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Environmental Test Chamber with modified ASHRAE type 52.2 Test Rig

Slide deck from webinar byAirmid Healthgroup

www.airmidhealthgroup.com

Confidential

Mission

To help clients with products and services for the built environment improve their customer offerings through

health related innovations and marketing. To create value through a number of collaborative strategies including field research, environmental test chamber studies and licensing

our own intellectual property. By specialising in studying how allergens, viruses, and other ultra-fine particles spread illness and disease in buildings we are a leading authority in aerobiology and bio-medical research. Our clients succeed

by making the built environment as healthy as possible.

Mission, Products and Services

Confidential

Indoor Air Quality - The Facts

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates

that greater than one building in four has indoor air

quality problems

• Indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air (5 to

100 times) with 90% of our time spent indoors

• Indoor Air pollution has been ranked as a high

priority health risk – it is ranked 5th as a cause of ill

health worldwide

• To breathe healthy indoor air is considered a

fundamental right by the WHO

• Multiple Environmental Test Chambers– Allergen– Environmental– Ducting Test Rig, ASHRAE 52.2

Climate

Controlled

Environmental

Test Chambers

• Class II Microbiological Laboratories

• PCR Molecular biology

• Indoor aerobiology assessments

Environmental Test Chamber Facilities

Environmental Test Chamber Facilities

• 3 Climate-Controlled Environmental Chambers

• Allergen• Environmental• Microbiological

• Bioaerosols• Aerobiology• Biomedical research

‘Hub and spoke’ Layout

• Chambers placed at centre of the test facility and are surrounded by our molecular biology, microbiology, mycology, virology and allergen laboratories to allow samples to be rapidly analysed.

• Class II Microbiological Laboratories including PCR

• Real time indoor aerobiology assessments

AHAM Type

Chamber

Main chamber

• Purpose built ASTM standard chamber of 28.5 m³ capacity.  

• Stainless steel construction• All materials complying with low VOC

emission requirements.  • Air Change Rate controlled within a

range from 0.38 to 60 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). 

• Temperature and humidity levels controlled across a wide range at all ACH rates. 

Conditioning

• Test room temperature and humidity are maintained in standard laboratory conditions

• Ability to control temperature between 18 to 35° C and 40-65% relative humidity.

Real Time Aerosol Monitor

• Real time aerosol monitor capable of measuring airborne particulate

• Laser Particle Counter (0.3 – 10 microns)

• Condensation Nucleus Particle Counter (0.15nm – 0.1 micron

• Comprehensive particle counter monitoring

• State of the art air sampling techniques

• In house Laboratory Analytical Testing Services

• including PCR (Virology, Mycology,Bacteriology) and ELISA (Allergen)

• Emission Testing in chemically neutral chambers

Climate Controlled Environmental Test Chambers

Schematic of ‘in line’ testing

Proximal and Distal Sampling in-duct (“Single Pass”)

Filtration system under examination

Schematic of ‘in chamber’ testing

Proximal Sampling in-duct, Distal Sampling in chamber (effect over time)

Filtration system under examination

Specifications and construction of environmental test chamber

• 16' x 8' x 8' (28.5m³)• Constructed according to ASTMD6670-01 and

ANSI/AHAM AC-1:2006 standards• Stainless steel interior• All materials complying with low VOC emission

requirements• Two observation windows on one side and

door, Externally sealable ports• Internal electrical outlet and fluorescent lighting• Capable of 0.38 to 60 air changes per hour• Controlled air flow, temperature, and relative

humidity• Ability to maintain temperature between 18

and 35° C and 40-65% relative humidity.• Positive pressure entrance air lock lobby• UV down lighters

Air handling and cleaning• The chamber is served by supply and extract

air handling units with re-circulated air and make up fresh air.

• The supply fan is capable of variable speed and the chamber has motorised dampers with shut-off seals on both supply and return ducts.

•The supply and exhaust air is HEPA filtered

• Adjusting the fan speed and dampers enables the air exchange rate of the chamber to be reduced from 60ACH to as low as 0.38ACH, equivalent to a passive house. .

Example of test apparatus

• SKC Biosamplers• Biostage impactors• Sidekick pumps• Laser particle counter• Condensation nucleus particle

counter• Venturi throat introducer• Surface allergen sampling

– Mitest™ Instrument

Industries Served

Air Conditioners Air Cleaning Device Vacuum Cleaners

Textiles Surface Technologies Filters

Cleaning Products Floor Coverings

Services Menu of Environmental Test Chamber

• Our unique environmental test chambers allow us to mimic indoor building environments

• Provide repeatable biomedical data regarding the impact the product or service tested has on indoor air exposures and building occupant health.

• Aerobiology assessments for the built environment

Service we offer:

• Impact of electrical appliance on surface and airborne allergens• Measurement of particulate emissions, circulation and re-

entrainment from consumer products and electrical appliances such as air conditioners.

• Microbiological elimination efficacy testing on consumer products of anti microbial and photo catalytic materials

• “Real life' studies and consumer exposure validation model• State of the art air sampling techniques with on site laboratory

testing facilities in Virology, Mycology, Bacteriology, PCR and ELISA (Allergen) enabling rapid generation of results for all samples generated in the chamber

Analysis

Indoor Particulate Test Method Used

Mould/Fungi Culture/PCR

Bacteria Culture/PCR

Viruses Cell Culture Isolation/PCR

Endotoxin Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay

Airborne Particle Counts Laser Diffraction

Allergens–Dust Mite, Cat or Pollen

ELISA

Advanced scientific testing of building contents and materials to assess the impact that they have on the quality of indoor air and so human health.

Specialist testing that provides data for a wide range of indoor air exposures including allergens, bacteria, viruses, moulds, chemicals and particulates.

Research and Innovation for Product and Service development

Advanced Environmental Laboratory Capabilities

Allergen• Routine and bespoke allergen detection• Standard (ng) or amplified (pg) methods available

Microbiology• Identification and enumeration of:

• Bacteria• Fungi• Viruses

• Culture and molecular biology• PCR/Real time PCR) capabilities

Contact Usairmid healthgroup

Europe+353-1-633 6820Trinity Enterprise Campus, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland

USA +1 646 291 8937345 Park Avenue,17th Floor, New YorkNY 10151-0037, USA

http://www.airmidhealthgroup.com/services/climate-controlled-environmental-chamber-studies.html

Graeme Tarboxgtarbox@airmidhealthgroup.com