Pro-Team LineVacer Manual

QUEST
Quality Environmental
Services & Technologies, Inc.
SUMMARY REPORT
November 1, 2006
Vacuum Cleaner Testing
for Soil Removal Effectiveness
and Airborne Particle Emissions
Quality Environmental Services & Technologies, Inc. (QUEST) is pleased to submit this
summary report detailing the results of recent vacuum cleaner soil removal effectiveness and
ltration efciency testing. This research was conducted for the purchasing department of a
major University. Since the University must avoid the potential appearance of endorsements,
the data is provided by generic heading. Vacuum cleaner types tested are listed as “Backpack A,
Backpack B,” etc.
QUEST specializes in indoor air quality and particulate analysis. Our research and development
capabilities include assessing the risks associated with environmental contaminants (biological,
chemical, and particulate) as well as investigating and recommending remediation options for
these contaminants.
For this study, QUEST has tested a total of thirteen vacuum cleaner units. The University and a janitorial
supplier provided the vacuum cleaners, lters and tools. Twelve vacuum cleaner units were tested for both
soil removal effectiveness and ltration efciency, plus one for soil removal effectiveness only. QUEST
used the oor-tools, adapters and lter-bags provided with each vacuum cleaner.
In the designing of testing procedures, the following test methods were reviewed and sections included as
appropriate. Standard Laboratory Test Method for Evaluation of Carpet-Embedded Dirt Removal
Effectiveness of Household Vacuum Cleaners (ASTM Method F 608-89); Standard Test Method for
Measuring Air Performance Characteristics of Vacuum Cleaners (ASTM Method F 558-88); Specication
for Air Performance Measurement Plenum Chamber for Vacuum Cleaners (ASTM Method F 431-87);
Specication for Test Carpets and Pads for Vacuum Cleaner Testing (ASTM Method F 655-89); and
ServiceMaster Vacuum Cleaner Testing Protocol.
Vacuum Cleaner Testing for Soil Removal Effectiveness and Airborne Particle Emissions QUEST, Inc.

The purpose of the requested testing was to develop and utilize testing protocols that were simple,
reproducible, and accurate. Since no ASTM methods specically address industrial type vacuum cleaners
and their particulate emissions, we designed and utilized the following testing procedures:
SOIL REMOVAL EFFECTIVENESS PROTOCOL
Supplies:
Carpet test-section: six foot by six foot, industrial short-nap
Test Soil: 80% silica sand, 20% unscented, commercial grade talcum powder
Filter Bag Fill: Louisiana-Pacic Nature Guard Cellulose Insulation (100% Recycled)
Test Method
1) Pre-weigh lter bag.
2) Deep extract/clean test carpet.
3) Evenly distribute 100 grams of test soil onto the carpet.
4) Work test soil into the carpet with a carpet rake.
5) Vacuum the test carpet for 60 seconds (entire carpet, both directions at an even rate).
6) Remove and weigh lter bag.
7) After three repetitions, ll lter-bags with 50 grams of Filter Bag Fill and conduct a
minimum of three additional test runs.
FILTRATION EFFICIENCY TESTING PROTOCOL
Supplies:
Carpet Test-Section: six foot by six foot, industrial short-nap
Test Soil: 80% silica sand, 20% unscented, commercial grade talcum powder
Test Chamber: Class 10 clean room, eight-foot by eight-foot by eight-foot, positively pressured
HEPA ltered air
Particle Counter: PMS Lasair Laser Particle Counter set to measure 0.2 to 5.0 micron particles.
Test Method
1) Deep extract/clean test carpet.
2) Evenly distribute 100 grams of test soil onto the carpet.
QUEST, Inc. Vacuum Cleaner Testing for Soil Removal Effectiveness and Airborne Particle Emissions
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3) Work test soil into the carpet with a carpet rake.
4) With particle counter collecting data in one minute increments, vacuum carpet for
ve (5) minutes at a rate of two (2) seconds per stroke (stroke = six feet end to end)
then back on the same path. Vacuum entire carpet, both directions at an even rate.
5) Discontinue vacuuming, exit test chamber and continue to collect particle counts for
an additional three minutes.
These procedures were followed for each vacuum cleaner tested, as well as one run before and one run after
the use of the test soils. The remainder of this report summarizes the results of this testing.
TEST RESULTS
Soil Removal Effectiveness
(Percent of soil picked up and retained in lter bag)
Vacuum Cleaner Brand “Empty Filter-Bag” “Full Filter-Bag” Average
ProTeam MegaVac 99.9% 99.9% 99.9%
ProTeam SuperCoach 99.6% 99.9% 99.8%
ProTeam LineVacer 98.7% 99.9% 99.3%
Backpack A with HEPA lter 99.5% 99.0% 99.2%
ProTeam Tailvac 99.5% 96.5% 98.0%
Backpack H 97.7% 97.4% 97.6%
Backpack I 95.5% 94.9% 95.2%
Two-Motor Upright G 93.6% 92.7% 93.2%
Backpack F 93.3% 93.0% 93.2%
Backpack B 93.0% 93.0% 93.0%
Backpack E 92.5% 90.8% 91.6%
Backpack D 91.5% 91.3% 91.4%
Backpack C 90.2% 84.8% 87.5%
Vacuum Cleaner Testing for Soil Removal Effectiveness and Airborne Particle Emissions QUEST, Inc.

Filtration Efficiency
The following table shows the accumulated airborne particle counts (in thousands) during the ve-minutes
of vacuuming. For each vacuum cleaner tested, the accumulated counts of 0.2 micron, 2.0 micron, and 5.0
micron size particles are listed, and the sum of 0.2, 2.0, and 5.0 micron particles is provided.
Total of
Vacuum Cleaner Brand 0.2 Micron 2.0 Micron 5.0 Micron 0.2 + 2.0 + 5.0
Backpack A w/ HEPA Filter 6,798 1,391 304 8,493
ProTeam Linevacer 35,102 7,361 1,196 43,659
ProTeam Super Coach 548,572 918 158 549,648
Backpack B 674,765 1,891 291 676,947
ProTeam Mega-Vac 863,710 1,396 223 865,329
Backpack C 1,067,936 1,560 256 1,069,752
ProTeam TailVac #1 1,211,293 1,443 356 1,213,092
Backpack D 1,301,711 3,379 511 1,305,601
Backpack E 1,316,283 2,198 352 1,318,833
Backpack F 1,516,983 1,187 223 1,518,393
Two-Motor Upright G 1,648,439 6,276 839 1,655,554
Backpack H 2,602,073 4,288 642 2,607,003
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Robert Woellner at QUEST at [phone].
Sincerely,
Robert A. Woellner
Senior Scientist
Quality Environmental Services & Technologies, Inc
3084 South Linley Court • Denver, Colorado 80236 • Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone]
QUEST Inc. Vacuum Cleaner Testing for Soil Removal Effectiveness and Airborne Particle Emissions