Assignment 2: ASTM Standards of Vacuum Cleaners

Problem 5.6: 

Find and read a technical standard on the air flow performance characteristics of vacuum cleaners in the ASTM Standards. List some other standards concerning vacuum cleaners. Write a brief report about the kind of information covered in a standard.

Answers:

1. ASTM F820:

Standard Test Method for Measuring Air Performance Characteristics of Central Vacuum Cleaning Systems

2. ASTM F1977 - 04 (2010):

Standard Test Method for Determining Initial, Fractional, Filtration Efficiency of a Vacuum Cleaner System

3. ASTM WK47437:

New Test Method for Pick Up Efficiency and Flow Measurement of Vacuum Cleaners

The objectives of tests need to be done provided by this standard is to make an assessment of vacuum cleaners with respect to the effectiveness of the fine dust retention in view of the requirement that any additional pollution of the indoor air must be prevented, taking special account of the allergenic substances arising in indoor rooms. The present test programme is only designed for vacuum cleaners which are provided with a dust bag which can be closed and this programme do not cover vacuum cleaners with cyclone separators.

This test is developed based on:

1) VDI guideline 2066: "Particulate matter measurement – Dust measurement in flowing gases – Gravimetric determination of dust load"

2) VDI guideline 3867: "Measurement of particles in ambient air – Determination of the particle number concentration and paticle size distribution of aerosols"

3) DIN EN 481: "Workplaces atmospheres; Size fraction definitions for measurement of air- borne particles"

4) DIN EN 779: "Particulate air filters for general ventilation"

5) DIN EN 1822: "High efficiency particulate air filters (EPA, HEPA and ULPA)"

6) DIN EN 13725: "Air quality – Determination of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometry"

7) DIN EN 60312: "Vaccuum cleaners for household use – Methods of measuring the per- formance"

8) DIN ISO 7708: "Air quality – Particle size fraction definitions for health-related sampling"

9) DIN EN ISO 3744: "Acoustics - Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure – Engineering methods for an essentially free field over a reflecting plane"

10) DIN EN ISO 5167: "Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular cross-section conduits running full"

11) ISO 12103-1: "Road vehicles – Test dust for filter evaluation; Arizona test dust"

12) ISO 16000-28: "Indoor air – Determination of odour emissions from building products using test chambers"

13) TRGS 402: "Determination and assessment of the concentrations of airborne hazardous substances in working areas"

14) WHO: "Air quality guidelines"

15) BIA: "Measuring of harmful substances - Working paper 'Determination of exposition by chemical and biological influences'"

16) German Research Foundation, Senate Commission on the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area: "MAK and BAT Value Lists"

17) Allergen analysis by means of monoclonal antibodies ("ELISA test")


It consists of 3 major tests which are:

1 - Basic test

a) Measurements of air flow rates, power input and sound power levels

b) Separation Test with indoor air dust at all power settings

c) Separation tests with test dust according to ISO 12103-1 at max. power setting

d) Separation tests with prepared house dust at max. power setting

e) Long-term separation tests with prepared house dust at max. power setting


2 - Dust raising by electric brush

(Where the vacuum cleaner is equipped with such a brush)


3 - Odour separation

(Where the odour separation is a performance feature of the vacuum cleaner)