ASTM_F_2299_-_F_2299M_-_03_2010.pdf

Designation:F2299/F2299M03(Reapproved 2010)Standard Test Method forDetermining the Initial Efficiency of Materials Used inMedical Face Masks to Penetration by Particulates UsingLatex Spheres1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2299/F2299M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method establishes procedures for measuringthe initial particle filtration efficiency of materials used inmedical facemasks using monodispersed aerosols.1.1.1 This test method utilizes light scattering particlecounting in the size range of 0.1 to 5.0 m and airflow testvelocities of 0.5 to 25 cm/s.1.2 The test procedure measures filtration efficiency bycomparing the particle count in the feed stream(upstream)tothat in the filtrate(downstream).1.3 The values stated in SI units or in other units shall beregarded separately as standard.The values stated in eachsystem must be used independently of the other,withoutcombining values in any way.1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to thetest methods portion,Section 10,of this specification.Thisstandard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is the responsibility of the userof this standard to establish appropriate safety and healthpractices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-tions prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis ofAtmospheresD1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile MaterialsD2905 Practice for Statements on Number of Specimens forTextiles(Withdrawn 2008)3D3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area(Weight)ofFabricE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodF50 Practice for Continuous Sizing and Counting of Air-borne Particles in Dust-Controlled Areas and CleanRooms Using Instruments Capable of Detecting SingleSub-Micrometre and Larger ParticlesF328 Practice for Calibration of an Airborne Particle Coun-ter Using Monodisperse Spherical Particles(Withdrawn2007)3F778 Methods for Gas Flow Resistance Testing of FiltrationMediaF1471 Test Method for Air Cleaning Performance of aHigh-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter SystemF1494 Terminology Relating to Protective ClothingF2053 Guide for Documenting the Results of AirborneParticle Penetration Testing of Protective Clothing Mate-rials3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 aerosol,na suspension of a liquid or solid particlesin a gas with the particles being in the colloidal size range.3.1.1.1 DiscussionIn this test method,aerosols includesolid particles having a diameter of 0.1 to 5 m suspended ordispersed in an airflow at concentrations of less than 102particles/cm3.3.1.2 isokinetic sampling,na condition where the velocityof the airflow entering the sampling nozzle is the same as thevelocity of the airflow passing around the sampling nozzle.3.1.3 monodispersion,nscattering of discrete particles inan airflow where the size is centralized about a specific particlesize.3.1.3.1 DiscussionIn this test method,the monodispersedparticle distribution has a mean diameter size of the aerosol inthe 0.1 to 5 m range,with a coefficient of variation of themean diameter of 610%or less,as certified by the manufac-turer.3.2 For definitions of other protective clothing-related termsused in this test method,refer to Terminology F1494.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F23 on PersonalProtective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF23.40 on Biological.Current edition approved June 1,2010.Published July 2010.Originally approvedin 2003.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as F2299-03.DOI:10.1520/F2299_F2299M-03R10.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Filtered and dried air is passed through an atomizer toproduce an aerosol containing suspended latex spheres.4.1.1 This aerosol is then passed through a charge neutral-izer.4.1.2 The aerosol is then mixed and diluted with additionalpreconditioned air to produce a stable,neutralized,and driedaerosol of latex spheres to be used in the efficiency test.5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method measures the initial filtration efficiencyof materials used in medical face masks by sampling represen-tative volumes of the upstream and downstream latex aerosolconcentrations in a