Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in particle, bioaerosol, and gas-phase air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.
Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. One early project she ran was the first published measurements of indoor air particle sizes based on HVAC settings and building sources. Her particle size ranges for airborne contaminants tabe, published in Atmospheric Environment 1990, has been cited often and is used in the ASHRAE Handbook. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.
Kathleen has served ASHRAE in a variety of capacities. She is currently co-PI on 1928-RP working on issues influencing testing of air cleaners in chamber with recirculating side duct configurations. She recently completed 1720-RP and 1784-RP which were round robin studies of Standard 145.2 (for gases) and 52.2 (for particles – MERV) tests. In 2023, she finished ASHRAE project 1838-RP “Emerging gas-phase electronic filtration technologies and ASHRAE 145.2 test standard” which explored how reactive air cleaners (RAC) work and what they emit to update the 145.2 test to include byproduct analysis.
She currently chairs SPC 185.5 and is VC of TG2.RAST Reactive Air and Surface Treatment. She serves on the Environmental Health Committee (EHC) and is an SPLS liaison. After two years on the Epidemic Task Force (ETF), she now serves on SPC 241, the new Standard for Control of Infection Aerosols. She was the first chair of ASHRAE committee SSPC 145 and is the immediate past chair of ASHRAE 52.2. She was the research subcommittee chair for TC2.3 Gaseous Contaminants for 10 years. She is also working with AHAM in the development of their new bioaerosol and gas-phase air cleaner test methods.
Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.
Air Filtration/Cleaning for the 21st Century: Wildfires, Climate Change, and Pandemics
Our modern world is facing many challenges. Proper use of air cleaning will help you keep your air clean and safe to breathe. Wildfires bring high levels of particles and gases near the fires and far from them. Recent fires in Canda changed the air throughout much of the US. This year is well on its way to having at least as many issues as 2023! Add in higher levels of volatiles organic chemicals (VOCs) in the air from higher temperatures from chemical reactions and increased off-gassing and the influence of higher humidity and extreme weather events and you can expect increased IAQ issues. This talk addresses the basics of how air cleaners work for particles and gases followed by how to use the air cleaners for wildfires and other modern IAQ-challenging events.
Air Cleaning for Pandemic Mitigation – Using air cleaners in Standard 241
ASHRAE Standard 241: Control of Infectious Aerosols includes the use of filters and other air cleaners to reduce the risk of airborne disease transmission. Given the certainty new or existing pathogens will cause future pandemics or more localized outbreaks, it is critical to understand and plan mitigation measures. This talk introduces Standard 241 and the many aspects needed to plan and implement its risk reduction strategies. New concepts for how to determine needed clean(ed) air and how to get it will be introduced along with the basics of bioaerosols, aerosol capture by filters and other removal-type air cleaner, and their inactivation by other types of air cleaners. Applications of filtration/inactivation with HVAC and in-room air cleaners, including MERV levels, airflow needed, cleaned air delivery rates, number of in-room units needed, equivalent air changes needed, are explained with emphasis on their use to meet the Standard 241 requirements.
How MERV Air Filters Change with Use
This talk looks at changes in efficiency both upward and downward with use and changes in pressure drop with dust loading. Types of dust that are collected are shown including SEM pictures of several examples. Learn more about expected and surprising changes in filters in use in homes and commercial buildings.