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CONSTRUCTION SPECIAL SPECIFICATION

SECTION 15861-S

[HEPA FILTER IN-SERVICE LIFE]{.underline}

# [GENERAL]{.underline} {#general .SECTION-1}

## Summary {#summary .SECTION1.01}

This Section provides guidelines for adverse operating condition limits
and age limits for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters at
Sandia National Laboratories.

There are no national standards for replacement of HEPA filters based
solely on the age of the filter. The Department of Energy has stated
that there is an immediate need to develop information on how filter
integrity decreases with time, and to establish limits on filter service
based upon this information. A HEPA filter is replaced when it fails an
in-place leak test or exceeds a prescribed pressure-drop limit. However,
experimental studies have concluded that the filters do deteriorate with
age. The annual in-place filter leak tests do not provide assurance that
age-deteriorated HEPA filters will provide adequate protection during
upset or accident conditions. Age-related deterioration studies have
shown that filters lose strength and water repellency, but may not
suffer from a loss of filter efficiency. Specifications such as this
will help counter age-related system degradation.

This document does [not]{.underline} apply to HEPA filters in vacuum
cleaners, HEPA filters installed in waste containers, HEPA filters used
in clean rooms or laminar flow benches to protect work pieces, or to
HEPA filters used in bio-safety cabinetry. HEPA filters in ventilation
systems that are not used to protect workers, the public, and the
environment from significant exposure to highly hazardous aerosols are
exempt from this standard.

## 1.02 References {#references .SECTION1.01 .unnumbered}

A.  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, *Maximum HEPA-filter Life,*
    UCRL-AR-134141, June 1999

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A.  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, *HEPA Filter and In-place
    Leak Testing Standard,* UCRL-AR-133354 Revision 1, June 1999

B.  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, *Document 12.5,
    High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter System Design for LLNL
    Applications,* April 2001

C.  Savanna River Site, *HEPA Filter Requirements,* Engineering Standard
    15888 Revision 2, November 2001

D.  DOE Handbook, *Nuclear Air Cleaning Handbook*, DOE HDBK-1169-2003

E.  DOE Standard, *Fire Protection Design Criteria,* DOE-STD-1066-99.

F.  DOE Standard, *Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE
    Contractors,* DOE-STD-3020-97.

G.  Sandia National Laboratories paper, *Scope of Work for In-Place HEPA
    Filter Testing,* January 2003

## 1.03 DEFINITIONS {#definitions .SECTION1.01 .unnumbered}

A. [HEPA Filter]{.underline}: High-efficiency particulate air filter. A
throwaway, extended-medium dry-type filter with a rigid casing enclosing
the full depth of the pleats. The filter shall demonstrate a minimum
efficiency of 99.97% when tested with an aerosol of essentially
mono-dispersed 0.3 micron test aerosol particles.

B.  [Pressure Drop]{.underline}: The differential static pressure across
    the filter expressed in units of inches water gage.

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H.  [In-Service Life]{.underline}: The time from when a HEPA filter is
    placed in active service or standby service until it is removed from
    service.

I.  [Shelf Life]{.underline}: The time from when the HEPA filter is
    manufactured until it is placed in service. The filter is stamped
    with the date it is manufactured. If the date of manufacture is
    indeterminate, the date of original certification at a DOE filter
    test facility shall be substituted.

J.  [Total Life]{.underline}: The total allowable life of a HEPA filter
    as used at Sandia National Laboratories, which is the shelf life
    plus the in-service life.

## 1.04 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION {#system-description .SECTION1.01 .unnumbered}

> Specification: This standard provides requirements for HEPA filters
> used at Sandia National Laboratories in radioactive service with a
> glass-fiber medium, rated for a flow capacity of 20 cubic feet per
> minute or greater at a maximum clean differential pressure drop of 1.3
> inches water gage.

## FILTER LIFE: {#filter-life .SECTION1.01}

> Limits for HEPA filter life were determined from an examination of
> experimental studies, current DOE site practices, and industrial
> practices. Documents referenced for this determination are listed in
> section 1.02, References.

A.  HEPA filters shall be replaced when the following adverse operating
    condition limits are exceeded:

    1\. The filter fails the In-Place Leak Test and cannot be brought
    into compliance.

