ASTM F2607-08(2022)

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Hard Surface Floor-Cleaning Ability of Household/Commercial Vacuum Cleaners

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method will provide an indication of the ability of the vacuum cleaner in removing dry debris from hard surface floors. The cleaning ability in the laboratory test will not be the same as in home cleaning; however, in most cases, a vacuum cleaner that performs well in the laboratory will clean well in a home.  
4.2 To provide a uniform basis for measuring the performance described in 1.1, standardized test hard surface flooring and standardized test debris are used.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method provides only a laboratory test for determining the relative hard surface floor-cleaning ability of household/commercial vacuum cleaners when tested under specified test conditions.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to household/commercial types of upright, canister, combination, and stick vacuum cleaners that use a dry primary dirt receptacle and are intended for cleaning hard surface floors as a primary or secondary function.  
1.3 This test method applies only to the removal of dry debris from hard surface floors, not the removal of embedded dirt from carpet.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2022
• ICS: 97.080 - Cleaning appliances
• Technical Committee: F11 - Vacuum Cleaners
• Drafting Committee: F11.21 - Cleanability

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E177-14 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2014
• Refers: ASTM E177-13 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM E691-13 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM E691-11 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2011
• Refers: ASTM E177-10 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E177-08 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E691-08 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E177-06b - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM E177-06a - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM E691-05 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Refers: ASTM E177-06 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Refers: ASTM E177-04e1 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Refers: ASTM E177-04 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Refers: ASTM D75-03 - Standard Practice for Sampling Aggregates
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Refers: ASTM E177-90a(2002) - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2607 − 08 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Test Method for
Measuring the Hard Surface Floor-Cleaning Ability of
Household/Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2607; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
ASTM Test Methods
1.1 This test method provides only a laboratory test for
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
determining the relative hard surface floor-cleaning ability of
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
household/commercial vacuum cleaners when tested under
2.2 IEC Standard:
specified test conditions.
IEC60312Vacuum Cleaners for Household Use—Methods
1.2 This test method is applicable to household/commercial
of Measuring the Performance
types of upright, canister, combination, and stick vacuum
cleaners that use a dry primary dirt receptacle and are intended
3. Terminology
for cleaning hard surface floors as a primary or secondary
3.1 Definitions:
function.
3.1.1 cleaning ability, n—relative ease with which soils or
1.3 This test method applies only to the removal of dry
stains can be removed from material.
debris from hard surface floors, not the removal of embedded
3.1.2 model, n—designation of a group of vacuum cleaners
dirt from carpet.
having identical mechanical and electrical construction with
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
only cosmetic or nonfunctional differences.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
3.1.3 population, n—total of all units of a particular model
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
vacuum cleaner being tested.
and are not considered standard.
3.1.4 repeatability limit (r), n—value below which the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
absolutedifferencebetweentwoindividualtestresultsobtained
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
under repeatability condition may be expected to occur with a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
probability of approximately 0.95 (95%).
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.5 repeatability standard deviation (S ), n—standard de-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. r
viation of test results obtained under repeatability conditions.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.6 reproducibility limit (R), n—value below which the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
absolute difference between two test results obtained under
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- reproducibility conditions may be expected to occur with a
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
probability of approximately 0.95 (95%).
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.7 reproducibility standard deviation (S ), n—standard
R
deviation of test results obtained under reproducibility condi-
2. Referenced Documents
tions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.8 sample, n—group of vacuum cleaners taken from a
D75Practice for Sampling Aggregates
large collection of vacuum cleaners of one particular model
whichservestoprovideinformationthatmaybeusedasabasis
for making a decision concerning the larger collection.
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF11onVacuum
Cleaners and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F11.21 on Cleanability.
3.1.9 test run, n—definitive procedure that produces a sin-
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2022. Published December 2022. Originally
gular measured result.
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F2607–08(2014).
DOI: 10.1520/F2607-08R22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3 rue de
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Varembé, Case postale 131, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iec.ch.
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2607 − 08 (2022)
FIG. 1 Guide Rails
3.1.10 unit, n—single vacuum cleaner of the model being 5.8 Template, to standardize the debris area for each cleaner
tested. tested.Debrisareatobe27.6in.(70cm)long(strokedirection)
with a width equal to 0.8 in. (2 cm) less than the outside width
4. Significance and Use
of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle.
4.1 Thistestmethodwillprovideanindicationoftheability
5.9 Temperature and Humidity Indicators, to provide tem-
of the vacuum cleaner in removing dry debris from hard
perature measurements accurate to within 61°F (6 ⁄2 °C) and
surface floors. The cleaning ability in the laboratory test will
humiditymeasurementsaccuratetowithin2%relativehumid-
not be the same as in home cleaning; however, in most cases,
ity.
a vacuum cleaner that performs well in the laboratory will
5.10 Guide Rails, similar to those described in IEC60312
clean well in a home.
may be used to facilitate straight line movement of the cleaner
4.2 To provide a uniform basis for measuring the perfor-
overthetestarea.Theuseofguiderailsisoptional.SeeFig.1.
mance described in 1.1, standardized test hard surface flooring
NOTE1—Automatedmethodsforspreadingthetestdebrisandcleaning
and standardized test debris are used.
the surface are acceptable if they do not change the results of this test
method.
