ASHRAE releases new performance standard for dust collectors

Metal fabricators now have a consensus standard to use in evaluating dust collection systems. Dust collection is critical in facilities that generate hazardous substances during welding, laser and plasma cutting, and thermal spray applications.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 199-2016 is a voluntary test method for filtration manufacturers. It was developed by the Atlanta-based American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) as an alternative to Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV), a rating system developed for HVAC filters but applied to dust collectors in the absence of more relevant test methods.

Standard 199 measures the performance of a dust collector on three factors over 48 hours of pulse cleaning, variable dust loading, and failure and recovery that mimic real-world conditions. The entire system is evaluated—not just the filter element—and a test report includes:

*Operating pressure drop on the filters, which relates to operating cost and filter life.

*Particulate matter in the vented emissions, an indication of efficiency.

*Energy consumption for compressed air to clean the filters.