Assignment#2: Vacuum Cleaner Standards

The Technical Standards for Vacuum Cleaners

Cleaning to protect health is near the top of the list. Without question, indoor environmental quality issues will continue to drive the development and design of cleaning methods and equipment. The centerpiece of all cleaning equipment is the vacuum cleaner. When floors are vacuumed on a regular basis, there is a measurable reduction in pollutants in any indoor environment.

Reducing dust particulates also produces a healthier indoor environment, since bacteria, mold, and other microbiological material attach to dust particles and can become airborne. Because vacuum quality is relevant to health, it only makes sense that there should be certain standards. Numerous organizations and rating criteria of technical standards have turned up to help distributors and end users make wise purchasing decisions.

Vaccum cleaners is a very important household devices that need to have in order to keep cleanliness of our house.Due to its specialty of getting out of dust, it is very important to know on how it is really function to keep it play a role very efficiently.One of the very important element is its air flow performance.To maintain this, there are some standards that concerning about air flow performance of vacuum cleaners. In this writing, we will show 4 standard that had been used in order to concern about air performance of  vacuum cleaner. They are ASTM standard as a major standard of our study, International Electrothechnical Commission (IEC) standard, AMCA standard and EU standard.

Before we going details to ASTAM standard, it is important for us to know a little bit information about air flow aspect so that we can understand the significance of that standard being introduced in performing vacuum cleaners.

Here are some important element of airflow aspects :

Airflow Aspects

Ø  Movement of air from one location to another, it generally refers to the    movement of air through vacuum cleaner of central vacuum system

Ø  Sometimes the air flow is rated in Cubic feet per Minute(CBM) for a vacuum cleaner. Air flow rating is affected by the suction. Air flow rating is obtained by measuring the air flow through the vacuum cleaner with no hose or attachment connected to it

Ø  Airflow combined with agitation is the most important aspect of cleaning with a vacuum cleaner

-       Agitation is the force exerted by the moving air which picks up the dirt   and moves it into the dirt container

After understood air flow aspect, then the significance of the standard can be easily being introduced for knowing the standard that had been used in industry to manufacture vacuum cleaners.One of important standard is ASTM standard.Here are some types of ASTM standard used in performance of vacuum cleaner.

ASTM F558

Ø  Standard Test Method for Measuring Air Performance Characteristics of Vacuum Cleaner

Ø  A test method to compare the maximum potential air power available for cleaning tasks when tested under several conditions

Ø  This method covers the procedures for determining air performance characteristics of commercial and household upright, stick, hand-held, utility, and combination type vacuum cleaners. This test method can be applied to the carpet mode of operations

Ø  Tests and calculations include determination of suction, airflow, air power, maximum air power and input power under standard operating operations

ASTM F820

Ø  Standard Test Method for Measuring Air Performance Characteristics of Central Vacuum Cleaning System

Ø  This test shows comparison of maximum air power available when no dirt has been introduced into the cleaning system

Ø  The procedures covers for determining air performance characteristics of household central vacuum cleaning systems which us a flexible hose assembly and incorporate a series universal motor

Ø  Tests and calculations include determination of suction, air flow, maximum air power and input power under standard operating operations

ASTM F2105

Ø  Standard Test Method for Measuring Air Performance Characteristics of Vacuum Cleaner motor/fan systems

Ø  The test shows the comparison of the maximum air power at the vacuum cleaner motor/fan system inlet under tests conditions

Ø  Procedures covers for determining air performance characteristics of series universal motor/fan system used in commercial and household upright, stick, hand-held, utility, combination type vacuum cleaners and household central vacuum cleaning systems.

Ø  Tests and calculations include determination of suction, airflow, air power, maximum air power and input power under specified operation conditions

Instead of ASTM standards, there also some other standards concerning of vacuum cleaners that had exist to be maintain the performance of air flows in vacuum cleaner. One of that is International Electrotechnical Comission, IEC.

