AHAM AC-1
AHAM AC-1 frames chamber-based performance measurement for portable household electric room air cleaners.
AlignedStandards
CADR Particulate: AHAM AC-1 and ASHRAE 52.2
Standards-aligned particulate CADR testing for room air cleaner performance claims.
Use this testing when smoke, dust, pollen, or size-resolved particle removal data must be tied to chamber controls, decay analysis, device settings, and reportable CADR values.
Standard roster
Individual standards in this cluster
AHAM AC-1 is the particulate CADR method reference; ASHRAE 52.2 adds particle-size removal efficiency and MERV context for filter interpretation.
ASHRAE 52.2
ASHRAE 52.2 addresses laboratory evaluation of air-cleaning device removal efficiency by particle size.
AlignedPurpose & when to use
Particulate CADR testing measures how quickly an air cleaner removes aerosol particles from a controlled chamber. This standards cluster helps teams determine when AHAM AC-1 should guide smoke, dust, or pollen CADR testing and when ASHRAE 52.2 filter-efficiency context can help interpret filter media, airflow paths, or product-development decisions:
- Portable room air cleaner programs use AHAM AC-1 with ASHRAE context when smoke, dust, pollen, or PM2.5 CADR claims need chamber evidence.
- Filter-media comparisons use ASHRAE 52.2 when size-resolved removal efficiency, loading behavior, or MERV context informs CADR interpretation.
- Product-development teams use AHAM AC-1 and ASHRAE anchors to compare device settings, airflow states, chamber baselines, and concentration-time curves.
- Nonstandard air-treatment devices use ASHRAE or AHAM anchors when a fit-for-purpose protocol must explain departures from standard geometry.
Use this cluster when the question goes beyond whether particle concentrations decline. It helps determine whether the chamber setup, baseline decay, sampling geometry, calculation path, and study limitations are documented clearly enough to support claim substantiation or engineering review.
Applicable to
Built around air cleaner claim decisions
The cluster applies when particulate removal depends on chamber mixing, aerosol generation, natural decay, device operating state, filtration behavior, and concentration-time data.
Standards in this group
What each citation controls
This page is a cluster, not an individual standard page. AHAM AC-1 is the primary particulate CADR reference for portable room air cleaners. ASHRAE 52.2 is a supporting filtration standard that helps explain particle-size removal efficiency, loading, and MERV context when CADR work depends on filter behavior.
AHAM
AlignedAHAM AC-1
Method for Measuring Performance of Portable Household Electric Room Air Cleaners
AHAM AC-1 frames chamber-based performance measurement for portable household electric room air cleaners. On particulate CADR work, ARE Labs uses it to organize aerosol challenge selection, natural decay baselining, device operation, concentration-time analysis, and CADR reporting for smoke, dust, pollen, or PM2.5 claims.
AHAM official store page verified 2026-05-17; public page lists ANSI/AHAM AC-1-2020.
ASHRAE
AlignedASHRAE 52.2
Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size
ASHRAE 52.2 addresses laboratory evaluation of air-cleaning device removal efficiency by particle size. ARE Labs uses it as a supporting reference when particulate CADR results need filter-efficiency interpretation, media selection context, loading considerations, or MERV-related reporting boundaries.
ANSI Webstore page verified 2026-05-17; page lists ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2-2025 as most recent.
Accredited where held, aligned where followed
This page separates formal accreditation from standards alignment. AHAM AC-1 and ASHRAE 52.2 are followed as protocol references for particulate CADR and filtration context. ISO 17025 describes the quality system posture where ARE Labs scope applies.
- AHAM AC-1AlignedParticulate CADR method reference followed by protocol.
- ASHRAE 52.2AlignedFilter-efficiency context used where relevant.
- ISO 17025AccreditedQuality-system scope applied where applicable.
Operational chain
How ARE Labs turns the standards into a study
Particulate CADR work depends on more than citing a method. ARE Labs translates AHAM and ASHRAE references into chamber setup, aerosol generation, device operation, sampling, decay analysis, adaptation rationale, and reporting controls.
01
Configuration
Map the chamber and claim
We map AHAM AC-1 objectives with ASHRAE context to chamber volume, mixing approach, aerosol type, sampling locations, device setting, and background particle controls.
Protocol setup02
Baseline
Measure natural decay
AHAM AC-1 and ASHRAE framing keep background, natural decay, environmental conditions, and no-device control behavior visible before device data are interpreted.
Baseline record03
Operation
Control device state
Device settings, airflow state, filter condition, run timing, and sampling geometry are recorded so ASHRAE and AHAM assumptions remain reviewable.
