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EH&E ascertained the whole house air effectiveness of each air cleaner based on
continuous particle concentration measurements made in multiple locations of the test home following the introduction of a fine dust standard and fungal spores. The study was designed to allow determination of aerosol removal rate for the entire test home as well as single zones within the facility. From the data collected, the efficacy of each filtration method was characterized as whole house aerosol removal rate, whole house clean air delivery rate (WHCADR), and indoor-outdoor ratio. Information on the nominal removal efficiency of the selected in-duct air cleaners were obtained as well.
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 OVERVIEW
Implementation of the testing program began with the configuration and characterization of the EH&E test home from April 14 through May 6, 2005. During this period, the air handling unit (AHU) and ductwork were installed, a tracer gas system was installed, and the ventilation characteristics of the test home were determined empirically. Over the ensuing three weeks, test protocols for fungal spores and particulate matter were refined and the test home was equipped with air quality monitoring instruments including particle counters, fungal spore traps, an ozone monitor, indoor and outdoor climate sensors, and particle generating equipment.
Through June 2005, the EH&E research team completed tests of fungal spore removal during operation of the AHU with selected in-duct filters. Tests were also conducted without a filter in the AHU to characterize fungal spore removal as a result of deposition within the ventilation system. In both cases, the observed particle removal rate includes deposition onto interior surfaces. This time was also used to evaluate the suitability of candidate aerosol generators for use during trials with a fine dust standard.
Tests with the fine dust standard began on June 29, 2005, and were completed on September 23, 2005. During this time the 1-inch filter, 5-inch filter, EAC, Trane CleanEffects™, and portable electric air cleaners were tested. In addition, substantial effort was devoted to evaluation of bypass associated with the in-duct filter carriage and AHU cabinet.
Additional fungal tests as well as tests using ambient aerosols were performed between September 23 and September 30, 2005. The fungal tests completed during this period involved the EAC and Trane CleanEffects™. Additional tests of aerosol removal efficiency and bypass were conducted in late September 2005.
Reduction and analysis of test data was initiated as results of individual tests became available. The bulk of the data analysis was completed in August, November, and December 2005.
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3.2 TEST HOME
The testing was conducted in a multi-room modular home located on the property of EH&E’s headquarters in Newton, Massachusetts. Figure 3.1 depicts the location and orientation of the test home. The test home is a manufactured building with the same general characteristics as the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) test home (Persily et al. 2003).
Figure 3.1 EH&E Test Home in Newton, Massachusetts
The test home has a floor area of approximately 1,350 square feet and a ceiling height of approximately 8 feet. The interior of the test home is partitioned into three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, den, bathroom, hallway, and mechanical space. Figure
3.2 is a schematic of the test home layout. The total volume of the test home after adjusting for object occupying space such as cabinetry, appliances, etc. is approximately 9,761 cubic feet.
The construction details of the test home include exterior walls insulated with R-22 Kraft faced-insulation. The sheathing on the exterior walls consists of a Tyvek® air infiltration barrier and 5/8-inch wood paneling. The interiors of the walls are constructed of 1/2-inch drywall and a vinyl covering. Modular wall systems were used as interior partitions. The roof is insulated and consists of 1/2-inch plywood covered with a 45 millimeter ethylene propylene diene monomer roof membrane. The ceiling is made of suspended gypsum ceiling tiles. The floor of the facility consists of 5/8-inch plywood decking covered with either commercial carpet or vinyl composition tile. Below the floor joists, the floor is insulated with R-22 un-faced insulation. The test home has six single hung windows measuring 23 inches wide by 60 inches and two exterior doors. One door is a 36-inch by 80-inch commercial steel, while the second door is a side by side double glass door that measures 72 inches by 80 inches.
The whole house ventilation system serving the test home is a Trane Modular Variable Speed AHU, model number TWE040E13FB, and a Trane split system heat pump, model number XL14i. Air was ducted throughout the facility with a sheet metal duct system installed just below the finished ceiling. Figure 3.3 depicts an example of the exposed ductwork in a bedroom.
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