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION, IEC

IEC 60312-1

VACUUM CLEANERS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE-METHODS FOR MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE

 A worldwide organization for standardization comprising all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and nongovernmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.

Scope

IEC The purpose of this standard is to specify essential performance characteristics of vacuum cleaners being of interest to the users and to describe methods for measuring these characteristics.

     

   1. General conditons for testing

·         Atmospheric conditions

the test procedures and measurements shall be carried out under the following conditions (in accordance with ISO 554):

Standard atmosphere 23/50

Temperature: (23 ± 2) °C

Relative humidity: (50 ± 5) %

Air pressure: 86 kPa to 106 kPa

·        Voltage and frequency measurements shall be carried out at rated voltage with a tolerance of ±1 % and, if applicable, at rated frequency. Vacuum cleaners designed for d.c. only shall be operated at d.c.. Vacuum cleaners designed for both a.c. and d.c. shall be operated at a.c.. Vacuum cleaners not marked with rated frequency shall be operated at either 50 Hz or 60 Hz, as is common in the country of use.

For vacuum cleaners with a rated voltage range, measurements shall be carried out at the mean value of the voltage range if the difference between the limits of the range does not exceed 10 % of the mean value. If the difference exceeds 10 % of the mean value, measurements shall be carried out both at the upper and lower limits of the voltage range. If the rated voltage differs from the nominal system voltage of the country concerned, measurements carried out at rated voltage may give test results misleading for the consumer, and additional measurements may be required. If the test voltage differs from the rated voltage, this shall be reported.

   2.   Dry vacuum cleaning test

·         Filtration efficiency

The aim of this test is to determine the ability of a vacuum cleaner to retain dust, depending on particle size, from the intake aerosol containing a predefined concentration of test dust.

·         Air data

Air flow, vacuum and input power are determined for a number of throttlings sufficient for

plotting curves of vacuum and input power against the air flow (see Figure 9).

Prior to the sequence of measurements, the vacuum cleaner shall be operated unthrottled in

accordance with 4.7 to establish a reference value of the exhaust air temperature for further

measuring points.

For each measuring point, the air flow, vacuum and input power are recorded 1 min after the

throttling. The cleaner is then again operated unthrottled to attain the reference conditions,

which is checked by measuring the exhaust air temperature. This procedure is continued until all the entire curves have been plotted with the measuring point for maximum vacuum being the last one.

For each measuring point, the suction power P2 is obtained as the product of the air flow q and the vacuum h. The efficiency η is calculated as the ratio of corresponding values of the suction power and input power. Curves of suction power and of efficiency are also plotted against the air flow

h =vacuum in the measuring box, in kilopascals

q =air flow, in litre per seconds (l/s)

P1 =input power, in watts

P2 =suction power, in watts

η =efficiency, in percent

    

  3. Miscellaneous tests

The tests described in this clause are intended for the determination of such characteristics of a vacuum cleaner which relate to ease of handling or to the performance of the cleaner when together with its accessories or attachments it has been subjected to stresses likely to appear during normal use. The ability of a cleaner to resist such stresses may be verified by submitting it to the appropriate tests of Clause 5 as applicable.

The purpose of this test is to determine the motion resistance, both for forward and for backward strokes, caused by friction when the cleaning head is moved over a carpet under normal operation conditions.

·         Energy consumption

Measurement of the electrical effective power intake is carried out with an accuracy of 0,5%

related to a measuring range of maximum 2500 W. The measuring equipment shall be

controlled such that depending on the movement of the cleaning head at least 10

measurements are taken over each stroke length. The average effective power intake is then

calculated as follows:

The energy consumption per 10 m2, E(10 m2) with 5 double stokes, is calculated as follows,

with Peff = average power intake;

B = cleaning head width (m);

v = stroke speed (0,5 m/s);

E = energy consumption (W·s).

Covered area with the nozzle:

            Atot = N×A

where

A is the area to clean (10m2);

N is number of cleaning processes (5 double strokes).

