TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063

ISO/TC 142/WG03 Filters for General ventilation

(SUSTAINABILITY of FILTERS)

ISO/PWI 12249-1
Particulate air filters for general ventilation -- Part 1:
Method of calculation for the life cycle cost for air
cleaning devices

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063

CONTENTS
Foreword.4
Introduction..X
Scope .X
Definitions.X
Method of calculation.X
Normative References..5
BibliographyX
Symbols and Abbreviated terms
The Algebraic Model
The Principles
ANNEX A
Examples of Calculations
ANNEX B
Comparisons with Case Studies

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063

Foreword
This document has been prepared by Working Group 3 of International
Standards Organization Technical Committee 142 (ISO/TC142/WG03)
This International Standard is part of ISO Standard XXXXX that covers the
Life cycle assessment of air filters
Introduction
This International Standard provides a method for calculating the life cycle
cost (LCC) for air cleaning devices. These devices are primarily air filters
required in the Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning systems of inhabited
non-residential buildings.
This life cycle cost method enables designers, building owners and HVAC
system operators to make an effective and energy efficient air filter selection.

Sustainability of Air Cleaning Equipment

1

Scope

Method of Calculation of Life Cycle Cost for Air Cleaning Devices

The primary purpose of using air filters in the HVAC systems of inhabited
buildings is to filter the supply air thus making it clean and of a quality to be
inhaled without risk to public health. The secondary purpose is to keep the
ventilation system clean and working efficiently.
The use of air filters in mechanical air systems requires energy and carries a
cost penalty.
Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis gives the means to optimise filter selection on
cost once the particulate efficiency or grade selection has been made.
This standard specifies:
a: the algebraic model used for evaluating the LCC.
b: the principles to be followed when evaluating the model parameters.
c: how the values for LCC can be used to optimise system design.
The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) calculation gives the direct costs incurred and will
contribute to the wider environmental costs covered by the Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA).

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
NOTE There is reference made to real life test case data with analysis to
evaluate the correlation between the algebraic model and real life
measurement of the parameters.

2. Normative References
This International Standard incorporates by dated and undated reference,
provisions from other publications. These normative references are cited at
the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For
dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these
publications apply to this International Standard only when incorporated in it
by an amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies.
EN 13779:2007 Ventilation for non-residential buildings-Performance
requirements for ventilation and room conditioning systems
EN 779:2002 Particulate air filters for general ventilation- Requirements,
testing and marking
EN 13053:2006 Ventilation for buildings-Air handling units-Ratings and
performance for units, components and sections

3. Terms and definitions

For the application of this World standard, the following terms and definitions
apply.
3.1
Air flow rate
the air volume flow rate through the filter or bank of filters in the plenum cross
sectional area.
3.2
Fan efficiency
the total fan energy efficiency including the fan, motor and pulley belt drive
where fitted.
4. Symbols and Abbreviated terms
For the application of this World Standard, the following symbols and
abbreviated terms apply.

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063

Symbol
E
Q
P
T

Term
A filters energy cost
Air volume flow rate
Average pressure loss
Operation time
Energy Efficiency of fan
Energy cost

Unit
Euro
M3/s
Pascals
hours
Euro/kWh

5. The Algebraic Model

Calculation
The life cycle cost (LCC) can be defined as follows:
LCC = I Investment + LCC Energy + LCC Maintenance + LCC Disposal
Where
I Investment is the capital costs of the filter installation when the new
ventilation system was first installed (filters + frame + labour). The investment
could also include the housings or the building volume for the filters.
LCC Energy is the present total cost of energy for the filters (the electricity to
power the fan). The energy cost calculation is based on the average pressure
drop of the filters. The average pressure loss during operation depends on the
characteristics of the plant and is often taken to be the average value of the
initial pressure loss and final pressure loss of the filter. Due to lower energy
consumption requirements, more and more systems are being designed for
constant flow and the average pressure loss is the integrated value of the
pressure drop vs. operation time.
A filters energy cost, E, can be calculated as
E=

QPT C
1000

(1)

where Q is Air flow rate (m3/s)

P Average pressure loss, Pascals
T Operation time, hours
Energy Efficiency of fan
C Energy cost, Euro/kWh
LCC Maintenance is the present total purchasing cost, including the cost of
replacement filters and labour costs for replacing the filters.

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
LCC Disposal is the present total cost for disposing an air filter. Disposal is
becoming more and more important as a cost item, due to requirements for
recycling materials and the necessity to reduce waste volumes. Incineration is
one alternative since some energy can be produced during the process.

Discounting costs with the present value method

Money spent at some time in the future differs in value from the same amount
of money spent today. Some costs occur regularly each year (for energy,
routine maintenance, etc.). Other costs occur less frequently, or over longer
periods than a year (for example, to replace the air filters). Other expenses
occur so infrequently
(extraordinary costs) that they must be treated as single cost elements and
cannot be averaged (such as major rebuilds and the disposal cost at the end
of the systems life).
The present cost (Cp) of a single cost element, Cn paid after "n" years, can be
calculated approximately as follows:
Cp / Cn = [1 + (i-p)] n

(2)

where
n
is the number of years
p
is the price increase
i
is the interest rate (bank rate or any expected internal rate for
investments within the company)
Cn is the cost paid after n years
Cp is the present cost of a single cost element, Cn
The correction factor [1 + (i-p)]-n is calculated for each year or period. The
sum of these factors gives the total sum factor used to determine the total
discounted costs.
6. The Principles
EN 13779:2007 advises that for urban located HVAC systems F7 to F9 grade
air filters are advised to deliver acceptable IAQ. The filter test standard that
applies is EN779:2002. EN13053 also advises minimum F7 for single stage of
air filtration in air handling units.
The energy equation should be applied to calculate the energy element of the
LCC. Each variable should be assessed to the best level of accuracy with the
information that is available.

