Comparison of melt-blown and glass-fiber HEPA asbestos filters based on ISO filter classes, filtration efficiency, power consumption, and face velocity

The purpose of this study was to determine the most efficient airborne asbestos filter for use in an HEPA negative air machines through filter performance testing. The filter classes applied conformed with ISO and European standard (EN 1822) regarding fractional efficiency by dust loading amount for filters, fractional efficiency for negative air machines, and consumption of electrical power at filter size 0.3 μm. Class H13 had the highest fractional efficiency among the three experimental filter classes by particle size, at face velocity of (1, 2, and 3) m/s. Melt-blown (MB) filters exhibited higher fractional performance than did glass-fiber filters at all particle sizes tested (0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 µm). The power consumption of glass-fiber filters was higher (at 10 m3/min) than that of melt-blown filters. Therefore, melt blown filters would be more cost-effective than glass fiber filters for use in HEPA negative air machines, for protection against airborne asbestos.Implications: Air cleaner and related systems were developed to control a variety of airborne pollutants in general indoor environments, but there was no certified system for focusing on asbestos fractional efficiency using filter tests. Class H13 had the highest fractional efficiency among the three experimental filter classes by particle size, at face velocity of (1, 2, and 3) m/s. Melt-blown filters exhibited higher fractional performance than did glass-fiber filters at all particle sizes tested (0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 µm). The power consumption of glass-fiber filters was higher (at 10 m3/min) than that of melt-blown filters.