SIST EN ISO 15957:2026

Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment (ISO 15957:2026)

This document defines the properties of load test dusts used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) air filters as well as air cleaning equipment in laboratories. Test dusts used for evaluation of efficiency performance are not included.

Aufgabestäube zum Prüfen von Luftfilteranlagen (ISO 15957:2026)

Dieses Dokument legt die Eigenschaften von Aufgabeprüfstäuben fest, die in Laborprüfungen zur Prüfung von Luftfiltern für den Einsatz in der Heizungs-, Lüftungs- und Klimatechnik (HVAC) und auch von Luftfilteranlagen verwendet werden. Prüfstäube die zur Bestimmung des Wirkungsgrads verwendet werden, sind hiervon ausgenommen.

Poussières d'essai pour l'évaluation des équipements d'épuration d'air (ISO 15957:2026)

Le présent document définit les propriétés des poussières d'essai de colmatage utilisées pour les filtres à air pour le chauffage, la ventilation et le conditionnement d’air (CVC) ainsi que pour les équipements d’épuration d’air dans les laboratoires. Les poussières d’essai utilisées pour l’évaluation de la performance d'efficacité ne sont pas inclues.

Preskusni prahovi za ocenjevanje opreme za čiščenje zraka (ISO 15957:2026)

Ta dokument opredeljuje lastnosti prahov za obremenitvene teste, ki se uporabljajo za filtre zraka v sistemih ogrevanja, prezračevanja in klimatizacije (HVAC) ter za opremo za čiščenje zraka v laboratorijih. Prahovi, ki se uporabljajo za ocenjevanje učinkovitosti delovanja, niso vključeni.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 15-Feb-2025
• Publication Date: 02-Apr-2026
• ICS: 91.140.30 - Ventilation and air-conditioning systems
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 17-Mar-2026
• Due Date: 22-May-2026
• Completion Date: 03-Apr-2026
• Ref Project: EN ISO 15957:2026 - Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment (ISO 15957:2026)

Relations

• Revises: SIST EN ISO 15957:2015 - Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment (ISO 15957:2015)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

FprEN ISO 15957 (ISO/DIS 15957:2024) - Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment - defines the properties and generation requirements of load test dusts used in laboratory evaluation of HVAC air filters and air cleaning equipment. This second-edition draft (prepared by ISO/TC 142 and circulated as an ISO/DIS in 2024) updates ISO 15957:2015 and clarifies dust designations, particle sizing, chemical composition and production methods. It applies to dusts used to load filters in laboratory tests; dusts intended specifically to measure filter efficiency are excluded. Note: this document is a draft and subject to change before final publication.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope and purpose: Specifies properties of load test dusts for HVAC filters and air cleaning devices to produce reproducible laboratory loading that better mimics field use.
• Test dust designations (L1–L4): The standard defines classes of load dusts with distinct particle size and material characteristics and provides particle size analysis procedures for each class.
• Particle size distribution: Requirements and measurement procedures for characterizing size distributions (median/mean diameters and cumulative volume fractions) to ensure consistent loading behavior.
• Chemical composition: Describes acceptable compositions and notes additions in the 2024 draft (e.g., inclusion of second‑cut cotton linters and carbon black for certain dusts).
• Production methods: Prescribed methods for producing L1–L4 test dusts to achieve stable, reproducible properties for laboratory use.
• Test dust generation and distribution: Requirements for dust feeders and load test dust distribution to ensure consistent delivery during laboratory loading.
• Safety and reference material: Annexes cover material safety and literature on atmospheric aerosol mass size distributions; normative references include ISO 12103‑1, ISO 16890‑3:2024 and ASHRAE 52.2:2017.

Applications and Who Uses It

• Air filter manufacturers - to develop and validate filter durability and pressure-drop behaviour under standardized dust loading.
• Independent test laboratories - to perform reproducible load tests that inform product ratings and life‑cycle assessments.
• HVAC system designers and facility managers - to estimate filter service life, energy penalty and maintenance schedules using standardized loading scenarios.
• Regulators and certification bodies - to harmonize test methods and performance claims for air cleaning equipment.
• Researchers - studying aerosol–filter interactions, aging and deposition under controlled laboratory conditions.

Related Standards

• ISO 12103‑1 (Arizona test dust)
• ISO 16890‑3:2024 (gravimetric efficiency vs. dust mass)
• ASHRAE 52.2:2017 (particle size efficiency testing)

Keywords: ISO 15957, test dusts, load test dusts, HVAC filters, air cleaning equipment, particle size distribution, dust feeder, filter loading, laboratory testing, air filter testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Preskusni prahovi za ocenjevanje opreme za čiščenje zraka (ISO 15957:2026)
Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment (ISO 15957:2026)
Aufgabestäube zum Prüfen von Luftfilteranlagen (ISO 15957:2026)
Poussières d'essai pour l'évaluation des équipements d'épuration d'air (ISO 15957:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 15957:2026
ICS:
91.140.30 Prezračevalni in klimatski Ventilation and air-
sistemi conditioning systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 15957
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
March 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 91.140.30 Supersedes EN ISO 15957:2015
English Version
Test dusts for evaluating air cleaning equipment (ISO
15957:2026)
Poussières d'essai pour l'évaluation des équipements Aufgabestäube zum Prüfen von Luftfilteranlagen (ISO
d'épuration d'air (ISO 15957:2026) 15957:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 February 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 15957:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 15957:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 142 "Cleaning
equipment for air and other gases" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 195 “Cleaning
equipment for air and other gases” the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2026, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by September 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 15957:2015.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 15957:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 15957:2026 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 15957
Second edition
Test dusts for evaluating air
2026-02
cleaning equipment
Poussières d'essai pour l'évaluation des équipements d'épuration
d'air
Reference number
ISO 15957:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ISO 15957:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 15957:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test dusts designation . 2
5 Chemical composition . 3
6 Particle size distribution . 3
7 Particle size analysis procedure . 4
7.1 L1 test dust . .4
7.2 L2 test dust .4
7.3 L3 test dust .4
7.4 L4 test dust .4
7.5 L5 test dust .4
8 Properties . 4
8.1 L1 test dust . .4
8.2 L2 test dust .5
8.3 L3 test dust .5
8.4 L4 test dust .5
8.5 L5 test dust .5
9 Application . 5
9.1 General .5
9.2 L1 test dust . .5
9.3 L2 test dust .5
9.4 L3 test dust .5
9.5 L4 test dust .5
9.6 L5 test dust .5
10 Related standards . 5
11 Requirements for load test dust distribution . 6
Annex A (informative) Physical data of test dust . 7
Bibliography . 8

iii
ISO 15957:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 142, Cleaning equipment for air and other gases,
in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC
195, Cleaning equipment for air and other gases, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation
between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 15957:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Clause 4, Table 1, addition of test dust L5 Kronos 2160;
— Clause 4, Table 1, addition of the mean diameter for carbon.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

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