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
The maintenance element may include an assessment of the penalty costs of
duct cleaning and coil cleaning involved as a result of filter grade being too
low. Increased energy consumption due to resistance to heat transfer can also
be included.
Reference should be made to similar HVAC systems and case studies where
they are available.Presentation of the results should indicate clearly how they
were derived.
Annexe A Examples of Calculations

Figure 1. Discounting future costs. A cost, Cn, paid after a certain time,
is discounted to a present cost, Cp, at year 0.

Example of LCC calculation

Make a ten-year LCC calculation based on the following assumptions:
Interest rate
6%
Air flow
1 m3/s (3,600 m3/h)
Running time
8760 hours per year
Fan efficiency
= 0.5
Energy cost
0.05 euros/kWh and increasing 2 % per year.
Filter
Investment:
80 euros including filter, frame and labor cost
Filter replacement: 55 euros including labor cost. Fixed for the ten-year period
Filter lifetime: 7 filter replacements in ten years. The filter has a lifetime of 1.43
years
Average pressure drop 150 Pa
Disposal cost
1.50 euros, increasing 3 % per year
LCC = Investment + present cost of energy, maintenance and disposal

Present cost of energy

The energy cost can be calculated according to the above formula (1):
1 x 150 x 8760/0.5/1000 x 0.05 = 131.40 euros per year

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ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
Assuming that the energy cost is paid at the end of the year, the discount
factor, according to the formula (2),could be calculated for each year. The
present cost for energy over the ten-year period can be estimated with the
correction factors calculated in the following table. The price increase is 2 %
(p =0.02) and the interest rate is 6 % (i = 0.06).

No of years

Factor
[1 + (i-p)] -n

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

0.9615
0.9246
0.8890
0.8548
0.8219
0.7903
0.7599
0.7307

0.7026

10

0.6756

Total sum factor

8.1109

The energy cost for the ten-year period will be 8.11 x 131.40 = 1066 euros
Present cost of maintenance
Seven filter replacements in ten years means a lifetime of 1.43 years for each
filter. The last filter is changed after 8.6 years and will last until the end of the
ten-year period.
The present cost of maintenance can be calculated with the following
correction factors:

Filter no.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
-

Replacement
years
0
1.43
2.86
4.29
5.71
7.14
8.57
10.0

Total sum factor

Factor
[1 + (i-p)] -n
0.9201
0.8466
0.7790
0.7168
0.6595
0.6069
4.5290

The total maintenance cost for ten years will thus be 4.529 x 55 = 249 euros.
Present cost of disposal
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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
The disposal cost for a filter is 1.5 euros, based on a price increase of 3 % per
year (p=0,03) and an interest rate of 6 % (i=0.06). The present cost for the
future disposal cost will therefore be as follows:

No of years

Year

1.43
2.86
4.29
5.71
7.14
8.57
10.0

Discount Factor
[1 + (i-p)] -n

2
3
4
5
6
7

0.9201
0.8466
0.7790
0.7168
0.6595
0.6069
0.5584

Total sum factor 5.0874

The cost for future replacement will be the sum of the factors, 5.09, multiplied
by the present price.
The cost for the disposal will then be 5.09 x 1.5 or approximately 8 euros.
Total Life Cycle Cost (LCC)
The total LCC cost could be calculated as the sum of all individual costs from
the above calculations.
Investment
LCCEnergy
LCCMaintenance
LCCDisposal
LCCTotal

80
1066
249
8
1403 euros

In this case, based on an average pressure loss of 150 Pa in the filter, the
main cost will be for energy. Seventy-six percent of the operation cost is
related to energy. A user has to consider how to reduce that cost by running
the filter at a lower final pressure loss. The filter will then have a shorter
lifetime and the maintenance cost will increase. At the same time, he has to
consider how the filters performance might change. The classification system
for air filters is based on high final pressure losses (450 Pa for F-filters and
250 Pa for G-filters).

Example 1:
Assume that an installation has a lifetime of ten years.
The filter's price, EURO 50, will not increase during the ten-year period (p=0) and the
interest rate is 6% (i= 0.06).

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ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
The correction factor for each year will be:

No of years

Factor

0.9434
0.8900
0.8396
0.7921
0.7473
0.7050
0.6651
0.6274
0.5919

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Total sum factor 6.8018

The cost for future replacement will be the sum of the correction factors multiplied
by the present price = 6.80 x 50 = EURO 340.
The installation, energy and disposal costs have to be added to calculate the total
cost for the ten-year period.

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TC142: CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR AND OTHER GASES

ISO/TC142/WG03 N 063
Annexe B Comparison with real life case studies
Bibliography

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