5. Apparatus
6. Materials
5.1 Weighing Scale for Weighing Cleaners, accurate to
0.035 oz (1 g) and having a weighing capacity of at least 15 lb 6.1 Silica Sand, Sieve Size Range, 40/+50 at a density of
2 2
(6.82 kg). 0.0167 g/in. (0.002 59 g/cm ). Sieving is suggested to get the
correct size.
5.2 Weighing Scale for Weighing Test Dirt and Dirt
Container, accurate to 0.0035 oz (0.10 g) and having a 6.2 Oatmeal, uncooked at a density of 0.0167 g/in. (0.002
weighing capacity of at least 1.1 lb (500 g). 59 g/cm ).
5.3 Stopwatch, with a second hand or other type of equip- 6.3 BakingSoda,USP#1atadensityof0.0167g/in. (0.002
ment capable of establishing the specified rate of movement 59 g/cm ).
and total cycle time of the vacuum cleaner.
6.4 Orzo Pasta (elliptical shape, not teardrop shape), at a
2 2
5.4 Voltmeter, to measure input volts to the vacuum cleaner density of 0.0167 g/in. (0.002 59 g/cm ).
and provide measurements accurate to within 61%.
7. Sampling
5.5 Voltage-Regulator System, to control the input voltage
7.1 A minimum of three units of the same model vacuum
to the vacuum cleaner. The regulator shall be capable of
cleaner selected at random in accordance with good statistical
maintaining the vacuum cleaner’s rated voltage 61% and
practice shall constitute the population sample.
rated frequency 61 Hz having a waveform that is essentially
7.1.1 To determine the best estimate of cleaning ability for
sinusoidal with 3% maximum harmonic distortion for the
the population of the vacuum cleaner model being tested, the
duration of the test.
arithmetic mean of the cleaning ability rating of the sample
5.6 Debris Dispenser—Any convenient dispensing system
from the population shall be established by testing it to a 90%
that provides the operator with a method to distribute the test
confidence level within 65% of the mean value of the
debris uniformly over the test area.
cleaning ability rating.
7.1.2 Annex A1 provides a procedural example for deter-
5.7 Hard Surface Floor—Any smooth (minimal texture, no
seams) vinyl floor covering. Flooring to be glued to a plywood mining the 90% confidence level and when the sample size
shall be increased.
supporting surface over the whole area. Plywood supporting
surface to be a flat surface consisting of a piece of ⁄4-in.
(19-mm) thick exterior-grade plywood with the “A” surface
Thetestdirtmustbesievedtoensureconformancewiththeanalysislimits.Use
upward to support the test surface. Test Method D75.
F2607 − 08 (2022)
8. Preparation of Test Vacuum Cleaners 10.2.1.4 Mass of sand in mixture equals 350.5 in. ×
0.0167 g/in. =5.9 g.
8.1 New Test Vacuum Cleaners:
8.1.1 Preconditioning a New Test Vacuum Cleaner—Run 10.3 Preparetestcleanersanddirtreceptaclesinaccordance
the vacuum cleaner in at rated voltage 61% and rated
with Section 8.
frequency 61 Hz with filters in place.
10.4 Clean off the hard surface floor using any method that
8.1.1.1 Preconditioning Rotating Agitator-type Vacuum
ensures that the surface is clean and dry.
Cleaner—In a stationary position, operate the vacuum cleaner
for 1 h with the agitator bristles not engaged on any surface. 10.5 Mark the debris area on the test surface such that it is
centered laterally on the test surface (or between the side rails
8.1.1.2 Preconditioning a Straight-air Canister Vacuum
Cleaner—Operatethevacuumcleanerfor1hwithawide-open if used). Mark the debris area longitudinally to provide an
acceleration/decelerationzoneatthestartoftheforwardstroke
inlet (without hose).
8 in. (20 cm) long and another acceleration/deceleration zone
8.2 Used Test Vacuum Cleaners:
at the end of the forward stroke 12 in. (30 cm) long. See Fig.
8.2.1 Recondition a used test vacuum cleaner before each
2. Spread the materials individually within the debris area in
test run as follows:
the sequence listed: sand (Layer 1), oatmeal (Layer 2), baking
8.2.1.1 Thoroughly remove excess dirt from the vacuum
soda (Layer 3), and orzo pasta (Layer 4).
cleaner. Without using tools for disassembly, clean the entire
outer surface, brushes, nozzle chamber, ductwork inside of the 10.6 Weigh the prepared dirt receptacle (that is, dust bag or
chamber surrounding the primary filter, and inside hose and otherprimaryfilterdevice)beforeconductingthemeasurement
wands. test run. Record the weight to the nearest 0.0035 oz (0.10 g).
