with real dust loading to the impacts of duct leakage and filter bypass on particle removal, and ultimately to better describe the relationships between particle removal, pressure, flow, and energy in actual residences.

Monroe Britt, Greenleaf Technologies (Louisville, Ky.), presented a new way to condition electret (electrically enhanced) filter media using a technique called vapor phase isopropyl alcohol. Britt’s presentation outlined the testing method and equipment he has used to demonstrate another way to faster, more effectively bring an electret filter to a “minimum condition” for efficiency testing as opposed to the time-consuming method of Appendix J, now in Standard 52.2. His results provide the same or better results than conditioning with potassium chloride particles. He is continuing his research into this procedure and plans to recommend it to the Standing Standards Project Committee (SSPC) 52.2 committee.

NAFA also held a panel discussion, moderated by Phil Maybee of The Filter Man (New Caney, Texas) and the SSPC52.2 committee, to discuss current issues. The panel included the following: Thad Ptak, Columbus Industries (Columbus, Ohio), who spoke on the impact and issues of multiple filter rating systems being initiated by ISO, Home Depot, 3M, and others; Len Duello, Superior Fibers, (Bremen, Ohio) who presented information on the many MERV categories, the move to combine several categories, and discussed parameter revisions on others; Jay Baxter, Kimberly Clark Corp. (Atlanta), who presented issues involving the testing of electret media and the reporting of same on the 52.2 test; and Tom Justice, Zene Inc. (Goldsboro, N.C.), who presented the issues that are currently being worked on to correct deficiencies in the test standard such as inter-lab variability, temperature and relative humidity parameters, particle counter differences, barometric pressure differences, and more.

A hands-on session involving HEPA filter scanning was presented by David Crosby, ATI Equipment (Baltimore), with self-contained HEPA filtered ceiling modules provided by Flanders Corp.

Sheryl Johnson, BD-Pro Marketing (Pittsburgh), presented a session on “Integrating Social Media in Your Marketing and Customer Relations Effort.” Johnson covered each aspect of social media and what each network offers customers, and then showed actual use and application of Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

TECH2013 will be held April 8-12, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. Registration can be found by visiting www.nafahq.org.

Publication date: 6/4/2012