Total track length for cleaning Atot:

            stot = Atot/B

Total cleaning time for 10 m2 by 5 double strokes:

            ttot = stot /v

Input power:

E = Peff × ttot

E = Peff ×stot/v

E = Peff ×Atot/(B×v)

E = Peff ×N×A/(B×v)

And with 10 m2, 5 double strokes (10 strokes) and stroke speed of 0,5 m/s:

E = Peff ×10×10/(B×0,5)

E = Peff ×200/B

AMCA 210: Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Ratings

1.      Accuracy

The specifications for instruments and methods of measurement which follow include both accuracy requirements and specific examples of equipment that are capable of meeting the requirements. The use of the same instruments over the entire range of fan performance at constant speed will result in fairly large relative uncertainties near shut off and near free delivery. This is generally acceptable because fans are not normally rated near these points.

2.      Pressure

The ystems used to determine fan pressure the contribution to combined uncertainty in the pressure measurement shall not exceed that corresponding to 1 % of the maximum observed static or total pressure reading during a test. The total pressure at a point shall be measured on an indicator, such as a manometer, with one leg open to atmosphere and the other leg connected to a total pressure sensor.

3.      Airflow Rate

Airflow rate shall be calculated either from measurements of velocity pressure obtained from measurements of pressure differential across a flow nozzle. Airflow rate may be calculated from the pressure differential measured across a flow nozzle or bank of nozzles for any point of operation from free delivery to shut off provided the average velocity at the nozzle discharge corresponding to the airflow rate at free delivery at the test speed is at least 14 m/s

4.      Power

Power shall be determined from the rpm and beam load measured on a reaction dynamometer, the rpm and torque measured on a torsion element, or the electrical input measured on a calibrated motor.

5.      Speed

Speed shall be measured with a revolution counter and chronometer, a stroboscope and chronometer, a precision instantaneous tachometer, or an electronic counter-timer.

6.      Air Density

Air density shall be determined from measurements of wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, and barometric pressure. Other parameters may be measured and used if the maximum error in the calculated density does not exceed 0.5%.

EUnited Cleaning - the European cleaning machines association

A vacuum cleaner is defined as: “an appliance that removes soil from the surface to be cleaned by airflow created by under pressure developed within the unit”

EU Labeling Requirement for Vacuum Cleaner

EUnited Cleaning - the European cleaning machines association has set a new regulation for energy label for vacuum cleaner that will offer an energy rating from A-G, with A being the best and G being the lowest. It also alerts consumer to energy per year the vacuum cleaner will use in Kwh.

On 1 September 2014, vacuum cleaners in the EU will have to abide by a new set of minimum requirements. They cover:

1.                   Power

2.                   Performance (ability to pick up dust)

3.                   Energy efficiency

4.                   Dust re-emission in the exhaust air (particularly important for people with asthma)

5.                   Noise level

6.                   Durability (no early failure of the hose or the motor)

Regulation 666/2013 further specifies that the manufacturer must compile a Technical File which must include specific documentation, as well as measurement and calculation methods.

The energy labels for the various vacuum cleaners are provided in Annex II of Regulation 665/2013. In addition to the labeling, manufacturers are also required to provide a product fiche of the vacuum cleaner with information about the energy efficiency class, the annual energy consumption, the dust re-emmission class, the sound power level etc.

Particular requirements for cleaning machines

• EN 60335-1 General requirements

• EN 60335-2-67 Requirements for floor treatment and floor cleaning machines for commercial use

• EN 60335-2-68 Requirements for spray extraction machines for commercial use

• EN 60335-2-69 Requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for commercial use

• EN 60335-2-72 Requirements for automatic machines for floor treatment for commercial use

• EN 60335-2-79 Requirements for high pressure cleaners and steam cleaners, for household and commercial use having a pressure ≥ 25 bar and ≤ 350 bar

However, these Regulations shall not apply to:

1.                   Wet, wet and dry, battery operated, robot, industrial, or central vacuum cleaners

2.                   Floor polishers

3.                   Outdoor vacuums