ANSI/AHAM AC-1 2020: Testing Portable Household Electric Room Air Cleaners
The ANSI/AHAM AC-1 2020 standard establishes a uniform, repeatable method for measuring the performance characteristics of portable household electric room air cleaners — providing a consistent basis for comparing and evaluating different brands and models.
What Is ANSI/AHAM AC-1 2020?
The ANSI/AHAM AC-1 standard allows for the determination of the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for portable air cleaners. While the contaminants outlined in the standard are limited to smoke, pollen, and dust, the general principles can be adapted to accommodate a wider variety of contaminants — including bioaerosols, allergens, and chemicals.
Airmid Healthgroup provides 28.5 m³ environmental test chambers built in full accordance with the ANSI/AHAM AC-1 standard, enabling accurate, reliable, and reproducible performance testing.
What Sets Airmid Apart
The ability to accurately sample air in a variety of ways — appropriate to each potential constituent of bioaerosols — and then quantify results through highly sensitive, sophisticated laboratory techniques is what distinguishes Airmid from other testing providers.
Situated directly beside our laboratories is a suite of climate-controlled testing chambers, the majority being full-sized and adaptable to meet almost any testing requirement. This unique setup is what allows Airmid to generate data of the highest standard.
Technologies We Test
Our experience spans a wide range of air cleaning technologies — both free-standing and in-duct, impedance and non-impedance based — including:
Filtration
HEPA and ULPA filtration systems, either standalone or in combination with other technologies.
Energy-Based Technologies
UV, ionisation, plasma fields, and photocatalytic systems tested individually or in combination.
Chemical & Formulation-Based
Ozone, gases, dry formulations, and other bespoke formulations in large or small space configurations.
What We Provide
- Performance testing of existing products and prototypes
- Data to support marketing claims and product registration
- Testing of new concepts, IP, and designs as part of the product development journey
- Testing data beyond that currently required by ISO, ASTM, and ASHRAE standards
Manufacturers seeking to test their products against a range of viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, allergens, or toxins — whether in chamber-based studies, real-life situations, or in vitro — are welcome to speak with Airmid Healthgroup’s scientists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CADR and why does it matter?
CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) is the primary metric used to measure how quickly a portable air cleaner removes contaminants from a room. It is expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and gives consumers and regulators a standardised way to compare the effectiveness of different air purifier models.
Can the ANSI/AHAM AC-1 method be used for bioaerosol and allergen testing?
Yes. While the standard specifies smoke, pollen, and dust as its primary test contaminants, the principles can be adapted to assess performance against bioaerosols, allergens, and chemical contaminants — which is a core part of Airmid’s testing offering.
What size are Airmid’s test chambers?
Airmid’s primary environmental test chambers are 28.5 m³ — built to comply with the ANSI/AHAM AC-1 standard. The chambers are climate-controlled and can be adapted to meet a wide range of testing requirements.
Can prototypes and new technology concepts be tested?
Yes. Airmid works with manufacturers at all stages of product development — from early-stage concept testing and IP validation through to final performance testing ahead of product launch and regulatory submission.
What types of air cleaning technologies can be tested at Airmid?
Airmid tests virtually all air cleaning technologies including HEPA/ULPA filtration, UV, ionisation, plasma fields, photocatalytic systems, ozone, gases, and bespoke formulations — both free-standing and in-duct, in large and small space configurations.