They’re scientists who focus on clean indoor air, but the technicians in AAF’s Clean Air Innovation and Research (AIR) Center may also be able to see the future by looking into the past. “We have tested surgical headgear that had been used in an operating room and found potentially harmful skin particles were getting through the surgery team’s protective equipment,” says one engineer. Skin cells carry bacteria, can settle on surgical equipment or wounds and lead to infections. His prediction: “More hospitals are going to be working to improve their standards for Indoor Air Quality in the future.” As many as 40 employees are at work in the Center, all seeking to improve the current state of filtration.
The Clean AIR Center has dedicated labs for filter, materials, and biosafety testing. Advancing the state of IAQ technology is at the heart of AAF’s 33,000-sq.-ft. Clean AIR Center. Engineers put every new AAF filter design through rigorous testing before it is released. Existing AAF filtration products are also tested as technicians look for ways to make them perform even better – including loading HEPA filters with diesel exhaust, a byproduct of delivery trucks that can affect a building’s indoor air quality. Filters that have reached the end of their lives in the field are also examined. The Center’s test ducts meet or exceed all industry standards and use all common protocols. Testing includes ASHRAE 52.2, ISO 16890, and UL 900 with a dedicated UL filter testing room.
Advancing the state of IAQ technology is at the heart of AAF’s 33,000-sq.-ft. Clean AIR Center. Engineers put every new AAF filter design through rigorous testing before it is released. Existing AAF filtration products are also tested, as technicians look for ways to make them perform even better.
The most crucial component of a filter is its media. The Clean AIR Center has a lab dedicated to analyzing filter media performance. New filter media can go from concept to in-house theoretical modeling to prototype in just hours. Then, testing begins in the Center’s ASHRAE test ducts.
AAF customers in the agriculture industry benefit from the Center’s capacity for biological testing. Testing for PRRS, PED and Influenza A can help them take action against viral and biological threats.
Our Research & Development programs facilitate innovation to benefit people and the planet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clean AIR Center confirmed that MERV-rated air filters could reduce the presence of airborne virus-carrying particles. It’s just one example of how R&D can help create a safer, more sustainable world for all.
Many organizations around the world have established trusted standards, guidelines and recommendations for Indoor Air Quality and Indoor Environmental Quality. American Air Filter follows the guidance of these respected entities to provide assurance to our customers.