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2.  The casing is deteriorated by corrosion.

3.  The plywood casing material in wooden filter housings has been
    infiltrated with water sufficient to cause structural deterioration.

4.  Pressure drop across a filter exceeds 5 inches water gage.

5.  The filter is exposed to:

    a.  Water spray without protection from a demister, or any time a
        filter is exposed to water droplets from fire protection
        systems.

    b.  Moisture from 95-100% relative humidity at temperatures higher
        than 130^o^F.

    c.  Hot air temperatures higher than 275^o^F. When normal operating
        temperatures of final filter enclosures are expected to exceed
        200^o^F, or when operating temperatures of the final filter
        enclosure exceed the manufacturer's limited continuous service
        temperature rating, a method shall be provided to cool the
        ventilation air stream.

    d.  Temperatures exceeding 180^o^F, or 120^o^F where relative
        humidity is 75% or higher, for plywood construction in
        wood-framed fire-resistant filter units. This pertains to
        exterior grade fire-retardant plywood with 45 lb/ft3 minimum
        density.

    e.  Fire, with direct flame contact.

    f.  Shock pressures greater than 1.7 psig.

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B.  Age Limits

    1.  Total Life: The maximum allowable total life of a HEPA filter
        used at Sandia National Laboratories shall not exceed 10 years.
        This applies also to HEPA filters installed as housekeeping
        filters to prevent contamination of a length of duct.

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    1.  Shelf Life: The shelf life of a HEPA filter used at Sandia
        National Laboratories shall not exceed 3 years, unless specified
        otherwise by the filter manufacturer.

    2.  In-Service Life for HEPA Filters Subject to Wetting:

        a.  Any filter that is suspected of being wetted or has become
            wetted (activation of an in-duct water sprinkler, spraying
            water directly on the filter, condensation from high
            humidity, accidental wetting, etc.) shall be replaced
            promptly.

        b.  Any filter where accidental wetting can occur or could
            become wetted, as from activation of an in-duct water
            sprinkler or condensation, the filter in-service life shall
            not exceed 5 years.

# [PRODUCTS]{.underline} {#products .SECTION-1}

This standard applies to HEPA filters that meet the specifications and
testing requirements in DOE-STD-3020-97, Specifications for HEPA Filters
Used by DOE Contractors.

# [EXECUTION]{.underline} {#execution .SECTION-1}

## [Field quality control]{.underline} {#field-quality-control .SECTION1.01}

A.  Tests: This Standard applies to HEPA filter systems that are tested
    in accordance with the document "Scope of Work for In-Place HEPA
    Filter Testing."

    1.  In-place aerosol leak testing of the HEPA filter system shall be
        performed prior to acceptance of a new testable system to assure
        acceptability of the components furnished.

    2.  Testable HEPA filter systems shall be in-place leak tested after
        each filter change, before the filter system is operated, to
        verify leak-free installation.

    3.  In-place surveillance testing shall be performed at scheduled
        intervals for installed testable HEPA filters to detect
        deterioration of components such as gaskets, housing, or filter
        media, that could result in leaks. The schedule for these tests
        is normally provided in the Facility Safety Basis documents or
        the Technical Safety Requirements (TSR) document. For testable
        filters not listed in such documents, the time period shall be a
        maximum of 12 months unless otherwise specified in safety basis
        documentation.

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A.  Database: Maintain a database of all HEPA filters in storage and in
    use. The database shall verify that all HEPA filters have been
    certified at a DOE Filter Test Facility, and that age limits
    specified in section 1.05 Filter Life herein are not exceeded. The
    database shall include, but not be limited to:

    1.  HEPA filter model number and serial number

    2.  DOE Filter Test Facility certification date

    3.  Manufactured date

    4.  In-Service date

    5.  Fan system or application in which this filter is used

    6.  Whether the application is for a wet or dry environment (A wet
        environment means that accidental wetting could occur from fire
        protection systems, condensation, programmatic operations, etc)

    7.  Replacement due date

## [LABELING]{.underline} {#labeling .SECTION1.01}

> Permanent labels on HEPA filter housings [may]{.underline} be used in
> addition to the database in Section 3.01B, Field Quality Control. At a
> minimum, the labels should include Date of Manufacture and In-Service
> Date.

END OF SECTION