Damn, I almost forgot....HEPA filters.

[HappyPuppy]

I have always believed that a HEPA filter is a HEPA filter is a HEPA filter, but I am looking to my fellow ATOTers to confirm this.

The background, I have an upright vacuum cleaner, non bag type, with a primary and secondary filters. The secondary filter is supposed to be a HEPA filter. We all know that it takes a filter capable of catching particles 2 microns in size to trap asbestos particles, right?

Well, I tore up the linoleum floor in one of my upstairs bathrooms today and the house, being about 100 years old and this being an original linoleum floor, I figure there's a pretty good chance that the backing on it is or has some asbestos in it. :Q

Anyway, I used the vacuum cleaner to pick up all the loose particles as I gouged up the floor. I had a negative pressure on the room in order to share my possible asbestos with my neighbors.

BTW, I have @ five years experience in asbestos abatement and know all the bullshyt stories about how you are going to die if you get one particle of asbestos in your lungs. :|

So, whaddaya think, is my vacuum cleaner a good pickeruper of fryable asbestos? :roll:

 

[Eli]

A true HEPA filter should be some percentage at 0.3 microns, I believe.

Their specs differ in the percentage of particles captured at the given micron figure. Cheap ones are going to be like 97%, and the best(and most expensive) are obviously 99.99%

You know what would be awesome? A HEPA engine air filter.

Too bad they're like 300$ for one that would flow enough air.

 

[Eli]

Hmm.. After a bit of Googling, it appears that a true "HEPA" filter will be 99.97% at 0.3 microns.

As far as I know, though.. HEPA just means High Efficiency Particulate Airfilter. I'm not sure if just anybody could call their filter a HEPA(who defines "high efficiency"?), or if there is some sort of testing procedure that you have to pass in order to use the label...

 

[djheater]

1. You claim to know about asbestos abatement
   You're asking us about HEPA filters, as though we know
   I doubt any vaccuum filter will be good enough for asbestos abatement
   You obviously don't care so why are you asking?
   DON'T PANIC!

 

[FoBoT]

hey, a little bit of asbestos never hurt anybody, don't worry about it

but you might want to change the filter