Overview
EN ISO 29463-2:2018 (ISO 29463-2:2011 adopted by CEN) defines the requirements for aerosol production, measuring equipment and particle-counting statistics used when testing high‑efficiency filters and filter media (HEPA/ULPA). It is part of the ISO 29463 series and is intended to be used together with Parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 to establish a complete, particle-counting based test and classification system for high‑efficiency particulate air filters.
Key Topics
- Aerosol generation
- Selection of reference test aerosols (liquid aerosols preferred to limit evaporation); commonly used substances include DEHS, PAO, and low-viscosity paraffin oil.
- Methods for producing mono-disperse and poly-disperse aerosols and requirements to maintain stable concentration and size distribution during a test.
- Neutralization of charged aerosols and minimum performance criteria and maintenance for aerosol generators.
- Measuring equipment
- Instrumentation covered: optical particle counters (OPC), condensation particle counters (CPC), differential mobility analysers (DMA), particle size analysis systems, dilution systems, aerosol photometers, plus pressure, temperature and humidity measurement devices.
- Counting efficiency, lower detection limits and sources of measurement error are addressed.
- Particle-counting statistics
- Statistical basis for counting when dealing with small numbers of events downstream of high-efficiency filters (methods to ensure statistically significant results and to interpret low-count data).
- Quality and maintenance
- Calibration, inspection intervals and recommended maintenance procedures for aerosol generators and measuring devices to ensure reliable, repeatable test outcomes.
Applications
- Filter manufacturers - design verification and production quality testing for HEPA/ULPA media and filter elements.
- Independent test laboratories and certification bodies - standardized protocols for performance validation and classification of high‑efficiency filters.
- HVAC/cleanroom engineers - specifying and verifying filter performance for critical environments (pharmaceuticals, semiconductor fabs, hospitals, laboratories).
- Procurement and regulatory compliance teams - ensuring supplied filters meet particle-counting based efficiency classes defined by ISO 29463.
Related Standards
- EN ISO 29463-1: Classification, performance, testing and marking
- EN ISO 29463-3: Testing flat sheet filter media
- EN ISO 29463-4: Leakage test (scan method)
- EN ISO 29463-5: Test method for filter elements
- ISO 29464: Terminology for cleaning equipment for air and other gases
- Note: EN ISO 29463-2:2018 supersedes EN 1822-2:2009.
Keywords: EN ISO 29463-2:2018, ISO 29463-2, aerosol production, particle-counting statistics, HEPA testing, ULPA filters, optical particle counter, condensation particle counter, differential mobility analyser, DEHS, PAO, filter testing.
