Pioneering IAQ Standards

Although indoor air quality may seem like a relatively new topic for most people, there have been experts working in and promoting this field for decades. 

Today we meet a pioneer of indoor air quality standards who, despite falling into the career, has an immense passion for promoting better IAQ. We hear about her leading research and testing, including how air quality ratings were developed and simple but great considerations for any HVAC system. 

Our guest is considered the OG of everything air quality testing and spent three decades working with RTI International, Kathleen Owen. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How Kathleen developed a passion for IAQ 
• Introducing efficiency measures with ASHRAE 52.2 Appendix J 
• Differences in MERV filters and performance 
• The need for real-world filter testing 
• Selecting the right air filters and proper installation 

GUEST DETAILS
Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in gaseous and particulate matter air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.

Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.

Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owen-4381a21a/ 

https://dl.ashrae.org/Profile?lectIdx=4166a637-bfd5-45fa-9fc1-00dab658a36d  

MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

Appendix J is intended to give you a much better estimate of the minimum efficiency of a filter, of a charged media filter, in real life. - Kathleen Owen

If you want better, cleaner air, run the fan more, put in a higher efficiency filter that your fan can work with. - Kathleen Owen

We have a ways to go in terms of getting the filters that we need out there, getting people to use them. - Kathleen Owen

One of the biggest issues with filters, and I know you guys worry about this too, people stick filters into spots they don't fit. - Kathleen Owen

KEYWORDS

#filter #merv #air #ashrae #indoorairquality #hvacsystem #dust