4/5/12

What you thought you knew

Patrick Law

Two industry standards contain procedures

for calculating the correct probe size to use
when scanning HEPA/ULPA Filters.
The same two also contain calculations for
conducting your scan rate.

IEST-RP-CC-034
ISO 14644 Part 3

IEST RPs 006 & 002 point you back to

RP-034.

Photometer Probe - April 2012

San Diego, April 2012

Pre 1999 - IEST-RP-CC-006 A few pages

dedicated to leak testing one probe size and
one speed.
1999 IEST RP-CC-034 - 40 pages dedicated
to leak testing only. Multiple Probe sizes &
Multiple speeds.
2005 ISO 14644-3- Very similar to RP-34
including Multiple Probes & Multiple speeds.
July 2010 IEST-RP-CC-034.3 (second
printing) Quick fix with an annex taking us
back to one probe, one speed.

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IEST-RP-CC-034 For 11 years (1999

07/2010)
ISO 14644-3 2005 Current.
Address changes made after July 2010.

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San Diego, April 2012

Verify Airflow is operating within design

limits.
Direct read or calculate average velocity at
each HEPA.
Decide

type & size of probe to be used

Speed at which you will be scanning

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San Diego, April 2012

Somewhat Isokenitic sampling ( 10-20% of

Average velocity.)
Measurement or Calculation of exit velocity

Scanning probe dimensions

Need to Calculate scan rate based on probe

dimensions

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San Diego, April 2012

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Dp = Probe dimension parallel to scan

Fa = Flow rate of photometer
V
= Average velocity of filter
Wp = Probe dimension perpendicular to scan
direction

Fa
V Wp

Dp =

Photometer Probe - April 2012

San Diego, April 2012

HEPA has 90 FPM average velocity

1 CFM flow rate of the photometer
Probe dimension perpendicular to scanning
direction = 3.2

3
1728
minute
1 ft3in
minute
DpDp==
1,080"
minute
90 fpm
x 3.2"x 3.2"

Photometer Probe - April 2012

The transition
section of the
probe should
have an overall
length, TL at
least equal to
the maximum
dimension of the
probe inlet Wp
Dp 0.25

San Diego, April 2012

TL

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Range of
5-8 Probes
required when
scanning HEPA
Velocities
From 32 fpm
to 201fpm.

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San Diego, April 2012

Since this standard requires the inlet velocity

of the probe to be within 10% of the
average HEPA velocity, multiple probes have
to be owned.
Average
Velocity

60
74
90
110
135
165

Less
10%

54
66.6
81
99
121.5
148.5

Plus
10%

66
81.4
99
121
148.5
181.5

Probe
Wp (Inch)

4.8
3.9
3.2
2.6
2.1
1.7

Probe
Dp (inch)

Inlet
Area (Sq. In.)

0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

2.4
1.95
1.6
1.3
1.05
0.85

Photometer Probe - April 2012

San Diego, April 2012

Since this standard requires the inlet velocity

of the probe to be within 20% of the
average HEPA velocity, multiple probes have
to be owned.
Average

Less

Plus

Velocity

20%

20%

40
60
90
112
168

32
48
72
89.6
134.4

48
72
108
134.4
201.6

Probe
Probe
Wp
Dp
(inches) (inches)
7.2
4.8
3.2
2.6
1.7

Inlet
Area
(Sq.In.)

0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

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3.6
2.4
1.6
1.3
0.9

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The maximum scan rate when using a square

probe should not exceed 3 m/min (5 cm/sec)
(10 ft/min or 2 in./sec).
With a rectangular probe, the maximum area
scan rate should not exceed 0.093 m2/min
(1.0 ft2/min).

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Sr = Probe dimension parallel to scan

Ar = Flow rate of photometer
Wp = Probe dimension perpendicular to scan
direction

Sr =

Ar
Wp
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Probe dimension perpendicular to scan

direction = 3.2

S rS r==

2 minute
144
1 ftin2 minute

3.2"

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Sr = Linear scan rate (cm/sec.)

Wp = Probe dimension perpendicular to scan
direction (cm)

15
Wp

Sr =

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3.2 Probe dimension perpendicular to scan

direction ( 8.128 cm)

15
8.128 cm

Sr =

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San Diego, April 2012

Scan Rate in Inchs Per Second

2

Used to be
165 fpm

1.41

135 fpm

1.14

110 fpm

0.92

90 fpm

0.75

74 fpm

0.62

60 fpm

0.5
0

0.5

1.5
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2.5

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Velocity of the air

exiting filter
Matches the capture
velocity of the air at
the inlet of the
probe.
Captures 100% of
particles coming
through the defect.

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Pulls surrounding
clean air
Captures 100% of
particles coming
through a defect

Excess volume is
forced outside of
the probe.
Captures <100% of
particles coming
through a defect

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Current probe captures at 90 fpm.?

A filter with an average velocity of 135 fpm
could spill 1/3 of the particles outside of the
probe area, under sizing the leak and making
it harder to detect.
A probe with an inlet capture velocity of 135
would be best.
You could block off the current probe to
increase velocity.

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Annex J
The rate at which the filter is scanned should
not exceed 10 minute (0.05m/sec)
Use Probe provided by manufacturer unless
otherwise specified.
There still remains some confusion in section
6.2 (Installation Test)

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10.11.2.10
The rate at which the filter is scanned should
not exceed 10 minute (0.05m/sec) if average
velocity of HEPA is 90-110 fpm.
If velocities are significantly higher, calculate
scan rate per IEST RP-034.

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IEST Talks and sub-committees have been

formed to evaluate the scan rate.
ISO 14644 is due to be revised and talk is
that it will have a change as well.

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San Diego, April 2012

How has the industry conducted this test

method?
Truth be told, most of us scan faster than
10/min and still find leaks.

However..

Solution is to have a method that is

meaningful, reliable yet easy enough to
conduct as a field test.

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San Diego, April 2012

Obtain current and new standards when they

are released.
Obtain draft standards and comment
Read and understand these standards when
they are published
Question what you dont understand
Get involved in IEST or other industries that
are writing standards

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San Diego, April 2012

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The world will continue to scan filters as fast

as they do with the supplied probe until there
is a need to change.
Our industry as well as our clients have
ignored this method.
IEST and/or ISO will likely publish a revision
and if practical enough, it will be embraced.

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QUESTIONS?

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