Purolator's Research & Technical Center
Purolator's Research and Technical Center is the nation's largest
manufacturer-based laboratory for air filter testing. The lab provides testing and data
analysis on filters and filter media for particulate and gaseous contaminants.

The backbone of the Tech Center is the ASHRAE 52.1 and
52.2 test ducts. ASHRAE 52.1 tests quantify air flow resistance, arrestance, atmospheric
dust spot efficiency, and dust holding capacity. ASHRAE Standard 52.2 measures particle
size efficiency. This newer standard quantifies filtration efficiency on different particle size
ranges for clean and incrementally loaded filters. The standard rates particle size efficiency
results as a MERV Rating between 1 and 20.

Purolator continually tests new medias and filter designs to enhance
our air filter product line, which includes over 10,000 filtration products, for commercial,
industrial, institutional and cleanroom environments, and for special applications such as
gas turbine intake and paint overspray.


ASHRAE Standard 52.1 and 52.2
Lab Capabilities for Advanced Filter Testing

ASHRAE 52.1 Testing
o Air Flow vs. Resistance
o Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency
o Arrestance
o Dust Holding Capacity

ASHRAE 52.2 Testing
o Air Flow vs. Resistance
o Particle Size Efficiency
o MERV Ratings
o Dust Holding Capacity

Efficiency by Particle Size
o Computer Driven/On Screen Real Time
o Various Aerosol Challenges
o Particle Sizes from 0.3 to 10.0+ Microns

DOP Penetration
o Challenge with Hot or Cold DOP Test Aerosol
o Penetration/Efficiency Determined with a Photometer

Particle Size Analysis
o Particle Size Range of a Dust Sample Using a Malvern Analyzer

VOC (Hydrocarbon) Analysis
o VOC Incremental Removal Efficiency
o First Pass Removal Efficiency
o Total Saturation Point

Photomicroscopy
o Particle Size Analysis
o Fiber Analysis
o Output - Digital, Print, 35mm, Video

Flat Sheet Testing
o Efficiency by Particle Size
o Air Flow vs. Resistance
o Various Size Challenges from 0.1 to 10.0 Microns

Frazier Tester
o Air Flow Permeability (ASTM Standard)