Run log04
Adaptation
Document nonstandard products
When a device does not fit AHAM AC-1 geometry, ARE Labs records the rationale, ASHRAE filter context, limitations, and interpretation impact.
Rationale log05
Reporting
Connect decay data to outputs
Reports connect concentration-time curves, decay constants, CADR values, particle-size data, deviations, and ASHRAE or AHAM boundaries to the client objective.
Technical reportData quality, QA/QC & documentation
Particulate CADR results are useful only when the run record clearly documents chamber behavior. ARE Labs connects AHAM and ASHRAE method references with controlled baselines, instrument checks, device configuration records, raw concentration-time files, reviewed calculations, and documented deviations.
Connect setup to citation
AHAM AC-1 study records link chamber setup, ASHRAE context, aerosol challenge, sampling geometry, device settings, and run timing to the objective.
Preserve baseline behavior
AHAM AC-1 natural decay and ASHRAE background checks are retained so device-attributed removal can be separated from chamber loss.
Document measurement readiness
ISO 17025 review can include particle counter status, flow verification, aerosol generator records, environmental monitoring, and calculation version control.
Interpret particle-size behavior
ASHRAE 52.2 references support size-resolved removal, filter media comparison, loading context, and MERV-related boundaries when CADR alone is insufficient.
Separate claims from approval
EPA and AHAM certification language is kept distinct from ARE Labs test results, aligned methods, limitations, and final report conclusions.
Why ARE Labs
ARE Labs connects technical topics to practical study design, method selection, controlled aerosol work, and reportable evidence without turning technical pages into sales pages.
Reviewed byJamie Balarashti - Weston Schaper
QualityDocumented study records
900+Studies Performed
17+Years in operation
300+Clients supported
Common questions
These questions help air-cleaner, filter, and IAQ teams determine whether a study should follow AHAM AC-1, use ASHRAE 52.2 as supporting context, or apply a fit-for-purpose protocol. The answers address method selection, certification boundaries, nonstandard devices, official sources, reporting expectations, data review, and the evidence clients can expect.
Q. Which standard applies?
A. AHAM AC-1 is generally the starting point for measuring particulate CADR in portable room air cleaners. ASHRAE 52.2 more often provides supporting context for filter efficiency and particle-size-dependent removal behavior.
Q. Does ARE Labs certify products?
A. No. ARE Labs performs testing aligned with the selected method. Certification, listing, regulatory approval, or endorsement must follow the applicable process established by AHAM, EPA, or another relevant authority.
Q. What if the device is nonstandard?
A. ARE Labs can develop a fit-for-purpose protocol that documents the chamber setup, sampling strategy, device configuration, departures from AHAM geometry, relevant ASHRAE context, and reporting limitations.
Q. What data is reported?
A. Reports can include raw and processed concentration-time data, natural decay, CADR values, particle-size data, device settings, QA/QC records, documented deviations, and final technical conclusions.
Q. Why include official links?
A. Official publisher links allow readers to verify the standard's title, revision status, access path, and source ownership without relying on outdated copies, mirrors, or summaries.
Related services & devices
Related services & devices
Service
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
Primary service route for particulate CADR chamber setup, decay analysis, and reporting.Read more ->ServiceParticle Size Distribution (PSD) Testing
Adds particle sizing context for aerosol challenge behavior and removal interpretation.Read more ->ServiceFiltration Efficiency
Supports filter media comparisons and ASHRAE 52.2 interpretation for air-cleaning devices.Read more ->ServiceDevice Particle Emissions
Checks background and device-generated particles that can affect CADR chamber interpretation.Read more ->ServiceDevice Challenge Aerosol
Supports aerosol challenge design for particle and bioaerosol device studies.Read more ->ServiceComputational Fluid Dynamics
Helps evaluate room mixing, flow paths, and fixture questions around chamber studies.Read more ->DevicesPortable Room Air Purifiers
Primary device category for AHAM AC-1 particulate CADR studies.Read more ->DevicesWhole-Room Air Cleaners
Larger air-cleaning devices that may require fit-for-purpose chamber planning.Read more ->DevicesFilter Media & Standalone Filters
Media and filter products where ASHRAE 52.2 context may support CADR interpretation.Read more ->DevicesIn-Line Duct Air Treatment Systems
Ducted devices where CADR claims may need different flow and chamber assumptions.Read more ->Related clusters
Related standards clusters
Particulate CADR often sits beside gas-phase CADR, background emissions control, filtration standards, and room bioaerosol efficacy. These neighboring clusters help teams keep the method boundary clear when claims expand beyond particle removal.
Standards - Live