Abatement & Remediation

HELPING CONTRACTORS PERFORM MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY

Abatement Technologies® powerful line of high-quality HEPA-AIRE® Negative Air Machines and specially-formulated, environmentally-sensitive chemicals help asbestos contractors perform more effectively and efficiently. With over 25 years of design and engineering experience, Abatement has developed a reputation for industry-leading innovations that are second to none. Learn how our state-of-the-art asbestos abatement products can increase contractor productivity and profits.

Modes of Operation

FAQs About Equipment for Asbestos Abatement

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES® HEPA-AIRE® NEGATIVE AIR MACHINES FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

DOES THE MACHINE ACTUALLY PRODUCE THE AIRFLOW YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING?

Airflow Comparison Chart True airflow of negative air machines can vary substantially from brand-to-brand because different suppliers use different rating methods and components. One of the most confusing, inaccurate and potentially misleading methods is ‘free air’, which is nothing more than the test bench rating of the blower. The airflow produced by the device will be up to 60% lower when the blower is enclosed in a cabinet and must pull air through the resistance of the filters. Click here to see a larger image.

DOES THE HEPA FILTER TRULY PROVIDE 99.97% HEPA FILTRATION?

A filter made with HEPA media may or may not provide true HEPA efficiency. Serious leakage can go undetected if filters are not individually tested and certified at the end of the manufacturing process in accordance with IEST-RP-CC001.3 guidelines for Type A HEPA filters. Even the tiniest pinhole leaks in the media or breach of the seal between the media pack and the filter frame can cause the filter to fail efficiency requirements. If this happens, contaminated air can pass through the filter and be exhausted into ‘clean’ areas of the facility.

HEPA testing requires very specific procedures using a thermally generated mono-dispersed aerosol and a laser particle counter. Test results, including test airflow, percent penetration, date of manufacture and other detailed information must be included on a label affixed to the filter. Testing should be conducted at the rated airflow of the machine. A filter designed for and tested at 1,000 cfm or 1,100 cfm may provide significantly lower efficiency at 2,000 cfm. If the filter label simply states “99.97% HEPA Filter” or “2,000 CFM HEPA Filter”, but does not include all of the detailed testing information, it’s probable that the filter has not been individually tested.

IS THE MACHINE DESIGNED TO PREVENT BYPASS LEAKAGE AROUND THE HEPA FILTER?

Even the best HEPA filter can’t prevent contamination problems if the machine is not designed to prevent contaminated air from bypassing the filter. Look for important contaminated air bypass prevention features such as:

• Flat, rigid HEPA sealing frames with no welds or other surface irregularities that can disrupt the seal
• Seamless poured closed-cell neoprene gaskets or silicone gel seals as opposed to gaskets with seams or made from open cell foam
• Solid rivet fasteners versus weaker and potentially leaky hollow pop-rivets or metal screws.
• Sealed control panels

IS THE MACHINE SAFE?

Why take the chance on an untested and potentially unsafe machine? OSHA (U.S.) and CSA (Canada) require electrical safety testing and certification by an approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL, CSA or ETL. This overall testing is required even if the individual electrical components are all NRTL listed. Contractors may be surprised to learn that the HEPA-AIRE Negative Air Machines manufactured by Abatement Technologies are currently one of the few brands that meets these requirements. All Abatement Technologies negative air machine models are certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)., and carry their ETL/ETLC mark for safe operation on 115V/15A electrical supplies.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES HEPA FILTERS SO EFFICIENT?

The ultra-fine, glass-fiber medium captures microscopic particles that can easily pass through other filters by a combination of diffusion, interception and inertial impaction. To qualify as a Type A HEPA filter, the filter must capture at least 99.97% (9,997 out of 10,000) of particles 0.3 microns in size–about 300 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, and 25 to 50 times smaller than we can see. To a HEPA filter, catching a one-micron particle (1/1,000,000 of a meter) is like stopping a cotton ball with a door screen.

WHY IS THE TESTING DONE WITH A 0.3-MICRON PARTICLE SIZE TEST AEROSOL?

Filter efficiency studies have shown that 0.3-microns is the "Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS)" for HEPA filter media. Efficiency is typically greater than 99.97% against larger or smaller particle sizes. Particles larger than 0.3 microns are typically more easily trapped, or intercepted, by the media. Smaller particles often lack sufficient mass to penetrate the media.

