Posted by Ashley Peden on Sep 16th 2020
Is your HEPA equipment performing to True HEPA Standards?
H.E.P.A. stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance. True HEPA filters are pre-certified and marked by the manufacturers to indicate a performance of 99.97% efficiency at capturing particles at 0.3 microns in size.
When putting equipment on an abatement or remediation project, it is important to test the integrity of the filters in your negative air units, vacuums and any other HEPA filtered equipment intended to control or remove hazardous particulate.
When moving equipment from one jobsite to the next or from one room to another, there is always a chance that filters have shifted or have been damaged, which will affect the HEPA performance.
DOP/PAO Testing is a process used to challenge the integrity of the HEPA system by releasing a liquid chemical (Dioctyl Phthalate) in aerosol form. The particulates captured from the unit’s exhaust are measured and a pass or fail grade is issued. If a unit fails, the filters can be changed out and another test can be conducted. Common reasons for a unit to fail are physical damage to a HEPA filter, improper filter installation, clogged filtersor a breach of seal caused by shifting during transport.
Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO) Guidelines recommend that HEPA Equipment get tested every three months, regardless of location or frequency of use.
Safety Express is your one-stop-shop for products for your abatement and remediation projects. In addition, Safety Express provides on-site DOP/PAO testing services by trained and competent technicians from coast to coast.
Contact us today to schedule DOP/PAO testing for your HEPA Equipment!
