ISO/FDIS 15957

ISO/TC 142
Secretariat: UNI
Date: 2025-10-30
Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment
Poussières d'essai pour l'évaluation des équipements d'épuration d'air
FDIS stage
ISO #####-#:####(X/FDIS 15957:2025(en)
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ii
Contents
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test dusts designation . 2
5 Chemical composition . 3
6 Particle size distribution . 3
7 Particle size analysis procedure . 4
7.1 L1 test dust . 4
7.2 L2 test dust . 4
7.3 L3 test dust . 4
7.4 L4 test dust . 4
7.5 L5 test dust . 4
8 Properties . 5
8.1 L1 test dust . 5
8.2 L2 test dust . 5
8.3 L3 test dust . 5
8.4 L4 test dust . 5
8.5 L5 test dust . 5
9 Application . 5
9.1 General . 5
9.2 L1 test dust . 5
9.3 L2 test dust . 5
9.4 L3 test dust . 5
9.5 L4 test dust . 5
9.6 L5 test dust . 6
10 Related standards . 6
11 Requirements for load test dust distribution . 6
Annex A (informative) Physical data of test dust . 7
Bibliography . 8

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ISO #####-#:####(X/FDIS 15957:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different
types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of
the ISO/IEC DirectivesIEC Directives, Part 2Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s)
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related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 142, Cleaning equipment for air and other gases,
in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 195,
Cleaning equipment for air and other gases, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation
between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 15957:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Clause 4, Table 1— Clause 4, Table 1,, addition of test dust L5 Kronos 2160;
— Clause 4, Table 1— Clause 4, Table 1,, addition of the mean diameter for carbon.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
© ISO #### 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Filters are subjected to evaluation of their initial performance and dust-loaded performance in laboratory
tests using specified test dusts. The results could reflect the performance of the filter as installed in a building.
However, since the properties of atmospheric aerosols vary to a large extent regionally, seasonally, and
according to weather conditions, test data obtained with a given test dust seldom accurately predict the filter
performance as actually used. In addition to this, the test results with a given test dust might not agree withcan
differ from those obtained by other laboratories because the filter performance is affected by many factors,
for example, particle size distribution, particle agglomeration, and electrical charge. Despite these problems
in testing filter performance, test data are used for the classification of filters, estimation of energy
consumption, life cycle cost (LCC),) and life cycle assessment (LCA).
The test dust used for evaluating initial performance and loaded performance of filters can have a different
specification from the dust used to achieve filter loading.
This document does not control the specification, manufacturing, or use of test dusts. It describes the
properties of test dusts which can be used to load filters, and the requirements for test dust generation that
will ensure that useful laboratory test results are obtained in order to mimic the actual use as much as possible.
v
Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment
1 Scope
This document defines the properties of load test dusts used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) air filters as well as air cleaning equipment in laboratories. Test dusts used for evaluation of efficiency
performance are not included.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12103--1:2024, Road vehicles — Test contaminants for filter evaluation — Part 1: Arizona test dust
ISO 16890--3, Air filters for general ventilation — Part 3: Determination of the gravimetric efficiency and the air
flow resistance versus the mass of test dust captured
EN 15051-2, Workplace exposure - Measurement of the dustiness of bulk materials - Part 2: Rotating drum
method
ASHRAE 52.2:2025, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by
Particle Size
SAP 14-12, SAP Test Powder 3
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— — ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— — IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1 3.1
dust feeder
device which is used to distribute test dust to the filter
[SOURCE: ISO 29464:2024, 3.2.44]
3.2 3.2
median diameter
diameter of the particle for which the cumulated volume fraction is equal to 50 % on a cumulated volume
particle size distribution curve
[SOURCE: ISO 29464:2024, 3.2.36]
3.3 3.3
particle size
geometric diameter (equivalent spherical, optical or aerodynamic, depending on context) of the particles of
an aerosol
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