You can’t risk any bypass or leakage in HEPA air filtration on mold, sewage or asbestos remediation projects or in controlled environments where particulates could create risks for occupants. That’s why it’s critical to conduct independent testing to certify the integrity of any HEPA filtration system – not just the primary HEPA filter but its integration with the unit.
Why DOP compliance?
DOP testing confirms that HEPA air scrubbers and their filters are performing at the level required for the most critical environments - hospitals, institutions, etc. - and the assurance that they provide high-level filtration for all projects, especially when containment is needed.
What is DOP testing?
DOP stands for Dispersed Oil Particulate. During testing, oil is dispersed as an aerosol across the air scrubber filter, then the number of particles in the downstream flow is measured using a calibrated photometer. The entire filter face is tested to detect leaks or damage.
Most manufacturers claim their units remove 99.97% of particulates at .3 microns (μm), but that may not be based on any independent testing. DOP test compliance is proof positive that an air scrubber is truly filtering out harmful particulates including mold, wildfire smoke and dangerous post-flood contaminated particles. The Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 passes DOP tests with the unit’s standard filters – and actually exceeds DOP requirements.
What’s even better than DOP compliance?
For the HEPA 700, Legend Brands decided to go beyond DOP and submit the unit and its filters for DEHS (Di Ethyl Hexyl Sebacat) testing. Why? It’s considered a more reliable test method and it uses even smaller aerosol particles (0.1- 0.5 μm) than DOP testing (0.3 μm).
Results: Particle Measuring Systems’ DEHS testing showed that the HEPA 700 achieved 99.999% efficiency on particles of .1-.3 microns – way beyond the HEPA standard of 99.97% efficiency down to .3 microns. That should reassure you that the HEPA 700 is the right negative air machine for whatever projects arise.
What else should you consider?
If your primary HEPA air filter gets damaged in handling or transit, then filter integrity may be compromised. The glass HEPA filters that many manufacturers use are more prone to damage than the HEPA 700’s – plus synthetic HEPA filter media offers better airflow (less pressure drop) so you can achieve more air changes per hour even as it loads.
What does this mean for you?
When it matters – on black water flood jobs, where there’s mold and sewage, or when working in critical facility environments – the HEPA 700 negative air machine is the best choice to protect occupants, workers and your organization from risk.