DOES HEPA FILTER EFFICIENCY DECREASE AS THE FILTER GETS DIRTY?

No. The dirtier a HEPA filter gets, the more efficient it typically becomes.

Links & Informative Articles on Asbestos Abatement

INFORMATION ON PROTECTING BUILDING ENVIRONMENTS AND IMPROVING INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Ozone Transport Commission - www.otcair.org

Guidance for Filtration and Air-Cleaning Systems to Protect Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological or Radiological Attacks, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-136/

Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-139/

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/

Building Air Quality, A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers, EPA - www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/pdf_files/iaq.pdf

Information on Activated Carbon. How does it work? How is it used? - Activated Carbon Filters

Comparing Airflow Ratings

WHY AIRFLOW RATINGS CAN BE VERY MISLEADING AND THE CHEAPEST UNITS ARE OFTEN THE MOST COSTLY

No Industry-Standard Airflow Rating Method

There is no standardized method that manufacturers use to rate the airflow of their air filtration devices. Different methods can produce widely varying and often misleading results, and make direct comparisons between brands difficult if not impossible.

Comparing ‘Apples & Oranges'

Ratings The most overstated and inaccurate method used bases device airflow ratings on the AMCA “free air” blower rating, which is a test bench measurement of the airflow the blower can produce at various motor horsepower levels with no static resistance. Since actual peak airflow with the cabinet and filters in place is typically 50% to 80% lower, free air is essentially meaningless when it comes to rating the device itself.

Inlet or outlet readings with an air-straightening duct attached to reduce turbulence are far more accurate. This testing is generally done using a computing vane anemometer or pitot tube traverse to determine the average velocity (in feet per minute) and airflow (in cubic feet per minute) flowing through the air straightening duct. Attempting to measure airflow at non-laminar inlet and outlet openings is not recommended.

Peak Airflow Is Only Part Of The Story

Even when accurate, peak airflows can be misleading because they provide only a small part of the performance picture. It's often a mistake to automatically conclude that the performances of two devices are equal just because their peak airflows are similar. The airflow of all filtration devices drop off as resistance to airflow increases due to filter loading, external collars or flex duct. The magnitude and frequency of these losses; and therefore how frequently filters must be replaced to restore acceptable airflow levels can vary greatly.

Peak static capacity of the blower and filter dirt holding capacity are the main factors that determine 'real life' airflow and filter life. As a rule, a backward curved blower can move more air than a cheaper but less efficient squirrel-cage blower, due largely to its ability to operate at much higher 'tip speeds' and therefore overcome higher levels of resistance. This higher capacity, in turn, extends the useful life of the filters and can make a higher price but more efficient system far less costly to operate.

Build In A Sufficient Margin of Safety

To compensate for airflow losses, users should build in a safety margin when estimating how many units are required to provide a given number of ACH (air changes per hour). If the objective is 6 ACH, designing for 8 or 9 ACH at peak airflow should be more than adequate to ensure sufficient airflow throughout the filter loading cycle provided that the peak airflow rating is reasonably accurate.

NRTL Safety Certification

ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES® HEPA-AIRE® AND PREDATOR® PORTABLE AIR SCRUBBERS HAVE BEEN TESTED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORY (NRTL).

Required Testing and Certification of Electrical Products

In the USA, OSHA safety standards for general industry and construction and the National Electrical Code require testing and listing (certification) of electrical products to applicable standards. It is important to note that this testing must be performed on an electrical device even if the individual electrical components used in that device are all listed or approved.

Testing must be done by an OSHA-recognized NRTL, such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories), ETL (Environmental Testing Laboratories), TÜV SÜD, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association). In Canada, The Standards Council of Canada has adopted standards for the Canadian Electrical Code developed on its behalf by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Third party testing from a laboratory or other organization, not NRTL-certified is not acceptable, even if such testing is done to applicable standards.

Why is NRTL Certification Important?

Unless a unit is properly tested, users have no way of knowing whether it is properly and safely designed to meet the requirements of the applicable electrical codes. It is wise to require written vendor verification that the products you purchase are NRTL certified.

Aren't All Air Filtration Products Properly Certified?

No. Unfortunately, many of the portable air scrubbers and air filtration systems sold to and used by contractors, healthcare facilities, and others are not certified. It is therefore impossible to know whether such products are safe or perhaps placing workers at risk.

Air Change Calculator for Abatement and Remediation

Air Change Calculator