Penetration and Resistance Testing

DOE-STD-3025-99

The damage inspection shall, as a minimum, include: verification of general

workmanship, filter type, size, gasket installation and material, separators, frame

dimension, squareness, face guards, and required labels or markings. Filters shall be

inspected for looseness of filter packs, excessive slump or distortion, loose gaskets,

breaks or tears, or patching of the filter medium.

PENETRATION AND RESISTANCE TESTING

7.1

Testing Requirements and Test Methods

Following visual inspection, each filter, completely encapsulated in the test apparatus,

shall be tested for penetration at 100% of the nominal air flow rating, and filters rated at

125 cfm (0.059 m3/s) or greater shall also be tested at 20% of the nominal airflow rating.

Each filter shall be tested for resistance to airflow at 100% of the nominal airflow rating.

Test air flow rates shall be measured in actual cubic feet per minute (acfm), not standard

cubic feet per minute. The filter test apparatus shall be equipped with "chucks" which

encapsulate the HEPA filter in the test position. Self contained (nipple ended) filters

shall not be routinely tested for resistance to airflow. Operating and test procedures shall

be prepared for each test device and shall include, as a minimum, the following elements:

Filling the generator reservoir and verification of fluid level.

Daily verification of airflow rates using NIST traceable orifice plates. Flow

rates shall be adjusted to within + 2% of the orifice plate calibration value.

Adjustment and verification of critical airflows (and temperatures for thermal

test method only).

Calibration of filter test equipment which determines particle size, penetration,

and resistance. Calibration of instruments which are used to calibrate the filter

test equipment.

Calibration schedules.

Design and use of adapters to permit tests of non-standard filters or special test

procedures.

Operating and calibration procedures.

Operation, service, and maintenance of test equipment, including the system

exhaust air cleaning device.