e History of ASHRAE Standard 52.2 and NAFA

The History of ASHRAE Standard 52.2 and NAFA

By Thomas C. Ottney, CAFS

" e driving force behind this new international MERV test protocol...was NAFA. A group that started out as a small meeting of concerned air lter professionals was able to make a critically impactful mark in an enduring way."

Tom Ottney may be an unfamiliar name to some of you, but I was the NAFA President from 1996-1997. While in Toledo to represent Cambridge Air Filter Company I took the opportunity to join ASHRAE to nd out how air lter testing standards were managed. One thing I discovered was that the “test dirt” used in the Standard 52-76 was just the dust in the ambient air around the testing lab. e ASHRAE Standard for testing air cleaning devices was in use since 1976.A group of air lter distributors formally met in 1980, determined to join together and solve our mutual complaints against loopholes in the ASHRAE lter test standard. is marked the beginning of the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA).

At that rst NAFA meeting, most of the lter distributors wanted to write our own, more accurate method of testing lters under the planned NAFA organization. However, since ASHRAE runs on volunteerism, NAFA members could simply join the ASHRAE committees responsible for updating standards. We saw that it was possible to in uence the changes NAFA wanted by working within existing ASHRAE procedures and promote a new test standard that better re ected the needs of NAFA members.

In 1980, the Board of Directors asked me to represent NAFA on the ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.4 (TC 2.4), as well as the subcommittee for the proposed ASHRAE revision of lter testing Standard 52-1976. Every six months for the next seven years, NAFA was represented at those meetings without fail. I was appointed Chairman of the 47-member committee for the term from 1985-1987.

Finally, in 1999, NAFA got the particle size e ciency test standard that we had been ghting for since 1980, ASHRAE introduced Standard 52.2-1999, Method Of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices For Removal E ciency By Particle Size. is standard established a test procedure for evaluating the performance of air-cleaning devices as a function of particle size and described a method of laboratory testing to measure the performance of general ventilation air cleaning devices.

Today, ASHRAE receives the credit for development of Standard 52.2-1999 method of testing - its name is on the cover of the document, and it provided the funds to have a rm in Research Triangle Park develop the new test standard. e driving force behind this new international MERV test protocol, though, was NAFA. A group that started out as a small meeting of concerned air lter professionals was able to make a critically impactful mark in an enduring way.

ASHRAE Standards are rea rmed or updated on a ve-year cycle. NAFA can continue to be the leader for their continuous improvement. Very likely, the 52.2 document will need to be updated and the leadership required to pioneer a future 52.3 document that will certainly come from a NAFA member. ■

In 2008, Tom was inducted into the NAFA Hall of Fame. Unable to attend in person, he sent a letter of acceptance, which you can read below:

I am honored that NAFA has chosen me to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Please accept my sincere apology for not being able to attend in person to accept this award. e 1980s were years when NAFA worked to bring the air lter distribution industry together into a cohesive group. A great group of entrepreneurs made NAFA a signi cant factor to be dealt with. I am proud to have been a part of those times. To all the NAFA members who supported me during those exciting times in the 1980s and 1990s, please accept my belated sincere thanks for making me look good.

My special thanks go to the people who were fellow members on the committees involved with the First Edition of the NAFA Guide to Air Filtration, as well as the Certi ed Air Filtration Specialist program and the Clean Air Award program.

Although I had joined ASHRAE in 1963, I did not become active on ASHRAE Air Filter Technical Committees or ASHRAE Air Filter Testing Standards Committees until a er NAFA was founded. ASHRAE recognized the importance of our Trade Association by granting us voting membership on these important committees. NAFA's involvement on ASHRAE committees was a major in uence on the continuous updating of the Air Filter Test Standards.

I was the NAFA representative on ASHRAE committees for 19 years. It took that long to update ASHRAE from Standard 52-76 in 1981 to Standard to 52.1 in 1992, and nally 52.2 in 1999. e updating of standards is a never-ending process. I hope NAFA will continue to be a leader in that e ort.

Tom Ottney, CAFS

Thomas C. Ottney, CAFS, NAFA PastPresident, graduated in 1954 from General Motors Institute, Flint, Michigan (now known as Kettering University), with a diploma in dealer management. He marred in 1955 and has three girls with medical careers and a son who continues the rep business as Ohio Air Pro. He lives in Oakleaf Village Sylvania Ohio in an independent living apartment, with his wife of 67 years. He was a Manufacturer's Representative with Ottney & Associates, Toledo, Ohio, he started Ohio Air Filter in 1974.

As a member and Past President of NAFA, Tom helped create the original NAFA Guide to Air Filtration, now in its 6th edition. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award and is a Lifetime Member of NAFA. He was President of Toledo Chapter of ASHRAE in 1970-1971. In retirement he hopes to continue writing opinion articles about the air ltration industry with a historical perspective.