8.2.1.2 For vacuum cleaners using a disposable filter as the
10.6.1 For vacuum cleaners with nondisposable dirt
primary filter, use a new disposable primary filter weighed to
receptacles, weigh and record the receptacle’s original weight
thenearest0.0035oz(0.10g)andinstallitasrecommendedby
to the nearest 0.0035 oz (0.10 g).
the vacuum cleaner manufacturer.
10.7 Install the primary filter as explained in the following:
8.2.1.3 For vacuum cleaners using a nondisposable dirt
10.7.1 Forvacuumcleanersusingdisposableprimaryfilters,
receptacle, empty in accordance with the manufacturer’s in-
install a new primary filter from the manufacturer in accor-
structions after each test run and clean the receptacle until its
dance with their instructions.
weight is within 0.07 oz (2 g) of its original weight.Weigh the
10.7.2 For vacuum cleaners using nondisposable primary
receptacle to the nearest 0.0035 oz (0.10 g) and install it as
dirtreceptacles,cleanthereceptacleinaccordancewith8.2.1.3
recommended by the vacuum cleaner manufacturer.
and install it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruc-
8.3 Test Vacuum Cleaner Settings—If various settings are
tions.
provided, set the motor speed setting, suction regulator, nozzle
10.8 Ensure that the vacuum cleaner settings have been
height, or combination thereof using the manufacturer’s speci-
made in accordance with 8.3.
fications as provided in the instruction manual for hard surface
floor. Contact the manufacturer if no instructions are given or
10.9 Energize the cleaner for 2 min at nameplate-rated
if the instructions are unclear or inadequate.
voltage 61% and frequency 61 Hz immediately preceding
the test sequence of 10.11. For cleaners with dual nameplate
9. Conditioning
voltage ratings, conduct testing at the highest voltage.
10.9.1 For a rotating agitator-type vacuum cleaner, place it
9.1 Test Room—Maintain the test room in which all condi-
tioning and vacuum cleaner testing is done at 70°F 6 5°F such that the bristles clear the hard surface floor and no loose
(21°C 6 3°C) and 45% to 55% relative humidity. debris is picked up.
10.9.2 For a straight-air canister vacuum cleaner, operate
9.2 All components involved in the test shall remain and be
with the nozzle unrestricted, positioned such that no loose
exposed in the controlled environment for at least 16 h before
debris is picked up from the hard surface floor.
the start of the test.
10.10 Immediately following the 2-min “run-in” of 10.9,
10. Procedure
de-energize the vacuum cleaner and place the vacuum cleaner
nozzle on the hard surface floor so that the front edge of the
10.1 Measure the outside width of the floor nozzle of the
vacuum cleaner nozzle lip is aligned with the edge of the
test vacuum cleaner. The width measurement is to be taken at
acceleration/deceleration zone. See Fig. 2.
the centerline of the nozzle opening.
10.10.1 Reasonable efforts shall be made to maintain the
10.2 Determinetheamountofeachtypeofdebristobeused
handle height at 31.5 in. (80 cm) during each test run.
inthetestbymultiplyingthenozzlewidthminus0.8in.(2cm)
10.10.2 Reasonable efforts shall be made to maintain the
by 27.6 in. (70 cm) and then multiplying this area by the mass
vacuum cleaner’s nozzle parallel to the test hard floor surface
of debris per unit area given in 6.1 through 6.4.
during each test run for vacuum cleaners with nonpivoting
10.2.1 Example:
handles.
10.2.1.1 Nozzle width equals 13.5 in.
10.2.1.2 Debris width equals 12.7 in.
10.11 Tilt or lift the nozzle off the hard surface floor,
10.2.1.3 Debris area equals 12.7 × 27.6 in.=350.5 in. . energize the vacuum cleaner, and adjust the voltage to rated
F2607 − 08 (2022)
FIG. 2 Stroke Pattern and Dimensions
voltage 61%.Allowthevacuumcleanertorunandexpandthe the start of the test from the weight of the dirt receptacle at the
filter bag, if one is present. Lower the nozzle before testing endofthetest.Recordresultstothenearest0.10g(0.0035oz).
begins.
10.15 Thepercenthardsurfacefloordirt-removalabilityfor
10.12 Clean with one forward stroke and one backward
a single test run of a given vacuum cleaner is the mass picked
stroke at 1.8 ft/s (0.55 m/s). Stop the forward stroke when the up (grams) recorded in 10.14.1 divided by the total mass of all
front edge of the nozzle is aligned with the far edge of the
four materials put
...